Functional recovery in children and adolescents with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine functional recovery in mobility and self-care measured using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) in children with spinal cord injury (SCI) during an inpatient rehabilitation stay and to identify how demographic and clinical variables relate to functional recovery.


METHODS
PEDI scores were collected through retrospective chart review for 32 children and adolescents with SCI (mean age, 10.6 +/- 6.2 years; range, 1-19 years) admitted to an inpatient physical rehabilitation program between 1995 and 2007.


RESULTS
Children with SCI showed significantly improved functional skill recovery and reduced caregiver assistance for the PEDI mobility and self-care domains after rehabilitation. Item analyses suggested more recovery in mobility than in self-care skills. Children with incomplete injury gained more independence in self-care than those with complete injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with SCI showed improved functional skills and reduced need for caregiver assistance as measured by the PEDI during inpatient rehabilitation.
Choksi
Ankita
A
Department of Physical Therapy, MGH Institute of Health Professions, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Townsend
Elise L
EL
Dumas
Helene M
HM
Haley
Stephen M
SM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007297:Inpatients; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010372:Pediatrics; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012648:Self Care; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult