[Work after Spinal Cord Injury - Outpatient Data from a Rehabilitation Clinic for Paraplegiology].

Aim: This study investigated factors which influence work after a spinal cord lesion using routinely collected outpatient data including an ICF-based questionnaire.

Methods: The retrospective analysis was based on a sample of 290 outpatients with chronic spinal cord lesions of whom 43% reported to work. 15 factors possibly affecting occupational activity were evaluated by bivariate analyses and multivariable regression modelling.

Results: Negative associations were identified between working activities and the factors "age at time of spinal cord injury" (OR: 0.96, 95%-KI: 0.93-0.99, p<0.002) and "problems with covering distances" (OR: 0.44, 95%-KI: 0.25-0.79, p<0.006). A similar tendency was observed for "problems with shopping".

Conclusions: These findings indicate that age and aspects of mobility are important influencing factors for resumption of work after a spinal cord lesion. Therefore, mobility should be considered as an important target for interventions in long-term rehabilitation.