Trauma Indicators in SCI Rehabilitation Outcomes

What is the study about?

This study seeks to study the role of physiological factors close to the time of initial traumatic Spinal Cord Injrury (SCI), specifically how those factors predict functional outcomes and neurologic recovery for people with SCI.

What did the study find?

This study found that factors such as neurologic level of injury, age, length of rehabilitation stay, and the ASIA impairment scale (AIS) scores predicted discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor scores. Specifically, higher neurologic level of injury and more impaired AIS were associated with lower discharge motor FIM scores.

Who participated in the study?

Participants were patients (N=319) admitted to a Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems rehabilitation center within 1 year of injury.

How was the study conducted?

This study was a retrospective analysis on data from the SCI Model Systems database. The authors utilized regression analysis to examine the effects of various demographic variables and patient-oriented variables on FIM motor scores at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and change in FIM motor score between inpatient rehabilitation admission and discharge. This was used to examine the association between physiological factors around the time of injury and functional outcomes as well as neurological recovery.

How can people use the results?

Individuals with TBI and their families can use the results of this study to learn how different factors can impact functional independence.

Reference

Shea, C., Slocum, C., Goldstein, R., Roach, M. J., Griffin, R., Chen, Y., & Zafonte, R. (2022). Trauma Indicators in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank and National Spinal Cord Injury Database. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 103(4), 642–648.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2021.12.001

Disclaimer

The contents of this quick review were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DPKT0009). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this quick review do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.