ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the incidence and possible etiological factors of hyponatremia after acute cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI),and evaluate the effect of severity of CSCI,age,sex and injured segment on hyponatremia.Methods From June 2005 to March 2011,a series of patients with CSCI caused by cervical vertebras trauma were treated in our department.Except patients combined with craniocerebral injury or chronic diseases,other patients were divided into three groups:complete CSCI group,incomplete CSCI group and no neurological disorder group.Concentration of natrium in blood in all patients was analyzed respectively.Results All 102 patients (83 males,19 females) were selected with an average of 45.6years old.There were 23 patients with complete CSCI,60 with incomplete CSCI and 19 with no neurological disorder.Hyponatremia was found in 15 patients in complete CSCI group,23 patients in incomplete CSCI group and 1 patient in no neurological disorder group.The incidence of hyponatremia was significantly different between three groups,among which the complete CSCI group had the highest incidence.Multiple linear regression analysis showed hyponatremia was obviously correlated with the injury degree of spinal cord,but not correlated with the age,sex and injury segment of the patients.Conclusion Hyponatremia is a common complication in patients suffered from CSCI.Although the balance of natrium in blood is very complicated and influenced by many factors,autonomic nerve system and neuroendocrine system dysfunction,and hemodynamic changes after CSCI may play a key role in happening of electrolytical abnormality.