[10-year follow-up of occupational integration of 50 patients with complete paraplegia]

A total of 50 patients with complete paraplegia (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). Hence, 447 questionnaires had been sent out for collecting pertinent information, all of which were returned. 5 paraplegics died during the 10 year observation period. The causes of lethality, as well as further data on medical findings and ADL independence are reported elsewhere. In the occupational context, the following outcomes were found concerning vocational reintegration: The cumulative quota for training and standard-wage employment was 61.1% (273 affirmative replies of 447 in all); The time-schedule quota for standard-wage employment was 52.1% at Date 5 (25 of 48 paraplegics), 58.7% at Date 7 (27 of 46 paraplegics), and 51.1% at Date 10 (23 of 45 paraplegics); The overall quota for training during the entire observation period was 64.0% (32 of 50 paraplegics), and 66.0% (33 of 50 paraplegics) for reintegration into standard-wage employment. The factors which have contributed favourably to these rather positive vocational rehabilitation outcomes are discussed in some detail.