Predictors for return to work after spinal cord injury: A 3-year multicenter analysis

Objective: To examine the ability of the Motor Index Score (MIS), in combin ation with demographic variables, to predict return to work during a 3-year period for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Prospectively collected data, between 1986 and 1995, submitted to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center were analyzed to determi ne the prediction of return to work utilizing variables of education, ethni city, age, marital status, gender, and MIS. Individuals, aged 18 to 65yrs, employed at the time of their injury, were evaluated at discharge from reha bilitation and at 1 (YR1), 2 (YR2), and 3 (YR3) years postinjury (sample si zes of 1,857, 1,486, and 1,177, respectively). Results: The most important predictors of return to work were education, MI S, ethnicity, and age at onset of SCI. These variables resulted in a high r ate of accuracy for predicting across all 3 yrs (YR1, 81%; YR2, 82%; YR3, 7 7%). Conclusions: The ability to predict return to work after SCI was shown util izing MIS and demographic variables, with nearly 80% accuracy. This suggest s that return to work after SCI is a dynamic process, with the level of imp ortance of each variable changing with time postinjury.