Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACK GROUND:
Spinal cord problems is an important complication of spinal cord injury. Deep vein thrombosis is a critical sequel & need early diagnosis and management.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the frequency and time of occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Iraqi Spinal Cord Injured patients, and a possible etiologic relationship between DVT and Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) types.
METHODS:
One hundred nine Iraqi patients with spinal cord injury admitted at Ibn_Alkuff SCI Hospital from the 1st of January till 30th of June 2006 were studied, full history was taken and complete clinical examination was done for all patients. DVT was diagnosed by physical examination and confirmed by Doppler ultrasound. Special scales and scores were included in this study to assess spinal cord injury impairment (American spinal injury association scale/score and Modified Ashworth spasticity scale).
RESULT:
A total sample of 109 Iraqi patients were included in this descriptive cross sectional study, 100 males (91.7%) and 9 females (8.3%), the age of patients ranged from 11 to 65 years (mean 33.8 years), the disease duration ranged from 1 to 240 months (mean 20.5 months). Eleven patients (10.1%) were having DVT (were male patients).Our study showed statistically significant association between the presence of deep vein thrombosis and neurological level of spinal cord injury, flaccidity and ASIA scale (A and B). (p=0.011, p=0.017 and p=0.006 respectively) Our results showed no statistical significant association between age, gender, duration of spinal cord injury and causes of spinal cord injury in determining the presence of DVT. (p=0.71, p=0.36, p=0.68 and p=0.34 respectively)
CONCLUSION:
DVT is more likely to develop in Iraqi spinal cord injured patients who have a lumbar neurological level of injury or who have flaccid paralysis. Also SCI patients with ASIA scale A and B are more liable to develop DVT. These groups of patients needs close observation and monitoring.