A 25-Year Prospective Mortality Study in the Spinal Cord Injured Patient: Comparison with the Long-Term Living Paraplegic

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Abstract
Two studies, a 25 yr prospective followup on 270 spinal cord injury patients and a more than 20 yr (average 24.2 yr) evaluation of 175 paraplegics, are combined. The mortality rate was 49% after 25 yr, with renal disease as the major cause of death (43%). Vascular deaths were just as prevalent during the last 5 yr of spinal cord life. There are probably several reasons why some patient have long-term survival (more than 20 yr), including patient motivation (better followup), less vascular problems, less chronic decubitus and and a higher percentage of lower motor neuron lesions. Patients with lower motor neuron lesions had the best bladder status associated with less upper tract deterioration.