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Comparison of Laboratory and Actual Fatigue Life
for Three Types of Manual Wheelchairs
Shirley G. Fitzgerald, PhD, Lisa M. Yoest, Rory A. Cooper, PhD, Fred Downs, BS, BA, MBA
VA Centers of Excellence, VA Healthcare System
Depts of Rehabilitation Science & Technology and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Strategic Healthcare Group
Slide 1
Comparison of Laboratory and Actual Fatigue Life for Three Types of Manual Wheelchairs
Shirley G. Fitzgerald, PhD, Lisa M. Yoest, Rory A. Cooper, PhD, Fred Downs, BS, BA, MBA
VA Centers of Excellence, VA Healthcare System
Depts of Rehabilitation Science & Technology and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Strategic Healthcare Group
Slide 2
Acknowledgements
Funding for this study…
- Center for Disease Control; Center for Injury Research and Control
- VA R&D Center of Excellence on Wheelchairs & Related Technology
Bradley Inpink
Slide 3
Background
Manual wheelchairs tested according to ISO fatigue standards in a laboratory setting.
Results indicate that ultralight wheelchairs are more cost-effective and survive longer than other types of manual wheelchairs.
Slide 4
Specific Aim
To compare results from the laboratory setting to ‘real world’ results
Slide 5
HERL Wheelchair Database
Includes over 159 wheelchairs that have been tested according to ISO standards
Database documents
- How many cycles were completed on the double-drum and curb-drop machine
- What type and when problems occurred to the wheelchair
Slide 6
Graphic description:
Slide 7
National Prosthetic Patient Database
National database that contains all data on the prosthetic patient’s record at each VA facility (N=172)
Coding of prosthetic devices based on Health Care Financing Administration’s Common Procedures Coding System (HCPCS)
Prosthetic devices include: wheelchairs, assistive devices, prostheses, eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc
Initially established to have a centralized dbase, improve prescription practices and increase quality, reduce costs and improve efficiency of the prosthetic service.
Slide 8
Results
From 10/1/1999 to 6/30/2000…
17,622 manual wheelchairs were issued (VISNS 1-11)
72% were depot wheelchairs (K0001-K0003)
28% were lightweight or ultralight weight wheelchairs (K0004, K0005)
Slide 9
Distribution of Wheelchairs Prescribed (2000)
N= 17522
Graphic description:
K0001- 67%
K0002 - .24%
K0003- 7%
Slide 10
Comparison of Manual Wheelchairs Issued and Replaced
Graphic description:
Significantly different at 0.05 level
The dark brown are spare chairs that were ordered.
N=17622
Slide 11
Number of repairs by wheelchair type
Of all the chairs with no repairs majority were depot wheelchairs.
N=17622 – no significant differences
Graphic description:
Slide 12
Number of Repairs for 11 VA VISNS
Graphic description:
Slide 13
Initial Issue Wheelchairs: % needing to be repaired
Graphic description:
P=0.07
Slide 14
Discussion
Results from laboratory have found that ultralights have longest fatigue life
Laboratory findings also show that depots and lightweights are more likely to need repairs and are significantly different than ultralights
“Real World” data shows that depots and lightweights are more likely to need repairs, especially after initial issue of wheelchair
Longest fatigue life – lasting 13.2 times longer than depots and more cost-effective 3.4 times less per life cycle than depot chairs
Ultralights also are more likely to have a class 1 failure (minor)
Slide 15
Discussion: Limitations
Further examination of data is needed to determine the extent of the repair (what was done and expense)
Need to obtain further data on the number of veterans who use wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility – are all of them being provided with the best?
NPPD database is one year compared to laboratory data that is estimated at 3 years of life
Slide 16
Thank you for your attention!
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Updated: February 28, 2002
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