Societal risk factors associated with spinal cord injury secondary to gunshot wound

Abstract

Ragucci MV, Gittler MM, Balfanz-Vertiz K, Hunter A. Societal risk factors associated with spinal cord injury secondary to gunshot wound. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82;1720-3. Objectives: To determine (1) how many individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) secondary to gunshot wound (GSW) had previous violent injury requiring medical professional intervention or were previously involved in the criminal justice system, and (2) how many had social service intervention initiated before their SCI to deter future injury. Design: Follow-up survey of patients admitted to an inpatient SCI rehabilitation unit between 1990 and 1998. Setting: An urban rehabilitation hospital. Participants: Fifty-six patients with SCI secondary to GSW. Intervention: Survey questions inquired about previous GSW, violent injury, and criminal justice involvement. Subjects were queried about social service intervention. Main Outcome Measures: Number and percentage of respondents. Results: Of the 56 respondents, 17 (30%) had a previous GSW; 9 (16%) had another violent injury requiring treatment in the emergency department; and 29 (52%) had prior involvement in the criminal justice system. A total of 55 opportunities for social service intervention were identified. Social service intervention was initiated only once. Conclusions: Most respondents had preinjury involvement in the criminal justice system and/or previous violent injury. In all of these situations except 1, there was failure to initiate social service intervention. These preliminary data suggest that criminal justice system involvement and violent injury are common among patients who have SCI secondary to GSW. More aggressive efforts at social service intervention could be an effective means to deter future disability. © 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation