International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) Word Mapping to Determine the Human Functioning Associated with Upper Extremity Surgery for Tetraplegia.

Understanding human functioning and disablement, the contributing factors and their interactions in individuals with tetraplegia is important since elective upper extremity (UE) reconstructive surgery is now offered earlier after injury prior to full recognition of what lies ahead. Qualitative and quantitative data were available from a prior series of mixed methods studies, including a case series design capturing the patients' lived-experience perspectives of nerve or tendon transfer surgery, or not as the case may be. The objective of this study was to perform secondary data analysis to determine whether the recommended outcome tools being used by clinicians reflect the all important domains of functioning identified by people with tetraplegia who were considering UE reconstructive procedures.

A Mixed Methods Approach as a Channel to Interpret Outcomes Research and Lived Experience Enquiry of Upper Extremity Elective Surgery for Tetraplegia.

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) causing tetraplegia is extremely disabling. In such circumstances, restoration of upper extremity (UE) function is considered the highest priority. The advent of early nerve transfer (NT) procedures, in addition to more traditional tendon transfers (TT), warranted in-depth consideration given the time-limited nature of NT procedures.

Clinical Utility of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Used for Tendon and Nerve Transfers for Tetraplegia in New Zealand.

Purpose: This study determines the clinical utility of patient-reported outcome measures used to measure outcomes of upper extremity (UE) reconstructive procedures in individuals with tetraplegia. The patient-reported outcome measures are the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Capabilities of Upper Extremity Questionnaire (CUE-Q), and the Personal Wellbeing Index.

Methods: Retrospective data of 43 individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) levels C4-C7 tetraplegia, and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades A-D who had upper limb reconstructive surgery were reviewed.

People ageing with spinal cord injury in New Zealand: a hidden population? The need for a spinal cord injury registry.

Aims: To identify and establish a research database of ageing New Zealand people who sustained a traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) before 1990.

Methods: All living New Zealand residents incurring a SCI before 1 January 1990 were eligible. A co-ordinated consultation with apposite New Zealand organisations was undertaken to identify and access existing SCI databases, and remove duplicate or ineligible records.