Comparison of Neurological versus Functional Recovery Observed during Rehabilitation, Among Paraplegics Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Traumatic spinal cord injury occurs due to trauma to spinal column, which carries significant morbidity& mortality to affected individual. Spontaneous neurological injury may occur following injury, but functional activities of daily living& mobility is invariably affected. Rehabilitation is indicated to prevent complications and to achieve independence in self-care, mobility& sphincter control. Aims: To study the functional recovery using Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and neurological recovery using American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale in paraplegics. To identify any correlation if exists between neurologic and functional recovery. Results: Neurological improvement was observed in 40 percent patients, which is statistically significant. Functional improvement was observed in all patients irrespective of neurological recovery, and is highly significant as per paired t-test results. There is no correlation between neurological recovery and functional recovery. Conclusion: Rehabilitation has huge impact on improving functional independence in self-care activities& mobility irrespective of neurological recovery.