Secondary impairments after spinal cord injury - A population-based study

Objective: To determine the prevalence of secondary impairments among indiv iduals with long-standing spinal cord injury in Quebec and the potential re lationships between these impairments and several variables. Design: A review of 2200 medical files was conducted to determine the targe t population; 976 patients were selected randomly and mailed questionnaires . The results were based on 482 individuals with spinal cord injury who ret urned the completed questionnaire. The questionnaire included 14 subsection s, such as sociodemographic, medical, psychosocial, and environmental infor mation. The medical section, including the type and level of lesion and the presence of secondary impairments, was analyzed. Results: Urinary tract infection, spasticity, and hypotension were the most frequently reported secondary impairments, regardless of the severity of i njury. Relationships between the prevalence of secondary impairments and th e duration of injury, as well as perceived health status, were observed. Conclusions: This is the first study to describe secondary impairments afte r long-standing spinal cord injury in Quebec. Patients with spinal cord inj ury still present a high prevalence of secondary impairments many years aft er their rehabilitation, despite preventive education or medical follow-up visits. Further studies are required to determine the specific impact that these impairments have on the patients' social role and their quality-of-li fe.