title: Impairment, disability, handicap and medical expenses of persons aging with spinal cord injury.
abstract: Data from 205 Craig Hospital patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) were analysed with regard to level of injury, age, length of time since SCI, disability (as measured by the Functional Independence Measure), handicap (as measured by the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique), and average annual costs for services relating to the SCI. Differences in disability, handicap, and costs of care were analysed by chronological age and length of time since injury. Older individuals showed significant increases in disability and handicap. When chronological age was added to the number of years post-injury, significant increases in disability, handicap, and costs of care were noted at all neurological levels.
authors.affiliation: Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colorado 80110.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Menter
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Whiteneck
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Charlifue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerhart
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Solnick
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology*