Original Articles
Effect of older age on treatment decisions and outcomes among patients with traumatic spinal cord injury
Henry Ahn, Christopher S. Bailey, Carly S. Rivers, Vanessa K. Noonan, Eve C. Tsai, Daryl R. Fourney, Najmedden Attabib, Brian K. Kwon, Sean D. Christie, Michael G. Fehlings, Joel Finkelstein, R. John Hurlbert, Andrea Townson, Stefan Parent, Brian Drew, Jason Chen, Marcel F. Dvorak and Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry Network
CMAJ July 06, 2015 cmaj.150085; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.150085
Henry Ahn
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Christopher S. Bailey
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Carly S. Rivers
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Vanessa K. Noonan
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Eve C. Tsai
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Daryl R. Fourney
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Najmedden Attabib
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Brian K. Kwon
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Sean D. Christie
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Michael G. Fehlings
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Joel Finkelstein
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
R. John Hurlbert
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Andrea Townson
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Stefan Parent
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Brian Drew
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Jason Chen
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Marcel F. Dvorak
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto Spine Program (Ahn), Toronto, Ont.; Western University (Bailey), London, Ont.; Rick Hansen Institute (Rivers, Noonan, Chen), Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia (Noonan, Kwon, Townson, Dvorak), Vancouver, BC; The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa (Tsai), Ottawa, Ont.; University of Saskatchewan (Fourney), Saskatoon, Sask.; Horizon Health Network/Dalhousie University (Attabib), St. John, NB; Dalhousie University (Christie), Halifax, NS; Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto (Fehlings), Toronto, Ont.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto (Finkelstein), Toronto, Ont.; University of Calgary Spine Program (Hurlbert), Calgary, Alta.; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal (Parent), Montréal, Que.; Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University (Drew), Hamilton, Ont.
Online Appendices
- Appendix 1: Linear regression model results assessing the effect of age at injury (under 70 years vs ≥ 70 years) on the time from admission to surgery (in hours).
- Appendix 2: Sensitivity analysis for age as factor in the time from acute admission to surgery (in hours) in those receiving surgery following tSCI. The ages of 60, 65, and 75 years were analysed in comparison to the 70 years in the model.