Spinal cord compression: the hospice perspective. 1993

F Hicks, and V Thom, and D Alison, and G Corcoran
St. Gemma's Hospice, Moortown, Leeds, UK.

Spinal cord compression is an important complication of metastatic, malignant disease. It has not been extensively studied in the hospice setting. We conducted a retrospective study of the records of 34 patients with a history of cord compression. Clinical presentation, investigations, treatment, and functional outcome were recorded. Outcome was related to performance status before the development of spinal cord compression, and to motor function at the time of treatment. Patients with low scores were less likely than those with high scores to benefit from attempts to reverse the cord compression. These assessments may help the clinician decide which patients to refer for investigation and treatment. Overall median survival was found to be three months for those who were ambulatory after treatment, but only three weeks for those who were not. Patients who were not ambulatory following therapy suffered a wide range of related problems and required intensive palliative care.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009048 Motor Skills Performance of complex motor acts. Motor Skill,Skill, Motor,Skills, Motor
D009369 Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D011379 Prognosis A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations. Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D005260 Female Females
D006738 Hospices Facilities or services which are especially devoted to providing palliative and supportive care to the patient with a terminal illness and to the patient's family. Hospice
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000203 Activities of Daily Living The performance of the basic activities of self care, such as dressing, ambulation, or eating. ADL,Chronic Limitation of Activity,Limitation of Activity, Chronic,Activities, Daily Living,Activity, Daily Living,Daily Living Activities,Daily Living Activity,Living Activities, Daily,Living Activity, Daily

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