[Ten years follow-up of post-discharge training status of 50 patients with complete paraplegia]

A total of 50 patients with complete paraplegia (Reduction of Earning Capacity--MdE--100%; average age 25 years, 9 months) had been followed up annually over a period of 10 years post-onset (= Date 0), when discharged from hospital treatment and alive at the 10th, and final, follow-up year (= Date 10). 5 paraplegics died during the 10 year observation period. Hence, 447 questionnaires had been sent out for collecting pertinent information, all of which were returned. The replies received were summed up in 10 time-schedule quotas as well as in cumulative quotas, adding together all replies. Cumulative quotas are as follows: Independence in getting dressed 92.8% (415 affirmative replies of 447 in all); Independent transfer 93.1% (416 affirmative replies of 447 in all); Independent wheelchair use 98.4% (440 affirmative replies of 447 in all). Due to the considerable changes that had occurred over the entire observation period relative to the ability to stand and walk as well as to drive a car, the time-schedule quotas showed great variations, so that these quotas are stated here only in respect of the 10th, final, year of follow-up: Ability to stand 25.6% (10 affirmative replies of 39 in all); Ability to walk 13.9% (5 affirmative replies of 36 in all); Ability to drive a car 82.2% (37 affirmative replies of 45 in all). The conclusions to be drawn from these findings are discussed in some depth.