Secondary conditions in a community sample of people with spinal cord damage

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2016 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2016.1138600 · Published: January 1, 2016

Spinal Cord Injury Participation Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study compares secondary health issues in individuals with spinal cord injuries from trauma versus other causes. It looks at how these conditions impact their lives. The study found that the *type* of spinal cord damage (traumatic or non-traumatic) doesn't significantly change the secondary conditions people experience, except for bladder problems. The results suggest that managing these secondary conditions should be the same, regardless of how the spinal cord damage occurred.

Study Duration

August 2012 – June 2013

Participants

150 adults with spinal cord damage

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
No significant difference was found in total SCI-SCS scores between traumatic SCI and non-traumatic SCDys groups, indicating similar overall secondary condition burden.
2
Bladder problems were more prevalent in the non-traumatic SCDys group compared to the traumatic SCI group.
3
Tetraplegia and lower functional abilities significantly influenced the total SCI-SCS score, while sex, age, years post injury, and etiology did not.

Research Summary

This study compared secondary conditions in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction (SCDys). The results indicated no significant difference in the total SCI-SCS score between the two groups, except for bladder problems which were more prevalent in the SCDys group. The study concludes that secondary conditions following spinal cord damage do not appear to be influenced by etiology, suggesting similar prevention and management strategies for both traumatic SCI and non-traumatic SCDys.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Prevention and management strategies for secondary conditions should be consistent across individuals with traumatic SCI and non-traumatic SCDys.

Research

The SCI-SCS is a useful patient-reported outcome measure for research involving people with SCD, regardless of etiology.

Future Research

Further exploration of the SCI-SCS and S-FAS is warranted to refine assessment and understanding of secondary conditions and functional abilities in people with SCD.

Study Limitations

1
Responder bias due to recruitment for a sexuality-focused project.
2
Sample bias towards higher socio-economic status due to internet-based survey.
3
Lack of ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) data, using S-FAS as a proxy measure.

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