Introduction: Patients gender can drive to long-term differences in evolution of spinal cord injury (SCI) 
Purpose: To know long-term complications and epidemiological and functional characteristics in women with SCI. 
Method: Longitudinal study on consecutive women with SCI followed for more than 1 year of evolution in authors´ institution. Outcome measures were: Epidemiological data, functional situation and treatment in the moment of SCI and during follow-up, urological and digestive management. Spasticity and pain development were also collected. 
Results: 74 women met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 48, and mean follow-up was 10.5 years. Traumatic SCI was reported in 63%. Myelitis was the most frequent medical cause (48%). Thoracic and complete SCI were the most frequent. Intermitent catheterization urination in 41%, and urinary tract infection in nearly every case with a mean of 1.5 episodes per year were the most common urinary complications. Other common complications were: urethra-bladder reflux (16%), hemorrhoids (30%), pressure ulcers (30%), 65% of upper motor neuron injuries developed Ashwoth 2 spasticity and 46% of them required medical treatment. Pain was reported in 77% with a mean VAS of 3, it was neuropathic below SCI level in 46% and was related with increasing age. When discharged, 43 patients were able for bipedestation, but 13 of them gave up. A significative decrease during follow-up in WISCI an FIM was found. 
Conclusions: Long term complications are very frequent in women with chronic SCI. A delayed functional capacity worsening has been reported when long term follow up is performed.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FEMALE POPULATION WITH CHRONIC SPINAL CORD INJURY