title: Comparison of rehabilitation outcomes in violent versus non-violent traumatic SCI.
abstract: This paper represents the results of a cohort study comparing functional outcomes of individuals with violent and non-violent traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) following inpatient rehabilitation. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with a diagnosis of traumatic SCI of violent etiology (gunshot wound, stabbing or assault) and 27 patients with non-violent etiology (motor vehicle accident and falls) were matched for neurological level of injury and classification. Demographic comparison of violent versus non-violent groups revealed mean age 30 versus 39, gender 93 percent versus 78 percent male, race 89 percent versus 59 percent non-white, 74 percent versus 41 percent unmarried and 56 percent versus 22 percent unemployed, respectively. Violent and non-violent traumatic SCI groups had similar lengths of stay, admission and discharge functional independent measures (FIM), FIM improvement, payor sources, hospital charges and discharge to home rates. Despite the differences noted in the demographics of violent and non-violent traumatic SCI, these two matched groups achieved similar functional outcomes and discharge disposition following inpatient rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cifu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keyser-Marcus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications