Vocational Potential and Spinal Cord Injuries - A Review and Evaluation

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review the vocational potential of spinal cord injured persons. The results of 17 recent (1976-1991) studies were reviewed. A diversity of study outcomes was indicated and the return to work rates varied from a low of 13% to a high of 69%. A total of 3568 subjects participated in the 17 studies and an estimated 56% of these were described specifically as paraplegics, 44% quadriplegics. Sample sizes within the reports ranged from small ethnographic studies of 15 to large scale follow-up surveys of 760. The results of these independent studies were combined. Overall, 1441 or 40.3% of all the 3568 subjects sampled in the 17 studies returned to work post-injury. For subjects who were followed-up less than five years post-injury, the average return to work rate was 37.9%; for subjects who were followed up at periods exceeding five years post-injury, the return to work rate was higher at 48.6%. From the methodological point of view, some standard measures of outcome are required. It was concluded that the results of these 17 studies are encouraging and indicate the potential of persons with a range of spinal cord injuries.