OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of age and initial neurologic status on recovery of ambulation in patients with motor-incomplete tetraplegia. STUDY DESIGN: Inception cohort study. SETTING: Urban, tertiary care hospital with Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center. PATIENTS: One hundred five patients with American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) C or D tetraplegia at admission or within 72 hours of injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Ambulatory status at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent (30/33) of ASIA C patients younger than 50 years of age became ambulatory by discharge, versus 42% (13/31) ASIA C patients age 50 or older (p < .0001). All (41/41) patients initially classified as ASIA D became ambulatory by discharge. CONCLUSION: For patients with ASIA D tetraplegia, prognosis for recovery of independent ambulation is excellent. For patients with ASIA C tetraplegia, recovery of ambulation is significantly less likely if age is 50 years or older.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of age and initial neurologic status on recovery of ambulation in patients with motor-incomplete tetraplegia. STUDY DESIGN: Inception cohort study. SETTING: Urban, tertiary care hospital with Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center. PATIENTS: One hundred five patients with American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) C or D tetraplegia at admission or within 72 hours of injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Ambulatory status at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent (30/33) of ASIA Cpatients younger than 50 years of age became ambulatory by discharge, versus 42% (13/31) ASIA Cpatients age 50 or older (p < .0001). All (41/41) patients initially classified as ASIA D became ambulatory by discharge. CONCLUSION: For patients with ASIA D tetraplegia, prognosis for recovery of independent ambulation is excellent. For patients with ASIA C tetraplegia, recovery of ambulation is significantly less likely if age is 50 years or older.
Authors: B Dobkin; H Barbeau; D Deforge; J Ditunno; R Elashoff; D Apple; M Basso; A Behrman; S Harkema; M Saulino; M Scott Journal: Neurorehabil Neural Repair Date: 2007 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 3.919
Authors: Ross S Chafetz; John P Gaughan; Christina Calhoun; Jennifer Schottler; Lawrence C Vogel; Randal Betz; M J Mulcahey Journal: Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil Date: 2013