Article

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk indicators for, and incidence of, recurrent falls and
fall-related injuries in wheelchair users with traumatic spinal cord injury.
DESIGN: Prospective multi-centre study. SUBJECTS:
One hundred and forty-nine
wheelchair users with spinal cord injury attending follow-up in Sweden and
Norway. METHODS: Inclusion criteria: wheelchair users >/= 18 years old with
traumatic spinal cord injury >/= 1 year post-injury.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
individuals with motor complete injuries above C5. Falls were prospectively
reported by text message every second week for one year and were followed-up by
telephone interviews. Outcomes were: fall incidence, risk indicators for
recurrent (> 2) falls and fall-related injuries. Independent variables were:
demographic data, quality of life, risk willingness, functional independence, and
exercise habits. RESULTS: Of the total sample (n = 149), 96 (64%) participants
fell, 45 (32%) fell recurrently, 50 (34%) were injured, and 7 (5%) severely
injured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that reporting
recurrent falls the previous year increased the odds ratio (OR) of recurrent
falls (OR 10.2, p < 0.001). Higher quality of life reduced the OR of fall-related
injuries (OR 0.86, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Previous recurrent falls was a strong
predictor of future falls. The incidence of falls, recurrent falls and
fall-related injuries was high. Hence, prevention of falls and fall-related injuries is important.

Langue : ANGLAIS