DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of medical records. BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: To determine frequency and degree of hypothermic episodes in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Veterans Administration Medical Center. METHODS: Research involved analysis of body temperature records of 50 chronic patients with tetraplegia. All patients were men with a length of injury of 19 +/- 6 years. Mean age was 53 +/- 15 (SD) years. Data were derived from the computerized patient record database system of the Veterans Administration Medical Center. Results were classified into 3 groups: (a) hypothermia (< 95 degrees F), (b) subnormal temperature (< 97.7 degrees F), and normal temperatures (97.7 degrees F to 98.4 degrees F). Body temperature was recorded during hospitalization (minimum duration of 30 days) using an oral probe twice a day. Ambient temperature was controlled by a central air-conditioning system and maintained at 72 degrees F to 74 degrees F. RESULTS: A total of 867 measurements of body temperature were evaluated; normal temperature was recorded 298 times (35%), subnormal temperature was recorded 544 times (63%), and hypothermia was recorded 25 times (3%). There were 15 patients with 30 hypothermic episodes; subnormal temperature was found in all 50 patients from 1 to 47 times. Regression analysis of age and duration of SCI showed a nonsignificant relationship with body temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that patients with tetraplegia after SCI have significant dysfunction of thermoregulation associated with frequent episodes of subnormal body temperature in a normal ambient environment. Further studies are needed to evaluate possible consequences of low temperatures on the general health of patients and to develop preventive interventions.
DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of medical records. BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: To determine frequency and degree of hypothermic episodes in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Veterans Administration Medical Center. METHODS: Research involved analysis of body temperature records of 50 chronic patients with tetraplegia. All patients were men with a length of injury of 19 +/- 6 years. Mean age was 53 +/- 15 (SD) years. Data were derived from the computerized patient record database system of the Veterans Administration Medical Center. Results were classified into 3 groups: (a) hypothermia (< 95 degrees F), (b) subnormal temperature (< 97.7 degrees F), and normal temperatures (97.7 degrees F to 98.4 degrees F). Body temperature was recorded during hospitalization (minimum duration of 30 days) using an oral probe twice a day. Ambient temperature was controlled by a central air-conditioning system and maintained at 72 degrees F to 74 degrees F. RESULTS: A total of 867 measurements of body temperature were evaluated; normal temperature was recorded 298 times (35%), subnormal temperature was recorded 544 times (63%), and hypothermia was recorded 25 times (3%). There were 15 patients with 30 hypothermic episodes; subnormal temperature was found in all 50 patients from 1 to 47 times. Regression analysis of age and duration of SCI showed a nonsignificant relationship with body temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that patients with tetraplegia after SCI have significant dysfunction of thermoregulation associated with frequent episodes of subnormal body temperature in a normal ambient environment. Further studies are needed to evaluate possible consequences of low temperatures on the general health of patients and to develop preventive interventions.
Authors: Andrei Krassioukov; Todd A Linsenmeyer; Lisa A Beck; Stacy Elliott; Peter Gorman; Steven Kirshblum; Lawrence Vogel; Jill Wecht; Sarah Clay Journal: Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil Date: 2021
Authors: Jill M Wecht; Andrei V Krassioukov; Maralee Alexander; John P Handrakis; Stephen L McKenna; Michael Kennelly; Michele Trbovich; Fin Biering-Sorensen; Stephen Burns; Stacy L Elliott; Daniel Graves; James Hamer; Klaus Krogh; Todd A Linsenmeyer; Nan Liu; Ellen Merete Hagen; Aaron A Phillips; Jean-Gabriel Previnaire; Gianna M Rodriguez; Chloe Slocum; James R Wilson Journal: Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil Date: 2021
Authors: Ashwati Vipin; Jukka Kortelainen; Hasan Al-Nashash; Soo Min Chua; Xinyuan Thow; Janani Manivannan; Nitish V Thakor; Candace L Kerr; Angelo H All Journal: Ther Hypothermia Temp Manag Date: 2015-06-09 Impact factor: 1.286