Abstract:
This study will evaluate the outcomes of people who have both spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) National Database includes spinal cord injury as a variable. A number of centers hold both SCI and TBIMS grants from NIDRR, allowing for the identification of subjects that are enrolled in both. Level of injury and ASIA classification can therefore be obtained from the SCI Model Systems database, while severity of TBI can be determined from the TBI Model Systems database. Thus, the influence of severity of SCI and TBI, as well as other known predictors as age, education, and employment can be assessed with respect to outcome variables such as FIM, DRS, CHART, CHIEF, and CIQ.

The analysis will be done both from the viewpoint of the influence of SCI on those in the TBI Model Systems database and vice versa. Since there is no variable in the SCI Model Systems database that assesses TBI, selected controls will be taken from that database and medical record reviews will be done to ensure that those subjects did not have a TBI. In addition, controls will be taken from a previous study done by Claire Karpakjian at the University of Michigan, using their SCI Model Systems database and data independently collected with respect to TBI.