Influences and consequences resulting in addictions in general and to chronic alcoholism, especially for patients with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Introduction: Spinal cord injury can be a cause of severe disability, with important consequences at the individual and social levels. Causes are often produced by falls or road accidents; and addictions (particularly chronic ethylism) also increase the risk of vertebral-medullary lesions.

Materials and Methods: With with the approval of the TEHBA Ethics Commission (no.17464/14.06.2019), we used specific tests (DASS-21, MOS SF-36, SMAST, AUDIT, CAGE, AIS) and we questioned a group of patients admitted to the THEBA Neuro-Muscle Recovery Clinic after being treated in the Spinal Neurosurgery Service for acute and subacute vertebral medullary trauma.

Results: We evaluated the link between addictions (especially ethanol), the risk of spinal cord injury, and the underlying subacute evolution of patients with this pathology.

Conclusions: Substance abuse (especially ethanol) increases the risk of spinal cord injury and is a serious public health problem.