Care and services for spinal injured people with, and without, neurological deficit

To describe the care and service usage characteristics of the spinal injured (SI) population of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, including people without significant permanent neurological deficits.

A cross-sectional mailed survey was undertaken with all persons admitted to the two spinal injury hospital units in NSW following traumatic spinal injury in the period 1977 - 1992 who were not known to be deceased (n=2432). Response was gained from 75.8% of the 932 persons whose address was able to be confirmed (n=706).

SI persons were primarily males who incurred a motor related trauma at a young age. Over one third had minimal or no permanent neurological impairment. Over half of the respondents received assistance with everyday living (59.5%), including older persons with minimal or no motor or sensory problems, and a large number made use of professional services (40.5%). People with lower-level incomplete lesions were more likely to use paramedical services than some groups of people with quadriplegia.

The relatively high use of care and paramedical services by some persons with minimal physical functional limitations indicates the importance of including such persons when considering the provision of long-term care and rehabilitation services for people with spinal injury.