Social adjustment and rehabilitation in international competitors with spinal injuries sustained in military service

Abstract

One hundred and eighteen competitors, with spinal injuries, attending the First International Ex-Service Wheelchair Games, held in July 1993, were interviewed. Athletes from 17 countries attended. Sixteen competitors were tetraplegic and 102 paraplegic, their injuries are detailed below. The injuries had occurred on average 14.0 years previously: 35 injuries were war injuries a further 10 due to combat training. The paraplegic athletes had spent 9.6 months and the tetraplegic 12.3 months in hospital. Fifty-five spinal stabilizations had been performed, and this was associated with a reduced inpatient stay for the paraplegic athletes (7.7 months vs 11.3 months). Spinal fixation did not affect later employment. Thirty-one athletes worked, and the amount of pension had no significant bearing on the numbers working. There was a mean delay of 38.3 months from injury until return to sport, and only 11.8% of competitors took up sport in the initial rehabilitation period. The differences between operative treatment, inpatient stay and numbers working from the different countries are compared. Financing of attendance and training seemed to be informal, with just over half of the athletes financed by their governments. The role of sport in rehabilitation of those patients with spinal injuries, and specifically those injured whilst serving in the armed forces, is discussed.