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Published on: July 19, 2013
Secondary impairments after spinal cord injury: a population-based study
1Rehabilitation Institute of Quebec City, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|November 18, 2000
Summary
Secondary impairments like urinary tract infections and spasticity are common in individuals with long-standing spinal cord injury (SCI). These issues persist long after initial rehabilitation, impacting quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Long-standing spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to persistent secondary health issues.
- Understanding the prevalence of these impairments is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of secondary impairments in individuals with long-standing SCI in Quebec.
- To explore relationships between these impairments and factors like injury duration and perceived health.
Main Methods:
- Review of 2,200 medical files to identify the study population.
- Random selection and mailing of questionnaires to 976 individuals with SCI.
- Analysis of data from 482 returned questionnaires, focusing on medical information and secondary impairments.
Main Results:
- Urinary tract infection, spasticity, and hypotension were the most frequent secondary impairments.
- Prevalence of secondary impairments showed relationships with injury duration and perceived health status.
- These findings were consistent across varying injury severities.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to document secondary impairments in long-standing SCI in Quebec.
- Individuals with SCI experience a high prevalence of secondary impairments years post-rehabilitation.
- Further research is needed to understand the impact on social roles and quality of life.
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