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Review
. 2009 Aug;47(8):582-91.
doi: 10.1038/sc.2009.18. Epub 2009 Apr 21.

Outcome measures in spinal cord injury: recent assessments and recommendations for future directions

M S Alexander  1 , K D Anderson, F Biering-Sorensen, A R Blight, R Brannon, T N Bryce, G Creasey, A Catz, A Curt, W Donovan, J Ditunno, P Ellaway, N B Finnerup, D E Graves, B A Haynes, A W Heinemann, A B Jackson, M V Johnston, C Z Kalpakjian, N Kleitman, A Krassioukov, K Krogh, D Lammertse, S Magasi, M J Mulcahey, B Schurch, A Sherwood, J D Steeves, S Stiens, D S Tulsky, H J A van Hedel, G Whiteneck
Affiliations
Review

Outcome measures in spinal cord injury: recent assessments and recommendations for future directions

M S Alexander et al. Spinal Cord. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

Study design: Review by the spinal cord outcomes partnership endeavor (SCOPE), which is a broad-based international consortium of scientists and clinical researchers representing academic institutions, industry, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and foundations.

Objectives: Assessment of current and evolving tools for evaluating human spinal cord injury (SCI) outcomes for both clinical diagnosis and clinical research studies.

Methods: a framework for the appraisal of evidence of metric properties was used to examine outcome tools or tests for accuracy, sensitivity, reliability and validity for human SCI.

Results: Imaging, neurological, functional, autonomic, sexual health, bladder/bowel, pain and psychosocial tools were evaluated. Several specific tools for human SCI studies have or are being developed to allow the more accurate determination for a clinically meaningful benefit (improvement in functional outcome or quality of life) being achieved as a result of a therapeutic intervention.

Conclusion: Significant progress has been made, but further validation studies are required to identify the most appropriate tools for specific targets in a human SCI study or clinical trial.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. INTERNATIONAL SPINAL CORD INJURY DATA SETS
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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