Long Term Follow-up of Patients with Injuries of the Spinal Cord

Rhim, Kwang Seh; Lee, Young Bae

Abstract

184 paraplegics and tetraplegics of Korean male(159 alive and 25 dead) subjected to spinal cord injury during 1950~1976 were followed up for 10~36 years. The 38 patients were interviewed individually and for the other 146 patients, various records of Korean Patriots and Veteran Affairs Agency were analysed. 95.1% out of 1984 patients were service men and 86.9% were second decade. Among 159 living patients, survival rate after injury markedly reduced at 15 years after injury in cervical cord injury group and at 20 years in lumbar cord injury group, thereafter it had gradually reduced in both groups. The changes of survival rate in the thoracic cord injury group showed intermediate form of cervical and lumbar cord group. Of 25 patients dead (thoracic and lumbar cord injuries), survival rate reduced markedly from 20 years after trauma. In 38 patients who were interviewed individually, 55.2% and 76.3 of patients were recovered to get in the wheel-chair within 1 year and 2 year after trauma respectively and in 45.8% the decubitus were not healed after 2 years of trauma. The 39.4% out of 38 patients were able to urinate involuntarily, if any, with voiding desire. And the penile erection and ejaculation were possible or occasionally possible in the 55% and 34% respectively.