Spinal cord injury rehabilitation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Time to rehabilitation admission, length of stay and functional independence

Spinal Cord, 2017 · DOI: 10.1038/sc.2016.165 · Published: May 1, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Participation Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focusing on the time it takes for patients to be admitted to rehabilitation, how long they stay, and how well they regain functional independence. The research aims to understand trends in rehabilitation admission times and length of stay, and to identify factors that predict motor function recovery after rehabilitation for both traumatic and non-traumatic SCI. The findings suggest that reducing the time between injury and rehabilitation admission may improve outcomes, especially for traumatic SCI, and that new strategies are needed to improve outcomes for older patients with non-traumatic SCI.

Study Duration

2009-2014

Participants

418 patients with spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Retrospective cohort study

Key Findings

1
Time from injury to rehabilitation admission was significantly longer compared to other countries, with mean values above 280 days for both traumatic and nontraumatic SCI.
2
Individuals with traumatic SCI had a significantly longer length of stay (LOS) in rehabilitation compared to those with nontraumatic SCI.
3
For traumatic SCI, admission FIM motor score was the largest contributor to discharge FIM motor score. Discharge FIM motor score had a significant negative association with tetraplegia and time from injury to rehabilitation admission.

Research Summary

This study analyzed data from 418 patients with SCI in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to investigate time to rehabilitation admission, length of stay (LOS), and functional independence. The study found that the time from injury to rehabilitation admission was notably longer compared to other countries. For traumatic SCI, longer time from injury to rehabilitation admission was associated with poorer functional motor outcomes. The study suggests the need to optimize the timing of rehabilitation admission and potentially increase the length of stay in rehabilitation to improve patient outcomes, especially for traumatic SCI.

Practical Implications

Policy Changes

Implement policies to reduce the time from injury to rehabilitation admission, especially for traumatic SCI, to potentially improve functional outcomes.

Resource Allocation

Consider increasing the length of stay in inpatient rehabilitation for SCI patients to align with international standards and potentially enhance patient outcomes.

Targeted Interventions

Develop and implement specialized interventions for older patients with nontraumatic SCI to address factors contributing to poorer outcomes.

Study Limitations

1
Retrospective cohort study design limits causal inferences.
2
Single rehabilitation hospital setting limits generalizability.
3
Exclusion of patients with ASIA D injury affects the representation of the SCI population.

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