Spinal cord injury patient quality of life, perspective and transformation: narrative review
![](https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/public/journals/26/cover_issue_725_es_ES.png)
Abstract
Study design: Narrative review.
Objective: To investigate the current panorama of knowledge associated with the quality of life of adult patients with spinal cord injury and its transformations in the last 10 years.
Methods: A literature review was carried out in the main databases PubMed, Medline, PEDro, and Cochrane. The articles with the highest weight of evidence (systematic review and meta-analysis) were selected. Using the MeSH terms "Spinal Cord Injury AND Quality of Life" as search parameters. Additionally, grey literature articles were annexed to obtain epidemiological data and information in our environment.
Results: Among the articles found, 33% dealt with psychological interventions, 25% with physical therapy interventions, 4% with telemedicine interventions, 4% with pre-hospital interventions, and 4% with the impact of initial rehabilitation interventions. In 12.5% of the articles, the patient's wishes regarding recovery were predominant, and 8% evaluated strategies that validated tools to quantify the improvement in quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury.
Discussion: Patients with spinal cord injury present various complications associated with the disease, both physical and psychological. Multiple strategies have been addressed to improve the quality of life of these patients. It has been shown that interventions on the diseases associated with spinal cord injury have a positive impact on their quality of life. In turn, physical and psychological therapy becomes a pillar for the improvement of patients, however, there is no clarity on the appropriate therapeutic strategy in this regard, nor on the assessment tools for this problem. In turn, it is clear that the role of the environment is fundamental for the improvement of the individual, and that medicine can play an important role in improving the quality of life of patients with this entity.
Conclusions: Spinal cord injury is a condition that generates an important affection on the quality of life of the patients who present it. Although several therapeutic methods have been demonstrated to achieve an improvement in it, there is still no clarity about the most effective methods, the best tools to face this type of patients or about the therapies that generate a greater and better impact.
Keywords
quality of life, spinal cord injury, narrative review, patient
References
- Tomaschek R, Gemperli A, Rupp R, Geng V, Scheel-Sailer A. A systematic review of outcome measures in initial rehabilitation of individuals with newly acquired spinal cord injury: Providing evidence for clinical practice guidelines. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2019;55(5):605–17.
- WHO. WHO Spinal Cord Injury 2013.pdf. WHO; 2013.
- DANE. DANE [Internet]. 2010. Available from: https://www.dane.gov.co/index.ph p/estadisticas-portema/demografia-ypoblacion/discapacidad
- Young M, McKay C, Williams S, Rouse P, Bilzon JLJ. Time-related changes in quality of life in persons with lower limb amputation or spinal cord injury: Protocol for a systematic review. Syst Rev. 2019;8(1):4–9.
- Simpson LA, Eng JJ, Hsieh JTC, Wolfe DL. The health and life priorities of individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic review. J Neurotrauma. 2012;29(8):1548–55.
- Pérez J, Henao C. Lesiones medulares y discapacidad: revisión bibliográfica. Aquichan. 2010;10:157–72.
- Whitehurst DGT, Noonan VK, Dvorak MFS, Bryan S. A review of preference-based health-related quality of life questionnaires in spinal cord injury research. Spinal Cord [Internet]. 2012;50(9):646– 54. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sc.2012.4 6
- Lugo Agudelo LH, García HI. Descripción de la calidad de vida en una cohorte de pacientes con Lesión Medular en el Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl. Rev Colomb Med física y Rehabil. 2009;19(2):14–27.
- C J, C C, J F, C M. Características clínicas y demográficas de pacientes con trauma raquimedular. Experiencia de seis años. Acta Medica Colomb. 2015;40(1):45–50. 10. Pérez A, Santamaria EK, Operario D, Tarkang EE, Zotor FB, Cardoso SR de SN, et al. Lesiones de la médula espinal, perspectivas internacionales. BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2017;5(1):1–8. Available from: https://ejournal.poltektegal.ac.id/index.php/siklus/article/view/298%0
- http://repositorio.unan.edu.ni/2986/1/5624.pdf%0A
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jana.2015.10.005%0A
- http://www.biomedcentral.com/14712458/12/58%0Ahttp://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&P
- Unidas N. Consejo Económico y Social. 2015;1–34.
- Naciones Unidas. Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad y Protocolo Facultativo. Rev Cienc Salud Bogotá [Internet]. 2014;6(23):4. Available from: http://www.un.org/disabilities/docu ments/convention/convoptprots.pdf
- Van Leeuwen CMC, Kraaijeveld S, Lindeman E, Post MWM. Associations between psychological factors and quality of life ratings in persons with spinal cord injury: A systematic review. Spinal Cord [Internet]. 2012;50(3):174–87. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sc.2011.1 20
- van Diemen T, Crul T, van Nes I, Geertzen JH, Post MW. Associations Between SelfEfficacy and Secondary Health Conditions in People Living With Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil [Internet]. 2017;98(12):2566–77. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.20 17.03.024
- Hearn JH, Cross A. Mindfulness for pain, depression, anxiety, and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury: A systematic review. BMC Neurol. 2020;20(1):1–11.
- Peter C, Müller R, Cieza A, Geyh S. Psychological resources in spinal cord injury: A systematic literature review. Spinal Cord. 2012;50(3):188–201.
- Sakakibara BM, Hitzig SL, Miller WC, Eng JJ. An evidence-based review on the influence of aging with a spinal cord injury on subjective quality of life. Spinal Cord. 2012;50(8):570–8.
- Mehta S, Orenczuk S, Hansen KT, Aubut JAL, Hitzig SL, Legassic M, et al. An Evidence-Based Review of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosocial Issues Post-Spinal Cord Injury. Rehabil Psychol. 2011;56(1):15–25.
- Müller R, Peter C, Cieza A, Geyh S. The role of social support and social skills in people with spinal cord injurya systematic review of the literature. Spinal Cord. 2012;50(2):94–106.
- Kent ML, Dorstyn DS. Psychological variables associated with employment following spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis. Spinal Cord [Internet]. 2014;52(10):722– 8. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sc.2014.9 2
- Bochkezanian V, Raymond J, De Oliveira CQ, Davis GM. Can combined aerobic and muscle strength training improve aerobic fitness, muscle strength, function and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury? A systematic review. Spinal Cord [Internet]. 2015;53(6):418–31. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sc.2015.4 8
- Lee SY, Hertel J, Sciences S, Gables C. Physical Exercise for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: Systematic Review Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. J Sport Rehabil. 2011;
- Kawanishi CY, Greguol M. Physical activity, quality of life, and functional autonomy of adults with spinal cord injuries. Adapt Phys Act Q. 2013;30(4):317–37.
- Quel De Oliveira C, Refshauge K, Middleton J, De Jong L, Davis GM. Effects of Activity-Based Therapy Interventions on Mobility, Independence, and Quality of Life for People with Spinal Cord Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Neurotrauma. 2017;34(9):1726–43.
- Lu X, Battistuzzo CR, Zoghi M, Galea MP. Effects of training on upper limb function after cervical spinal cord injury: A systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2015;29(1):3–13.
- Oteir AO, Smith K, Stoelwinder JU, Middleton J, Jennings PA. Should suspected cervical spinal cord injury be immobilised?: A systematic review. Injury [Internet]. 2015;46(4):528–35. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2 014.12.032
- Hitzig SL, Balioussis C, Nussbaum E, McGillivray CF, Craven BC, Noreau L. Identifying and classifying quality-of-life tools for assessing pressure ulcers after spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2013;36(6):600–15.
- Boldt I, Eriks-Hoogland I, Brinkhof MWG, Bie RA, von Elm E. Non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in people with spinal cord injury. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(11).
- DI BIASE M, Mearini L, Nunzi E, Pietropaolo A, Salvini E, Gubbiotti M, et al. A Systematic Review and Comparison of Questionnaires in the Management of Spinal Cord Injury, Multiple Sclerosis and the Neurogenic Bladder. Neurourol Urodyn. 2015;364(January 2015):354–64.
- Choukou MA, Best KL, Craven BC, Hitzig SL. Identifying and classifying quality of life tools for assessing neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2019;25(1):1–22.
- Ravenek KE, Ravenek MJ, Hitzig SL, Wolfe DL. Assessing quality of life in relation to physical activity participation in persons with spinal cord injury: A systematic review. Disabil Health J [Internet]. 2012;5(4):213–23. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.20 12.05.005
- Baldassin V, Shimizu HE, Fachin- Martins E. Computer assistive technology and associations with quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Qual Life Res [Internet]. 2018;27(3):597–607. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11136- 018-1804-9