A group of researchers from National Hospital of Paraplegics (HNP) of Toledo He has revealed that suffering a spinal injury reduces in more than nine years the life expectancy of the Spaniards, especially of men and from the age of 65, and is associated with factors such as age at the time of injury, the location cervical and the need for mechanical ventilation.
The study, presented in the 39 National Congress of the Spanish Spine Society (GEER)has shown that, while the life expectancy of the general population exceeds 83.7 years, that of those with a core injury is 74.4 years; In addition, average survival in those over 65 years between injury and death is 5.5 years.
“Of the associated factors we found, the one that surprised us most was the variable of mechanical ventilation: we verified that patients who had mechanical ventilation, such as tracheotomy or permanent sedage to the discharge, had less life expectancy”explained the work coordinator, Dr. Joint H. Guimbard.
It should be noted that the mechanism of most frequent injury have been fallsmainly at ground level, which are responsible for 68 percent of them; The most affected level has been cervical (69.2 percent); and 39.3 percent of patients have suffered a head trauma.
More than half of the patients analyzed (572 in total) has required tracheotomy, and a 27.9 percent has needed mechanical ventilation upon receiving. Interachypitary mortality has been 11.4 percent.
Researchers have indicated that the increase in life expectancy has been translated a greater number of Medullary lesionstraces in Those over 65which not only affects its life expectancy, but also the quality of it and family, economic and social costs.
In fact, the Ministry of Health has estimated that 30 percent of Those over 65 and half of those over 80 years of age suffer a fall at least once a yearsomething that could be prevented through exercise, caution and attention to the effects of some medications.
Prevent falls in the older
For all this, the geer has influenced the importance of performing Exercises to improve muscle strength, coordination and balancewhich is an “efficient way” to reduce the risk of falls and suffer core injuries.
Similarly, organization experts have recommended Increase home security through good lighting, regardless carpets And being careful with any passage obstacle such as cables, standing fans or stoves, which can lead to stumbling.
In addition, They have advised to avoid the use of stairsof stools with steps; Do not wear shoes with slippery soles, heels or flip type; dispense with polishes or waxes that turn the ground slippery; and replace the bathtubs with shower plates.
As for medications, they have warned that some tranquilizers such as sleeping pills, or diabetes and badly controlled blood pressure, They can cause weakness or dizzinessincreasing the risk of falls.
Despite the risk of the older ones, the greatest number of these injuries occur in people between 16 and 45 yearsa population segment that accumulates 80 percent of the new injuries that are recorded every year.
Among the main causes of Medular lesions in the youngest are traffic accidents; impacts by Falls from height at home, at work, or in recreational activities; or for tumors, infections or degenerative neurological diseases.
The specialists of the Geer They have linked this type of young injuries at the months of vacation, due to the greater number of traffic displacements and accidents, sports activities and trauma on beaches and swimming pools, in many cases by “imprudence”.
