A Study of the Evaluation of the Spinal Cord Injuries

척수 손상 환자에 관한 실태 조사

The incidence of spinal cord injury increase due to traffic accident, industrial accident and leisure sports. Spinal cord injury damages motor and sensory function below the injury level, also affects autonomic functions associated with voiding and defecation. Sexual dysfunction and psychosocial, vocational maladaptations are also some of the unwanted consequences of injury. The purpose of this study is look for means to prevent and to manage complications in spinal cord injury through investigation and analysis. The subjects of this study in spinal cord injured patients were admitted to the department of physical therapy, Kwangju christian Hospital, Nam Kwang Hospital, Chun Nam university Hospital and Cho Sun university Hospital, from April, 1, 1995 to March, 31, 1996. The results are as follows: 1. The subjects comprised 96 cases of spinal cord injury, ranging from 17 to 85(mean-40.8 yrs) and included 72 males and 24 females. Among these patients, 58 were cervical injury, 20 were thoracic injury and 18 were lumbar injury. 2. As for a major causative of spinal cord injury were traffic accident(59.4%), fall down (27.1 %), and motocycle(4.2%).. 3. The bladder control were taken by indwelling cathetar(41.7%), Crede maneuver(37.5%) and self voiding(16.7%). The bowel control were taken by all aid(61.5%), assitance(32.3%) and self defecation(6.2%). 4. Possible of sexual function were 35 cases (47.9%). 5. The device of transfer used wheel chair(69.8%) and bed(16.7%). 6. The patients with higher cord lesion got more serious pain than lower cord lesion. Also the patients with higher cord lesion got a serious spasticity. 7. The incidence of decubitus ulcer among 96 patients were in case 46(47.9%). The largest group of the pressure sore sites were sacral portion(82.0%), less than 1 month of onset occured a large numbers(50%). Incidence of pressure sore by spasticity occured many patients in case of mild or moderate. Incidence of pressure sore by pain occured many patients in case of severe pain.