Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the features of pulmonary function and influencing factors in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsThe pulmonary function data of 48 patients with cervical SCI were analyzed. The correlations between the percent predicted values of vital capacity (VC), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced expiratory volume of 1st second (FEV₁) and V75 (expressed as VC%, MVV%, FEV₁%, V75%) and ASIA motor/sensory scores were analyzed. Then, four multiple linear regressions were run to use VC, MVV, FEV₁, V75 as an independent variable respectively.ResultsThe percent predicted values of the pulmonary function (VC%, MVV%, FEV₁%, V75%) in patients with cervical SCI obviously decreased, which suggested that these patients had a restrictive ventilation disorder. There were significant positive correlations between VC%、FEV₁%、V75% and ASIA motor scores (by bivariate correlation tests), no significant correlations between any of pulmonary function parameters and the ASIA sensory scores. Of four linear regression models, the height showed as a protecting factor in 3 linear regression models and weight did in the other one respectively. Of parameters associated with SCI, just ASIA motor scores showed as a protecting factor in 3 linear regression models, no sensory scores or duration appeared in any linear regression models.ConclusionBesides the height and weight, the ASIA motor score is a main factor influencing the pulmonary function.

Key words: cervical spinal cord injury, pulmonary function, function evaluation