Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 393-398.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2026.04.003

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Characteristics of 150 patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity

LU Xiaolei1,2, WANG Yiji1,2(), LIU Genlin1,2, ZHENG Ying1,2, HAO Chunxia1,2, ZHANG Ying1,2, KANG Haiqiong1,2, WEI Bo1,2, MENG Qianru1,2, ZHOU Hongjun1,2()   

  1. 1 Department of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing 100068, China
    2 Capital Medical University School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing 100068, China
  • Received:2025-10-24 Revised:2026-01-14 Published:2026-04-25 Online:2026-05-06
  • Contact: WANG Yiji, ZHOU Hongjun E-mail:718411362@qq.com;Zh87569303@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To analyze the characteristics of 150 patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity.

Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 150 patients with spinal cord injury accompanied by spasticity from September, 2019 to December, 2024. Their age, gender, cause of injury, injury site, severity of injury, spasticity severity and other indicators were recorded. The relationships between different characteristics were analyzed, and a correlation analysis of disease duration, spasticity grade, injury level, injury severity and age were conducted.

Results There was no significant difference in age distribution between patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia (Z = 0.806, P = 0.420). The proportions of trauma (χ2 = 3.982, P = 0.046) and tetraplegia (χ2 = 10.559, P = 0.010) were higher in males than in females. Trauma was the main cause of injury in both tetraplegia and paraplegia patients; the proportion of tetraplegia was higher than paraplegia in trauma patients, while paraplegia was higher than tetraplegia in non-trauma patients (χ2 = 11.885, P < 0.001). Patients with tetraplegia was dominated by incomplete injury, whereas patients with paraplegia was dominated by complete injury (χ2 = 10.885, P = 0.012). Grade A injury was predominant in trauma patients (P = 0.003). Spasticity grade showed a very weak positive correlation with disease duration (r = 0.175, P = 0.032) and age (r = 0.168, P = 0.040). Injury severity showed a very weak positive correlation with age (r = 0.183, P = 0.025).

Conclusion Characteristics of patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity is different with gender, cause of injury, injury level, injury severity.

Key words: spinal cord injury, spasticity, injury level, injury severity, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale

CLC Number: