Upper Extremity Reconstruction Surgery for the Persons with Tetraplegia: Current Status and Solutions to Promote the Procedures in Korea.
- Author:
Sang Yoon LEE
1
;
Hyung Ik SHIN
;
Hyun Sik GONG
;
Sung Woo BIN
;
Moon Suk BANG
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hyungik1@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Tetraplegia;
Tendon transfer;
Spinal cord injury;
Surgery
- MeSH:
Hand;
Humans;
Korea;
Odds Ratio;
Quadriplegia;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Referral and Consultation;
Spinal Cord Injuries;
Tendon Transfer;
Upper Extremity
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2008;32(2):175-181
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To know the present status of upper extremity reconstruction surgery for the person with tetraplegia in Korea and to suggest solutions to promote the procedures. METHOD: 62 physiatrists and 42 hand surgeons were surveyed with self administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was made up of 5 categories: (1) whether physicians had experienced these procedures in the past three years, (2) if they have had no experience, what the reasons were, (3) whether physicians desired to be involved in these procedures, (4) what the solution to promote these procedures should be, (5) the attitudes and beliefs of physicians about these procedures. The last category was analyzed by odds ratio between physicians who desired to be involved in the procedure and who didn't. RESULTS: Only two physiatrists and six surgeons had experienced these procedures in the past three years. However many physicians desired to be involved in these procedures. The main reason of not performing these procedures was a lack of referral between physiatrists and surgeons. The physicians who desire to practice upper extremity reconstruction surgery or related rehabilitation had higher confidence on the benefits of the procedures and thought that they had knowledge and skills for the procedure. CONCLUSION: In spite of positive attitude to the upper extremity reconstruction for tetraplegic patients, few physicians have experienced in these procedures. This phenomenon was due to a lack of referral between physiatrists and surgeons. Advancing cross-specialty relationships and educating related physicians could be solutions to promote these procedures.
