FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

DR. ANCILY ISSAC; DR. M. JAYASREE; DR. ABDUL GAFOOR S.

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2019

FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

Dr. Ancily Issac, Dr. M. Jayasree, Dr. Abdul Gafoor S.

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord injury inpatient rehabilitation should have precise and purposeful goals which take into consideration variety of factors regarding the patient and the injury to direct the individual to the best of his available potential. Knowledge on functional outcome and significant associated factors contributes to better care and counsel to the patient and family. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at finding that proportion of SCI patients who underwent inpatient rehabilitation with good functional outcome and to evaluate the factors determining the poor functional outcome. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with case control design with 89 patients admitted for inpatient rehabilitation at Department Of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College were assessed for clinical, demographic, patient and injury related factors. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score was used as outcome measure RESULTS: An increase in functional outcome of FIM gain score of ≥13 was noted in fifty-six patients (62.9%) and FIM gain score of <13 found in thirty-three patients (37.1%). The factors significantly associated with poor functional outcome were age, educational status, conservative management, delayed period following injury and admission, level of lesions and secondary complications, especially spasticity and musculoskeletal complications. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggests better innovative multidisciplinary rehabilitation strategies, infrastructure, early rehabilitation initiation, improved staff expertise, financial resources, renewed efforts to prevent complications for all the SCI patients particularly the aged, the high level lesions and better communication to the less educated patients regarding SCI for good functional outcome.