• J F Ravaud, M Delcey, and J F Desert.
• INSERM National Institute for Health and Medical Research, IFRH Federative Research Institute on Disability, Paris, France.
• Spinal Cord. 2000 Mar 1;38(3):164-72.

ObjectivesAfter presenting in part I the protocol and the methodology of the Tetrafigap Survey, this article is aimed at investigating demographic characteristics, initial cause of trauma and spinal injury in the French tetraplegic spinal cord injured (TSCI) population.Study DesignThe Tetrafigap Survey is a multicentre epidemiological survey on the outcome of TSCI people following their first admission to a rehabilitation department or centre.SettingThe survey was conducted with the participation of 35 French-speaking collaborating centres.MethodA self-administered questionnaire was carried out among consenting TSCI patients followed by the centres. 1,668 questionnaires fulfilled all the required criteria for data analysis.ResultsThe socio-demographic variables (gender, current age and age at the time of accident, duration of disability), circumstances of accident as well as initial spinal cord lesions are reviewed in the body of the text.ConclusionThe results from this survey form the first detailed description of the French TSCI population. Whereas demographic data show many similarities with those of previous studies in other countries, some specific differences are highlighted, in particular relating to the type of accident.

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