International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-9096
ISSN: 2329-9096
Andreane Richard-Denis
Sacré-Coeur Hospital of Montreal
Canada
Research Article
Determining Complete Functional Independence in Patients with a Traumatic
Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Proposal of a Two-Level Scale Based on the Spinal
Cord Independence Measure
Author(s): Andreane Richard-Denis, Cynthia Thompson and Jean-Marc Mac-ThiongAndreane Richard-Denis, Cynthia Thompson and Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong
Objective: The SCIM scale is a valid measure of functional outcome for the spinal cord injury (SCI) population, but continuous scores are difficult to translate into functional independence (FI). The purpose of this study was to develop a new tool based on the third version of the SCIM questionnaire that would identify patients reaching complete-FI. In order to confirm that this new scale is relevant, we investigated whether it was associated with four factors often proposed as predictors of chronic functional outcome.
Design: A prospective cohort study including 109 patients with cervical traumatic SCI was performed. Based on a minimal score obtained on each item of the SCIM questionnaire, the cohort was dichotomized into complete FI (N=52) or non-complete FI (N=57). Baseline characteristics were compared between the two cohorts. A multivar.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2329-9096.1000412