Journal Article

Outcome measures in spinal cord injury: recent assessments and recommendations for future directions

Whiteneck, G, Krassioukov, A, Anderson, K D, Mulcahey, M J, Ellaway, P, Krogh, K, van Hedel, H J A, Kleitman, N, Curt, A, Haynes, B A, Biering-Sorensen, F, Donovan, W, Brannon, R, Sherwood, A, Ditunno, J, Catz, A, Finnerup, N B, Johnston, M V, Alexander, M S, Heinemann, A W, Graves, D E, Magasi, S, Kalpakjian, C Z, Schurch, B, Jackson, A B, Lammertse, D, Bryce, T N, Blight, A R, Steeves, J D, Creasey, G, Stiens, S, Tulsky, D S

2009

Overview

Study design: Review by the spinal cord outcomes partnership endeavor (SCOPE), which is a broad-based international consortium of scientists and clinical researchers representing academic institutions, industry, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and foundations. Objectives: Assessment of current and evolving tools for evaluating human spinal cord injury (SCI) outcomes for both clinical diagnosis and clinical research studies. Methods: a framework for the appraisal of evidence of metric properties was used to examine outcome tools or tests for accuracy, sensitivity, reliability and validity for human SCI. Results: Imaging, neurological, functional, autonomic, sexual health, bladder/bowel, pain and psychosocial tools were evaluated. Several specific tools for human SCI studies have or are being developed to allow the more accurate determination for a clinically meaningful benefit (improvement in functional outcome or quality of life) being achieved as a result of a therapeutic intervention. Conclusion: Significant progress has been made, but further validation studies are required to identify the most appropriate tools for specific targets in a human SCI study or clinical trial.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Anatomy / Biological and medical sciences / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord / Clinical Trials as Topic - methods / Clinical Trials as Topic - standards / Human Physiology / Humans / Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents / Medical sciences / Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes) / Neurochemistry / Neurology / Neuropsychology / Neurosciences / Outcome Assessment, Health Care - methods / Outcome Assessment, Health Care - standards / review / Spinal Cord Injuries - diagnosis / Spinal Cord Injuries - therapy / Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents / Treatment Outcome