title: Increases in wheelchair breakdowns, repairs, and adverse consequences for people with traumatic spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to report the current incidence of wheelchair breakdowns, repairs, and consequences and to compare current data with historical data.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample survey of 723 participants with spinal cord injury who use a wheelchair for more than 40 hrs/wk treated at a Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems center was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant increases were found in the number of participants reporting repairs (7.8%) and adverse consequences (23.5%) in a 6-mo period (2006-2011) compared with historical data (2004-2006) (P < 0.001). When examining current data, minorities experienced a greater frequency and higher number of reported consequences (P = 0.03). Power wheelchair users reported a higher number of repairs and consequences than did manual wheelchair users (P < 0.001). Wheelchairs equipped with seat functions were associated with a greater frequency of adverse consequences (P = 0.01). Repairs did not vary across funding source, but individuals with wheelchairs provided by Medicare and Medicaid reported a higher frequency of consequences than did the combined group of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Worker's Compensation, and the Veterans Administration (P = 0.034 and P = 0.013, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence and consequences of repairs are increasing from what was already a very high statistic in this United States population. Further investigation into causality is required, and intervention is needed to reverse this potential trend.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Worobey
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oyster
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nemunaitis
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Boninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012015:Reference Standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult