Comparison of disability and quality of life between patients with pediatric and adult onset paraplegia.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the factors that affect disability and quality of life in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) and to compare the degree of disability and quality of life in patients with SCI according to over and under 18 years of age when their injury occurred.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

Two academic hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty patients with SCI were included in this study. Group 1 included 20 patients with SCI who were younger than 18 years of age when their injury occurred, Group 2 included 20 patients who were older than 18 years of age when their injury occurred.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' demographics, duration of SCI and degree of disability were assessed using the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form (WHOQOL-Bref). Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

RESULTS

Although there was no significant difference between the BDI scores and CHART scores of the two groups, environment domain scores in the WHOQOL-Bref were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between age of SCI onset, disease duration, ASIA scores, depression scores, total CHART scores for all patients.

CONCLUSION

Adaptation to environment was significantly better in those who suffered SCI during adulthood than in pediatric patients with SCI. Disability level was not associated with age of disease onset, disease duration, neurological status, depression level.