Abstract
A 57-year-old man with a spinal cord injury to the lumbar region（L1）underwent a colostomy in order to ease bowel care and prevent fecal contamination of decubitus ulcers. Pre-and post-colostomy conditions were compared with regard to defecation,food intake,daily activities and decubitus ulcer infections and healing. We also reviewed whether changes following the colostomy contributed to a better lifestyle.
We found that,following the colostomy,the time and effort required to defecate were significantly reduced for this patient. Food intake increased and resulted in a weight gain of 2kg. In addition,the patient no longer feared the possibility of fecal incontinence and thus gained confidence and freedom both physically and mentally,leading to a more comfortable lifestyle. Decubitus ulcers were easier to treat,but did not heal as a direct result of the colostomy.
From this case we conclude that a colostomy can improve the quality of life for some patients with spinal cord injuries.
