Assessment of physical function and secondary complications after complete spinal cord injury

The study focuses on quality of life (QOL) after spinal cord injury (SCI) because individuals with SCI often face emotional, social, and economic challenges. QOL is defined as the value assigned to life's duration as affected by impairments, functional states, perceptions, and social opportunities influenced by disease, injury, treatment, and policy. The research uses the SF-12 questionnaire, a shorter version of SF-36, to assess health-related QOL. However, the standard SF-12 questions on physical function are not optimal for people with complete SCI because they focus on ambulation, which is not possible for this population. Therefore, the study introduces follow-up questions tailored to wheelchair users. The study also investigates secondary complications of SCI, such as pain and spasms, and their impact on QOL. It aims to describe these complications and determine if the total number of complications negatively affects QOL. A questionnaire was developed to assess the incidence and severity of these complications.

• 1
  The SF-12 follow-up questions revealed differences in physical function among subjects with complete SCI that were not apparent with the original SF-12 items. Using the new questions, subject scores approximated population normative values.
• 2
  The most common secondary complications were back pain, shoulder pain, leg spasms, leg joint stiffness, and difficulty coughing. These complications were also the most likely to be rated as moderately or greatly bothersome.
• 3
  Subjects who enrolled in the study during the acute phase of SCI showed improvements in SF-12 subscales during the first year post-injury, with the bodily pain subscale demonstrating the largest relative improvement.