Survival following traumatic tetraplegia.

In a review of 166 male tetraplegic patients admitted over an eleven year period, there were four acute deaths. Three of the four were over the age of 60 at the time of injury. Of the remaining 162 patients, the whereabouts of 143 patients could be ascertained. Twenty-three were lost to follow up. Sixteen patients died during the period of follow up. There were no deaths among those tetraplegics who survived for at least 5 years after the injury. Respiratory infections were the commonest cause of death among tetraplegic patients. With improved primary care of the tetraplegic patient acute mortality can be reduced.