Transfer Activities in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury after Discharge from Hospital

Kim, Jong Hoon; Lee, Bum Suk; Choi, Eun Seok; Yang, Ho Cheol; Kim, Dong A; Kim, Hong Chae; Yi, Sook Hee

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the transfer activities in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) after discharge, and assess the caregivers' pain related to patient transfer in the community residence. METHOD: One hundred seventeen SCI patient and 35 caregivers for the patients dependent on bed-wheelchair transfer activities were included. As for SCI patients, motor index score (MIS), one transfer item from the Korean version of modified Barthel index (K-MBI), and three items related to transfers from the spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) II were evaluated. Regarding caregivers, musculoskeletal pain with patient transfer, ease-of-use and safety of transfer methods including an electric-powered lift were measured.
RESULTS
The degree of transfer activity changed in 21 patients (17.9%). During follow-up, all patients with SCI at and above C6 showed dependent transfer activities. Eight from 10 patients with SCI at C7, and all patients with SCI at and below C8 performed independent bed-wheelchair transfer activities. Thirty caregivers complained of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The degree of pain at the time of patient transfer was significantly lower in those who used electric-powered lifts compared to manual transfer methods. Caregivers using electric-powered lifts showed significantly better ease-of-use scale than those using manual transfer methods. However, there was no significant difference in the safety scale.
CONCLUSION
The use of electric-powered lifts is essential for patients who cannot perform independent transfers, especially those with SCI at and above C7.