Article

A quadratic formula of the Spinal Cord Injury Ability Realization
Measurement Index (SCI-ARMI) has previously been published. This formula was
based on a model of Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM95), the 95th
percentile of the SCIM III values, which correspond with the American Spinal
Injury Association Motor Scores (AMS) of SCI patients. Objective. To further
develop the original formula. Setting. Spinal cord injury centers from 6
countries and the Statistical Laboratory, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Methods.
SCIM95 of 661 SCI patients was modeled, using a quantile regression with or
without adjustment for age and gender, to calculate SCI-ARMI values. SCI-ARMI
gain during rehabilitation and its correlations were examined. Results. A new
quadratic SCIM95 model was created. This resembled the previously published
model, which yielded similar SCIM95 values in all the countries, after adjustment
for age and gender. Without this adjustment, however, only 86% of the non-Israeli
SCIM III observations were lower than those SCIM95 values (P < .0001). Adding the
variables age and gender to the new model affected the SCIM95 value significantly
(P < .04). Adding country information did not add a significant effect (P > .1).
SCI-ARMI gain was positive (38.8 +/- 22 points, P < .0001) and correlated weakly
with admission age and AMS. Conclusions. The original quadratic SCI-ARMI formula
is valid for an international population after adjustment for age and gender. The
new formula considers more factors that affect functional ability following SCI.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS