Outcomes of Pressure Sore Surgery in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury and Spasticity.

BACKGROUND

Spasticity is a serious complication of spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) that affects 60%-80% of patients with this condition. The presence of spasticity can have a significant impact on the outcomes of reconstructive surgical interventions, such as those on pressure sores (PSs). Moreover, in the conservative treatment of PSs, spasticity may prevent maintaining adequate postures to avoid skin friction or traction. The aim of this study is to describe the PS reconstruction outcomes in a cohort of patients with SCI/D affected by spasticity.

METHODS

In this retrospective study of patients with SCI/D consecutively admitted to Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute between October 2013 and March 2022, 54 PSs were treated in 46 people with spasticity.

RESULTS

Postsurgery complications occurred in 26 of 54 treated PS, of which seven were major. Eleven patients experienced more than one complication. The overall incidence of postsurgical complications was 48.1%, and the incidence of major complications was 13%. Median length of hospital stay was 3.8 versus 1.8 months. Compared with other reports in the literature of PS reconstruction in patients with SCI/D, we found higher rates of overall, minor, and major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Spasticity proved to be an important condition to consider, and its treatment requires specialized physicians. The collaboration between plastic surgeons and spasticity specialists is crucial to define the best treatment to reduce postoperative complications.