Living conditions of rehabilitated spinal cord injury persons in Thailand.

ABSTRACT

The living situation of 151 people (136 males and 15 females) with spinal cord injury (SCI) who had completed rehabilitation were surveyed. The average age of the respondents was 34 years with 99 percent living in a private residence, and 87.3 percent remaining married. Of 92 subjects who could not walk, 13 percent could not use a wheelchair in their houses because of structural obstacles. In the case of cervical cord and cauda equine injuries, those with incomplete injuries were able to go out more than those who had complete injuries. Only two persons had special cars for the disabled. Of those who were working at the time of their injury, 49 percent regained employment. The factors influencing their employment were the severity of the spinal cord injury and their ability to walk.