Citation

Krause JS. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2004; 85(9): 1503-1508.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15375825

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify the annual incidence and risk factors for subsequent injury among subjects with preexisting spinal cord injury (SCI) DESIGN: Cross-sectional, mailed survey. SETTING: A specialty hospital in the southeastern United States. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=1328) with SCI participated in this study (response rate, 72%), each of whom met the following inclusion criteria: (1) traumatic SCI with residual impairment American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grades A through D, (2) nonsurgical onset, (3) age 18 years or older at the time of the study, and (4) a minimum of 12 months post-SCI. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.Main outcome measures A general health assessment survey was used that required participants to report the number of injuries that were severe enough to require treatment in a clinic, emergency department, or hospital in the past year, as well as whether any injury resulted in hospitalization. Risk measures included the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CAGE, Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale, and prescription medication usage. RESULTS: Nineteen percent of participants reported at least 1 injury within the past year, with an annual incidence of.33 when considering those with multiple injuries. Twenty-seven percent of those with at least 1 injury reported 1 or more injury-related hospitalizations in the past year. Being younger; having an ASIA grade D injury; higher sensation-seeking scores; heavy drinking; and prescription medication use for pain, spasticity, depression, and sleep were associated with a greater likelihood of subsequent injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent injuries impact nearly 20% of people with SCI annually; yet, this problem has received little attention in the literature. Further study is needed to identify the costs, severity, and circumstances surrounding injury to design prevention programs that target risk behaviors.