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Review
. 2017 Fall;23(4):313-323.
doi: 10.1310/sci2304-313.

Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities Regarding Research in Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Dysfunction

Peter Wayne New  1   2   3 , Sara J T Guilcher  4   5 , Susan B Jaglal  5   6   7 , Fin Biering-Sørensen  8 , Vanessa K Noonan  9 , Chester Ho  10   11
Affiliations
Review

Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities Regarding Research in Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Dysfunction

Peter Wayne New et al. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2017 Fall.

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord dysfunction (SCDys) is caused by heterogeneous health conditions, and the incidence is increasing. Despite the growing interest in rehabilitation research for SCDys, research into SCDys faces many challenges. Objective: The objective of this project was to perform a clinical review of changes in SCDys research over the last 4 decades; identify challenges to conducting research in SCDys; and propose opportunities for improving research in SCDys. Methods: A triangulation approach was used for obtaining evidence: literature search (January 2017) using MEDLINE and Embase databases for publications in English (1974-2016) regarding SCDys; workshop discussions at the International Spinal Cord Society annual meeting, September 16, 2016, Vienna, Austria; and our collective expertise in SCDys clinical rehabilitation research. Results: There has been a substantial increase in publications on SCDys over the 4 decades, from 1,825 in 1974-1983 to 11,887 in the decade 2004-2013, along with an improvement in research methodology. Numerous challenges to research in SCDys rehabilitation were grouped into the following themes: (a) identification of cases; (b) study design and data collection; and (c) funding, preclinical, and international research. Opportunities for addressing these were identified. Conclusions: The increase in scientific publications on SCDys highlights the importance of this heterogeneous group among the research community. The overall lack of good quality epidemiological studies regarding incidence, prevalence, and survival in these patients serves as a benchmark for guiding improvements to inform evidence-based care and policy.

Keywords: epidemiology; health services; rehabilitation; research; spinal cord diseases; spinal cord dysfunction; spinal cord injury.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow chart of the search methodology and overview of results regarding research barriers and challenges for spinal cord dysfunction.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Changes over 40 years in the number of MEDLINE and Embase publications on spinal cord injury (SCI) and spinal cord dysfunction (SCDys).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Noonan VK, Fingas M, Farry A, . et al. The incidence and prevalence of SCI in Canada: A national perspective. Neuroepidemiology. 2012; 38: 219– 226. - PubMed
    1. New PW, Cripps RA, Lee BB.. A global map for non-traumatic spinal cord injury epidemiology: Towards a living data repository. Spinal Cord. 2014; 52: 97– 109. - PubMed
    1. New PW, Marshall R.. International spinal cord injury data sets for non-traumatic spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2014; 52: 123– 132. - PubMed
    1. New PW, Reeves RK, Smith É, . et al. International retrospective comparison of inpatient rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord dysfunction epidemiology and clinical outcomes. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015; 96: 1080– 1087. - PubMed

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