Original Article

Spinal Cord (2009) 47, 213–217; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.94; published online 5 August 2008

Motor scores on the functional independence measure after pediatric spinal cord injury

D D Allen1, M J Mulcahey2, S M Haley3, M J DeVivo4, L C Vogel5, C McDonald6, T Duffy2 and R R Betz2

  1. 1Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, University of California San Francisco/San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
  2. 2Rehabilitation and Clinical Research, Spinal Cord Injury Program, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  3. 3Health and Disability Research Institute, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
  4. 4Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AB, USA
  5. 5Spinal Cord Injury Program, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Chicago, IL, USA
  6. 6Spinal Cord Injury Program, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Sacramento, CA, USA

Correspondence: Dr DD Allen, Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, University of California San Francisco/San Francisco State University, 2955 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA. E-mail: allendianed@gmail.com

Received 21 April 2008; Revised 1 July 2008; Accepted 6 July 2008; Published online 5 August 2008.

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Abstract

Study design:

 

Retrospective descriptive analysis.

Objectives:

 

The purpose of this study was to report the functional ability of children with spinal cord injury (SCI) as recorded on motor items of the functional independence measure (FIM) and to examine the factors associated with FIM motor admission and post-discharge gain scores.

Methods:

 

Scores on FIM motor items were analyzed from 941 children (age range: 0–21 years; mean: 13 years 4 months; s.d.: 4 years 8 months) admitted in acute-to-chronic time periods post-SCI to Shriners Hospitals for Children (USA). FIM motor scores at admission and gains at discharge were examined along with neurological level, completeness of injury, age, etiology of injury, and length of time between injury and admission and admission and discharge.

Results:

 

The FIM motor scores at admission were negatively correlated with age, neurological level and completeness of injury. Gain in FIM motor scores was significant across neurological levels, and was associated with lower admission FIM motor scores, lower neurological level, incomplete injury, traumatic injury and less time between injury and admission.

Conclusions:

 

The motor function of children after pediatric SCI depends on neurological level and completeness of injury, among other factors. FIM motor scores can improve with intervention even several years after the injury.

Keywords:

spinal cord injury, functional independence measure, motor assessment, pediatric

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