The impact of stoma for bowel management after spinal cord injury

Multi-centre, retrospective self-report postal survey.

To characterise spinal cord injured (SCI) individuals with a stoma, their stoma management and outcomes, to identify sources of information and support for decision making and to explore the impact of a stoma on life satisfaction.

Five UK spinal cord injury centres.

A study-specific questionnaire accompanied by self-concept, life satisfaction and mood measures, and three simple rating scales for satisfaction, impact and restriction on life were sent to all known ostomates at five participating centres.

Respondents were 92 individuals, mean age 56 years, mean duration of injury 26 years, 91% with colostomy. Multiple sources of information were utilised in deciding on surgery; discussion with other SCI ostomates was important. Duration of bowel care, faecal incontinence, bowel-related autonomic dysreflexia, dietary manipulation and laxative use were all significantly reduced following surgery. Rectal mucous discharge was the most common and bothersome post-stoma problem. Satisfaction with stoma was high; provision of sufficient information preoperatively was important, those with ileostomy were more dependent and less satisfied. Life satisfaction and physical self-concept were both lower in this sample than in previously reported samples of SCI individuals without reported bowel difficulties or stoma.

The findings of this study of self-selected respondents with a stoma for bowel management after SCI emphasised the benefits of stoma in selected individuals and the importance of timely intervention, the complexity of the associated decision-making and of preoperative counselling. The impact of bowel dysfunction on physical self-concept warrants investigation.