Survival following traumatic tetraplegia.

The records of 363 patients presenting to the Spinal Unit of Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital with traumatic tetraplegia are reviewed. Mortality rates in both short and long terms are tabulated and correlated with the level of the lesion, age of the patient at the time of injury and completeness of the lesion. The mortality rate for patients sustaining a complete lesion above C5 at the end of 1 year after injury was 20 per cent if under the age of 45 years and 75 per cent if over the age of 45 years. The mortality rate of patients sustaining a complete lesion below C5 at the end of 1 year after injury was 8 per cent if under the age of 45 years and 66 per cent if over the age of 45 years.