title: One-year follow-up of Chinese people with spinal cord injury: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A tertiary spinal cord injury (SCI) center was established in the northern region of Hong Kong, China and a multidisciplinary SCI rehabilitation program was developed to reintegrate patients into the community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate functional  outcomes for Chinese people with SCI across a 1-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal prospective design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty community-dwelling participants with traumatic SCI were recruited. Functional status was measured using functional independence measure  (FIM) on admission, upon discharge, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year post-discharge. Information on use of assistive devices and life role were also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three (76.67%) participants were men. Seventeen participants (10 with tetraplegia and 7 with  paraplegia) were classified ASIA A, B, or C; 13 (7 with tetraplegia and 6 with paraplegia) were classified as ASIA D. Significant differences in FIM motor scores were only found between the tetraplegia group and three other diagnostic groups using Bonferroni post-hoc tests of repeated  measure ANOVA (analysis of variance) (P < 0.05). Longitudinally, contrast tests of repeated measure ANOVA showed significant differences during the hospitalization period for all diagnostic groups. People in the ASIA D group showed significant functional improvement even  after 1-year post-discharge (P < 0.05). At 1-year post-discharge, only two participants were engaged in either remunerative employment or academic pursuit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite functional status improvement, few people with traumatic SCI were re-engaged  in productive life role 1 year after discharge. Studies with longer follow-up would be beneficial.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China. rsccchan@polyu.edu.hk
authors: Sam Chi Chung
authors: SC
authors: Chan
authors: Alice Po Shan
authors: AP
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*