Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the prevention and treatment of pneumonia in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI).MethodsData of 278 patients with acute traumatic CSCI admitted from 1988 to 2004 were analyzed retrospectively.Results Pneumonia was the major complication following acute CSCI and discovered by radiography during the first 3—33 days after injury. The all cases were nosocomial pneumonia and G^- bacilli were main pathogens, particularly pseudomonas aeruginosa. The incidence of pneumonia of patients with score ≤6 according to the criteria of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) was significantly higher than those with ASIA score >6 (P<0.001).ConclusionThe high incidence of pneumonia in the CSCI is associated with the level and completeness of the injury. The G^- bacilli causing nosocomial infection are main pathogens.

Key words: cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI), pneumonia, rehabilitation treatment