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Determination of cut-off points in the Trunk control test for spinal cord injury to assess the ability to perform different activities of daily living

Spinal Cord volume 62, pages 12–16 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Study design

Observational, comparative, and transversal study.

Objective

To identify the cut-off points in the Trunk Control Test (TCT) for individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to determine the ability to perform independently the different activities of daily living (ADL) according to the Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III (SCIM-III).

Setting

National Institute of Rehabilitation, Mexico City.

Methods

Individuals with SCI of any neurologic level and severity according to ISNCSCI, in sub-acute and chronic phases were included. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were made to identify the cut-off points on the TCT that discriminate the individuals that can independently perform each of the ADL described in the SCIM-III.

Results

A total of 604 participants were evaluated, 70.7% male; mean age of 34 (± 14) years; time since injury was 134 ± 360 days; predominating motor complete injury (50.1%). It was demonstrated through ROC curves, that there are different cut-off points in the TCT that are sensitive and specific to discriminate individuals that can independently perform the majority of the items of the SCIM-III of those who perform it with assistance. Domains that do not depend on an adequate trunk control (respiration and sphincter management) had poor areas under the curve, with low sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions

The application of the TCT in individuals with SCI allows to discriminate between individuals who perform the different ADL independently of those who do not, at this subject institute. These results can guide the management of individuals with SCI, helping to establish short term goals.

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Fig. 1: Item 3B.
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Fig. 3: Item 12.

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Data availability

The data generated or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Rehabilitation Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Neurologic Rehabilitation division, Mexico-Xochimilco Av. 289, third floor, 14389, Mexico City, Mexico

    Jimena Quinzaños-Fresnedo

  2. National Institute of Rehabilitation Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Education Direction, Mexico City, Mexico

    Rodrigo Contreras-Juvenal & Deanna C. Quezada-López

  3. National Institute of Rehabilitation Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Neurologic Rehabilitation Division, Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation department, Mexico City, Mexico

    Marlene A. Rodríguez-Barragán, Aida Barrera-Ortiz & Ana V. Aguirre-Güemez

Authors
  1. Jimena Quinzaños-Fresnedo
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  2. Rodrigo Contreras-Juvenal
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  3. Deanna C. Quezada-López
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  4. Marlene A. Rodríguez-Barragán
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  5. Aida Barrera-Ortiz
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  6. Ana V. Aguirre-Güemez
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Contributions

JQF: Protocol design. Statistical Analysis. Recruitment and evaluation. Interpretation of results. Article Writing. RCJ: Recruiting and clinical evaluation. Article revision. DQL: Recruiting and clinical evaluation. Article revision. MRB: Recruiting and clinical evaluation. Article writing and revision. Interpretation of results. ABO: Recruiting and clinical evaluation. Article revision. AAG: Recruiting and clinical evaluation. Article revision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jimena Quinzaños-Fresnedo.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The study has been approved by the local institutional review board.

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Part of the material of the manuscript was presented at the American Spinal Injury Association Meeting 2022 in New Orleans, may the 20th 2022.

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Quinzaños-Fresnedo, J., Contreras-Juvenal, R., Quezada-López, D.C. et al. Determination of cut-off points in the Trunk control test for spinal cord injury to assess the ability to perform different activities of daily living. Spinal Cord 62, 12–16 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-023-00940-z

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