Spinal cord injuries as a consequence of falls: are there differential rehabilitation outcomes?

Case series, consecutive sample, survey.

To examine the incidence of spinal cord injuries sustained as a result of falls compared with other causes, and to investigate rehabilitation outcomes between these two groups.

Tertiary care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation unit (National Spinal Injuries Center), Stoke Mandeville Hospital, UK.

Demographic information and descriptive statistics were examined for individuals sustaining their injury via falls vs non-falls. Statistical analysis investigated rehabilitation outcomes between the groups.

The etiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) reported is similar to previous findings. Individuals who sustained their SCI as a result of falls and other causes made equal improvements from the start to end of rehabilitation, according to the Needs Assessment Checklist, a clinical measure of individual rehabilitation needs in 10 domains. However, those in the falls group achieved less overall throughout rehabilitation, and this was significant at pre-discharge for the areas of bladder management, mobility and discharge.

Results highlight the need for specific consideration to be made of the rehabilitation needs of individuals who sustain SCI as a result of a fall, and for these to be addressed in rehabilitation programming.