Sabine Eichinger (Author), Lisbeth Eischer (Author), Hana Šinkovec (Author), Gabriela Wittgruber (Author), Ludwig Traby (Author), Michael Kammer (Author), Paul A. Kyrle (Author), Oskar Steinbrecher (Author), Herbert Kaloud (Author), Victoria Kyrle (Author), Hartwig Moser (Author), Renate Wildburger (Author)

Abstract

Background: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk of thrombosis and bleeding. Data on the risks during rehabilitation are inconsistent, and thromboprophylactic strategies are heterogeneous. We aimed to evaluate the thrombotic risk and bleeding events of SCI patients during rehabilitation. Methods: We retrospectively collected hospital record data of 263 consecutive SCI patients admitted at a rehabilitation clinic. 78 patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) at the primary center, without acute trauma or lower extremity paresis, less than one month rehabilitation, or reasons for long-term therapeutic anticoagulation, were excluded. All patients received pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis throughout rehabilitation. Primary endpoint was objectively diagnosed VTE; secondary endpoint was bleeding. Results: Of 185 patients, 162 (88%) were men; mean age was 47.8 years. 94 patients were tetraplegic, 91 paraplegic. During a mean (±SD) time of 5.1±2.1 months, VTE was diagnosed in 8 patients. After excluding five patients with VTE detected within 2 days after admission, the probability of developing VTE after 6 months of rehabilitation was 2% (95% CI 0–4.4%). Only high D-Dimer upon admission was associated with risk of VTE (adjusted HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–4.1). Of 24 bleedings, 14 (64%) occurred at the heparin injection site. Two patients had major bleeding and five had clinically relevant non major bleeding. Conclusion: SCI patients are at risk of VTE and bleeding during rehabilitation. Strategies need to be developed to identify these patients in order to initiate adequate anticoagulation. Direct oral anticoagulants, which have a favourable risk-benefit profile and are convenient, should be explored.

Keywords

venous thromboembolism;spinal cord injury;rehabilitation medicine;thrombosis;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL BF - Biotechnical Faculty
UDC: 61
COBISS: 178054915 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1932-6203
Views: 10
Downloads: 1
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Other data

Secondary language: English
Type (COBISS): Article
Pages: str. 1-10
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ13
Issue: ǂno. ǂ3
Chronology: 2018
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193735
ID: 21843133