April 2022 CME Activity: Who Recovers Independent Bowel Management During the First Year After a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury? A Case-Control Study-Who Recovers Independent Bowel Management During the First Year After a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury? A Case-Control Study

Who Recovers Independent Bowel Management During the First Year After a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury? A Case-Control Study

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Pdf Summary

A case-control study was conducted to determine the characteristics of patients with impaired bowel functioning during the subacute and chronic phases after a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and to identify factors associated with recovery of independent bowel functioning within the first year after the injury. The study included 123 adult TSCI patients, and bowel function assessments were conducted 3 months after the injury and during the early chronic phase. Of the 110 patients analyzed, 49% displayed impaired bowel functioning at 3 months post-injury. Of these patients, 35% recovered independent bowel functioning over the following 9 months. The total motor score (TMS) measured 3 months after the injury was found to be the only significant predictor of recovery. A total motor score lower than 42 was 100% predictive of the absence of recovery. The study concluded that independent bowel management is possible in 35% of patients 1 year after TSCI, despite impaired bowel functioning during the subacute phase. The TMS measured at 3 months after the injury could be useful for predicting potential recovery of bowel functioning, with those having a total motor score lower than 42 being unlikely to recover. These findings provide important insights for clinicians in prognosticating recovery and providing support for patients with impaired bowel functioning after TSCI.

Keywords

case-control study

impaired bowel functioning

subacute phase

chronic phase

traumatic spinal cord injury

recovery

independent bowel functioning

total motor score

prognosticating recovery

support for patients