Community-based wheelchair caster failures call for improvements in quality and increased frequency of preventative maintenance.

STUDY DESIGN: Secondary data analysis of wheelchair failures and service repair logs from a network of wheelchair suppliers. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of wheelchair caster failures and service repairs across wheelchair manufacturers and models and investigate the relationships between them. SETTING: Wheelchair caster failures and service repairs occurred in the community. METHODS: Reported caster failure types were classified based on the risk they pose for user injuries and wheelchair damage. Caster failures experienced by users of tilt-in-space and ultralightweight manual wheelchair models and Group 2, 3 and 4 power wheelchair models between January 2017 and October 2019 were analyzed using Chi-Square tests for independence. Correlational analysis of failures and service repairs was performed. RESULTS: A total of 6470 failures and 151 service repairs reported across four manufacturers and five models were analyzed. Failure types were significantly associated with manufacturers and models, respectively. Users of tilt-in-space wheelchairs, who require greater seating support, experienced twice the proportion of high-risk caster failures than the ultralightweight manual wheelchair users. Similarly, Group 3 and 4 power wheelchair users, who have complex rehabilitation needs, experienced 15-36% more high-risk failures than Group 2 users. Service repairs negatively correlated with high-risk manual wheelchair caster failures. CONCLUSIONS: Wheelchair users who have greater seating and complex rehabilitation needs are at a higher risk for sustaining injuries and secondary health complications due to frequent caster failures. The study findings call for significant reforms in product quality and preventative maintenance practices that can reduce wheelchair failures and user consequences.

Use of deslorelin acetate implants to control aggression in a multi-male group of Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis).

Aggression among male animals can be difficult to manage in captive populations, and several strategies including separation, castration, and behavioral modification have been used with varying degrees of success. Many aggression issues are normal sequela from hormonal fluctuations occurring when an animal reaches sexual maturity or during the breeding season, and multi-male groups can be especially problematic as the individuals vie for dominance. In this case, aggression in an all-male group of Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis) has been managed successfully with serial deslorelin implantation for the past 5 years. Zoo Biol. 35:201-204, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.