Physiotherapy Care for Spinal Cord Injury at a Hospital in the Interior of the Amazon Region

Abstract

Introduction: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a condition of major clinical and social impact, capable of causing motor, sensory, and neurovegetative deficits that compromise the individual's quality of life and autonomy. Physical Therapy plays an essential role in the rehabilitation of these patients, acting from the acute to the late phase, aiming at functional recovery and independence in activities of daily living. Objectives: To identify the main physical therapy interventions employed during the hospitalization period of patients with SCI in a reference hospital in the interior of the Amazon region. Material and Methods: This is a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional, and retrospective study, carried out through the analysis of electronic medical records of patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of SCI between January 2022 and June 2024, at the Regional Hospital of Baixo Amazonas (HBRA), in the municipality of Santarém, Pará. Data were tabulated and submitted to descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 35 medical records were analyzed, with a predominance of male patients (82.86%) and a mean age of 46.05 ± 14.66 years. The primary mechanism of injury was falls from height, and the thoracic spine was the most commonly affected region. Length of hospital stay showed a median of 21 days, with 91.43% of patients discharged and 8.57% of deaths. Physical therapy interventions were grouped into motor, respiratory, and complementary categories, with free active, passive, and sitting exercises standing out among motor interventions; pulmonary re-expansion and bronchial hygiene techniques among respiratory interventions; and bed positioning as the most frequent complementary practice. Conclusions: SCI predominantly affects men of productive age, reinforcing its socioeconomic impact. Physical therapy plays an early and systematic role across multiple areas of care, helping to reduce complications and length of hospital stay while promoting functional recovery and improving the quality of life of affected patients.