Wheelchair appropriateness in patients with spinal cord injury: a Turkish experience

Descriptive. To determine the wheelchair appropriateness in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). National Rehabilitation Center in Ankara, Turkey. Twenty-seven (25 male, 2 female) SCI patients were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were noted. All wheelchairs were evaluated considering each part (seat length, seat depth, seat height, back height, armrest, headrest, wheels and seat belt) by a physiatrist who had attended the wheelchair-training course. The wheelchair was declared as inappropriate if at least three parts of wheelchair were not appropriate. The mean age of the patients was 32.9±9.3 years and mean duration of wheelchair use was 19.63±23.02 months. Among the patients, 21 (77.8%) were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A, 4 (3.7%) AIS B, 1 (3.7%) AIS C and 1 (3.7%) AIS D. Five (18.5%) wheelchairs were motorized and 22 (81.5%) were manual. Overall, 15 (55.6%) wheelchairs were inappropriate. Seat height, cushion and back height were the most common inappropriate parts. In light of our first and preliminary results, we can argue that 55% of the patients with SCI use inappropriate wheelchairs. In order to achieve better mobility; personally designed wheelchairs should be prescribed by the clinicians.