SOCIAL-ADJUSTMENT AND REHABILITATION IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS WITH SPINAL-INJURIES SUSTAINED IN MILITARY SERVICE

One hundred and eighteen competitors, with spinal injuries, attending the First International Ex-Service Wheelchair Games: held in July 1993 , were interviewed. Athletes from 17 countries attended. Sixteen compe titors were tetraplegic and 102 paraplegic, their injuries are detaile d below. The injuries had occurred on average 14.0 years previously; 3 5 injuries were war injuries, a further 10 due to combat training. The paraplegic athletes had spent 9.6 months and the tetraplegic 12.3 mon ths in hospital. Fifty-five spinal stabilizations had been performed, and this was associated with a reduced inpatient stay for the parapleg ic athletes (7.7 months vs 11.3 months). Spinal fixation did not affec t later employment. Thirty-one athletes worked, and the amount of pens ion had no significant bearing on the numbers working. There was a mea n delay of 38.3 months from injury until return to sport. and only 11. 8% of competitors took up sport in the initial rehabilitation period. The differences between operative treatment, inpatient stay and number s working from the different countries are compared. Financing of atte ndance and training seemed to be informal, with just over half of the athletes financed by their governments. The role of sport in rehabilit ation of those patients with spinal injuries, and specifically those i njured whilst serving in the armed forces, is discussed.