Table 4 The length of stay, direct medical cost and related factors of adult hospitalized acute spinal trauma patients in Taiwan, 2000–2003.

Dependant variables\Independent variables

β

(s.e.)

p value

β

(s.e.)

p value

Multiple linear regression model:

   Sex (M/F)

0.67

0.08

<0.001

5891.1

655.7

<0.001

   Age (years)

0.03

0.002

<0.001

103.1

17.9

<0.001

   Location of spinal injury

C-spine (vs. L-spine)

3.23

0.13

<0.001

25984.5

1016.2

<0.001

T-spine (vs. L-spine)

0.70

0.09

<0.001

3821.5

751.8

<0.001

   Neurological deficit (Y/N)^a

0.85

0.11

<0.001

6515.1

853.9

<0.001

   Spine surgical intervention (Y/N)

7.29

0.10

<0.001

115424.0

806.2

<0.001

   Combined associated injuries

head injury (Y/N)

-0.73

0.11

<0.001

-2410.2

901.5

0.008

chest injury (Y/N)

3.51

0.23

<0.001

29514.3

1853.1

<0.001

abdominal injury (Y/N)

2.40

0.33

<0.001

23025.6

2665.8

<0.001

pelvic injury (Y/N)

3.57

0.27

<0.001

15314.4

2157.6

<0.001

upper extremity injury (Y/N)

1.19

0.19

<0.001

10211.7

1506.7

<0.001

lower extremity injury (Y/N)

4.30

0.16

<0.001

38770.3

1309.5

<0.001

   Constant

4.05

6308.6