Profile of patients with spinal cord injuries in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: Implications for vocational rehabilitation.

To describe the demographic and socio-economic profiles, and injury related characteristics of people who sustain SCIs in KZN in order to provide baseline information to instigate a model that guides employment outcomes amongst PLWSCI. Retrospective analysis of medical files was done. King Dinizulu Hospital Spinal Unit (KDHSU), this being the biggest provider of acute care for people who sustain SCI in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa was the setting for our study. Medical files of individuals who sustained SCI between 2009 and 2012 were perused (n = 1049) were perused and 188 met the inclusion criteria. Key information from the KDHSU patient's files were extracted using a tool developed using literature and the international spinal cord injury core data set. The average annual incidence rate was 12.3 per 100 000 population. The male to female ratio was 6:4 with the mean age of 36.69 years, ranging from 16-64. Out of those employed (34%), 72% were working fulltime, mostly in the service industry (31%) and 59% were classified as laborers. The majority (61%) of the participants completed high school. The major cause of SCI was non-traumatic (54%) and 66% were classified as incomplete (ASIA). Furthermore, 80% were classified as paraplegia and 19% tetraplegia. The mean LOS was 42.9 days, ranging from 1-764 days, influenced by level of injury, completeness and classification of injury and surgical intervention. The profile of SCI in KwaZulu-Natal is slightly different when compared to other provinces in South Africa and the rest of Africa. There is a need to use epidemiological information (including factors that influence employment) to develop rehabilitation models to guide employment outcomes amongst people living with spinal cord injuries in KZN.