400 Section - Neurorehabilitation in traumatic vs non-traumatic spinal cord injury: A retrospective comparative analysis of outcomes from a newly established rehabilitation medicine department

Objectives : The primary objective was to compare their
immediate and long-term neurological (American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale
(AIS) grade) and functional (Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Walking Index for Spinal
Cord Injury (WISCI)) outcomes.

Design: Data of all SCI patients from March 2022 to August 2024 was collected in a retrospective
manner.

Results: T-SCI were 65.38% (n=34) of all patients (n=52). T-SCI had a significantly higher
proportion of males as compared to NT-SCI (85.30% vs 50%). Duration of stay was longer in the T-
SCI group [23.88 (12.57) vs 19.05 (10.77); days (SD)]. Comparable neurological improvement was
seen in both groups. Significant intra-group improvement was seen in functional outcomes in both the
groups at all time points (p<0.05); however, inter-group comparison showed no significant difference.
A significant correlation was seen between improvement in AIS grade as well as FIM score in T-SCI
patients who presented early on for neurorehabilitation after their injury (p<0.05). A similar but
nonsignificant finding was observed in the NT-SCI cohort.

Conclusion: Both T-SCI and NT-SCI groups showed comparable improvement in functional and
neurological outcomes. Early neurorehabilitation may enhance neurological and functional recovery
with better outcomes in majority of SCI patients. Patient education regarding the importance of
neurorehabilitation right from the initial stage is of utmost importance to improve outcomes.