Factors associated with risk for subsequent injuries after traumatic spinal cord injury

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Subjects with preexisting spinal cord injury (SCI) participated in this study to identify the annual incidence and risk factors for subsequent injuries after SCI. Subjects were asked to report the number of injuries in the past year that were severe enough to require treatment in a clinic, emergency department, or hospital, as well as any injury that resulted in hospitalization. Risk measures included the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the CAGE alcohol-screening questionnaire, the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale, and prescription medicine usage. Nineteen percent of the subjects reported at least 1 injury within the past year, with an annual incidence rate of .33 when considering those with multiple injuries. Twenty-seven percent of those with at least 1 injury reported 1 or more injury-related hospital admissions. Being younger, having a more severe injury, higher sensation seeking scores, heavy drinking, and using prescription medicines for pain, spasticity, depression, and sleep were associated with a greater risk of subsequent injuries.

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