Upper limb reconstructive surgery uptake for persons with tetraplegia in New Zealand: a retrospective case review 2001-2005.
METHODS
Retrospective case series.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the uptake of upper limb surgery by individuals with tetraplegia in New Zealand (NZ).


METHODS
New Zealand.


METHODS
The clinical notes of all individuals who sustained a cervical spinal cord injury between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed for those who met the clinical criteria to undergo upper limb surgery. Cases were cross-referenced to the hand surgery record to determine the uptake of upper limb surgery in this cohort.


RESULTS
The uptake of upper limb surgery for people with tetraplegia in NZ was 44% of the eligible cohort and 59% of those assessed for surgery. This is notably higher than the reported proportion in other developed countries. The data also suggested that women and those who identified as NZ Maori were less likely to undergo upper limb surgery than were men and those of NZ European ethnicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Utilization of upper limb surgery in the eligible tetraplegic population in NZ was high. However, it seemed that some groups were less likely to undergo surgery. Further research into the factors that affect an individual's decision to undergo upper limb surgery could explain the observed pattern.
Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit, University of Otago, Wellington, UK.
J A
JA
Dunn
E J C
EJ
Hay-Smith
L C
LC
Whitehead
S
S
Keeling
A G
AG
Rothwell
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult