Risk factors included complete injury, tetraplegia, older age, concomitant illness, and violent injury. McKinley WO, Jackson AB, Cardenas DD, et al. Participants received an average of 7 weekly telerehabilitation visits by the clinic nurse. Patients and families reported a high degree of satisfaction with the method. The exploratory study demonstrated that PUs can be successfully managed using telerehabilitation.
Controlled studies are necessary in order to validate outcomes and determine cost-effectiveness.
Vesmarovich S, Walker T, Hauber RP, et al. Demographic and injury data were analyzed for 25,054 persons admitted to a model SCI system within 365 days of injury between 1973-1998. Average age at time of injury was found to be rising. Since 1973, the proportion of injuries resulting from vehicular crashes and sports declined, and injuries from falls increased. Violence is a more common cause of injury among persons treated at a model system who are young, male, and African American.