Davis et al identified risk factors for permanent disability among adults with spinal dysraphism. The authors are from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Patient: adult with spinal dysraphism
Outcome: permanent disability (not employed), suggesting occupational rather than functional
Parameters:
(1) education level
(2) frequency of stool in continence
(3) diagnosis
Parameter
Finding
Odds Ratio
education level
primary and/or secondary
1
technical school
0.01
some college
0.22
college
0.06
advanced degree
0.12
frequency of stool incontinence
never or less than monthly
1
daily
6.41
weekly
3.43
monthly
3.31
diagnosis
open myelomeningocele
1
closed spinal dysraphism
0.2
The ability to get more education suggests less severe disability. With on-line training becoming more widely available this may change.
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