Need and availability of assistive devices to compensate for impaired hand function of individuals with tetraplegia

This study examined the availability and need for assistive devices among individuals with tetraplegia in Switzerland. Assistive devices can help compensate for impaired hand function resulting from spinal cord injuries. The study found that only about one-third of individuals with tetraplegia had assistive devices for impaired hand function. However, most participants reported they did not have an unmet need for these devices. Factors like independence in grooming and the severity of the spinal cord injury were associated with the availability of certain assistive devices.

• 1
  Only 32.7% of participants had any assistive device for impaired hand function.
• 2
  The most frequent devices were adapted cutlery (14.8%), type supports (14.1%), environmental control systems (11.4%), and writing orthosis (10.6%).
• 3
  The self-declared unmet need was generally low (0.7% - 4.3%), except for adapted kitchenware with a moderate unmet need (8.9%).