Emergency evacuation readiness of full-time wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

McClure LA, Boninger ML, Oyster ML, Roach MJ, Nagy J, Nemunaitis G. Emergency evacuation readiness of full-time wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

Objectives

To determine the percentage of full-time wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries who felt they could evacuate from various locations, and the percentage who have a plan for evacuation. Study results will help clinicians and emergency officials understand needs related to evacuation preparedness.

Design

Convenience sample survey.

Setting

Six Spinal Cord Injury Model System centers, part of the national database funded through the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Participants

People (N=487) with spinal cord injuries who use a wheelchair more than 40 hours a week.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

The percentage of wheelchair users who felt they would be able to safely evacuate, had a plan for safe evacuation, or reported a need for assistive technology and human assistance to evacuate from various locations in the event of an emergency.

Results

The highest percentage of participants felt they would be able to safely evacuate and had a plan for work evacuation. The lowest percentage of participants reported they could evacuate from their city/town in the event of an emergency and had a plan to evacuate their city/town in the event of a natural disaster. A large difference exists between the percentage of participants who felt they could evacuate and those who have a plan for evacuation.

Conclusions

A large discrepancy exists between the perception that one can evacuate and actually having a plan. The perception that one can evacuate without a plan or the use of assistive technology is an area of concern that must be further addressed by educators. Education must emphasize the need to have a defined evacuation plan and effective utilization of assistive technology.     

脊髓型多发性硬化的MRI诊断

目的探讨脊髓型多发性硬化MR表现及其诊断价值.方法对20例脊髓型多发性硬化行脊髓和/或头颅MR检查,对其征象进行分析.结果病灶分布上以颈髓受累最多,占40%,颈胸髓同时受累占30%,胸髓受累占25%,全部脊髓受累最少,为5%.病灶形态,以条带状最多见,为40%,斑片状或云雾状为25%.矢状面T2WI均表现高或稍高信号,T1WI 90%为等信号,T2WI轴位病变,以类圆形高信号和点片状高信号为主,增强后病灶强化或不强化.结论 MRI有助于发现病灶,明确病灶位置,是目前诊断脊髓多发性硬化最敏感的影像学方法.     

Incidence of fractures in a cohort of veterans with chronic multiple sclerosis or traumatic spinal cord injury

Logan WC Jr, Sloane R, Lyles KW, Goldstein B, Hoenig HM. Incidence of fractures in a cohort of veterans with chronic multiple sclerosis or traumatic spinal cord injury.

Objective

To measure skeletal fractures in a cohort of veterans with spinal cord dysfunction (SCD) due to multiple sclerosis (MS) or trauma-related spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting

Database search.

Participants

Study subjects were a subset of the 1996 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Spinal Cord Dysfunction Registry, from which 8150 patients were identified with either MS (n=1789) or SCI (n=6361). Inpatient and outpatient encounters for nonaxial fractures, based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, were identified through VHA administrative databases between October 1996 and June 2005. VHA Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem death file identified time of death.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Data from the 1996 VHA National Spinal Cord Dysfunction Registry survey was used to determine duration of disease and motor impairment (4 categories of motor impairment based on self-report of the number of limbs involved and degree of motor loss). Proportional hazard modeling evaluated the time to first fracture and Poisson regression evaluated relative risk (RR) of fracture by cause of SCD and degree of motor impairment, adjusting for age, sex, race, and duration of SCD.

Results

Subjects were, on average, 52.5 years of age, acquired their SCD 22 years prior, and 386 of 8150 were deceased. During the study period, 4021 fracture encounters were identified representing 1738 unique fractures for 1085 of 7832 subjects, for a mean per-person fracture rate of 3.1 per 100 patient-years at risk. The RR of fracture differed according to cause of SCD and motor impairment. Fracture risk was increased by more than 2-fold in those with some motor impairment (RR=2.33, P<.001), by more than 80% with moderate motor impairment (RR=1.87, P<.001), and almost 70% for those with severe motor impairment (RR=1.67, P<.001), compared with those with little motor impairment. Trauma-related SCI increased the RR of fracture 80% (RR=1.82, P<.001) compared with MS.

Conclusions

Persons with SCD have high rates of skeletal fractures. The highest fracture rates occurred in those with some to moderate motor impairment. There were significant differences in risk of fracture according to causal disease, controlling for motor impairment and duration. There appear to be unique contributors to risk of fracture beyond simply disuse.     

多发性硬化脊髓MRI研究进展

多发性硬化(MS)是一种中枢神经系统炎性脱髓鞘的自身免疫性疾病,脊髓病灶多与脑内病灶并发;常规MRI是检测MS脊髓病灶最敏感的方法,能客观显示脊髓病灶的部位、数目、大小和分布等情况,对MS的诊断、随访及病程评价有重要价值。MRI新技术能够量化评价脊髓病变,发现脊髓内隐匿性异常改变,进而反映脊髓功能损害。本文对MS脊髓病变的MRI特点及最新研究进展进行综述。     

多发性硬化颈髓扩散张量成像的初步研究

目的探讨多发性硬化颈髓的扩散张量成像(diffusion tensor imaging, DTI)的可行性及临床应用价值.方法采用平面回波成像技术对36例健康志愿者和12例多发性硬化患者行颈髓的扩散张量成像检查,并测量其表观扩散系数(apparent diffusion coefficient, ADC)值、各向异性分数(fractional anisotropy, FA)值、第1本征值(λ1)、第2本征值(λ2)及第3本征值(λ3).结果 ADC图与FA图均能显示多发性硬化患者颈髓之异常信号区,其ADC值为(1473.7±227.8)×10-6mm2/s,FA值为(467.83±43.66)×10-3,λ1值为(2024.1±283.3)×10-6mm2/s,λ2值为(1151.8±146.1)×10-6mm2/s,λ3值为(1231.0±360.9)×10-6mm2/s,2λ1/(λ2 λ3)值为1.73±0.22.多发性硬化患者颈髓病变区的ADC、λ1 、λ2、λ3值明显高于正常组(P＜0.05),其FA值与2λ1/(λ2 λ3)值明显低于正常组(P＜0.05),λ1与λ2、λ3值之间有显著性差异(P＜0.05),λ1大于λ2与λ3.结论 DTI是一种显示颈髓多发性硬化的可靠检查手段,其病变区各向同性扩散明显增高,其各向异性扩散明显减低;颈髓病变区仍保持了各向异性,呈柱状扩散.     

脊髓多发性硬化的MR扩散成像应用

多发性硬化是中枢神经系统慢性炎性脱髓鞘疾病,常规MR成像已能够敏感地探测病变及其随时间所发生的变化,但它不能可靠地描述和量化病变内及其周围的异常改变,而且活动期和静止期病变表现相似。MR扩散成像能够区分活动期和静止期的病变,量化脊髓内病变进展程度,提供组织受损程度的量化信息,同时有助于显示病变的动态变化、治疗后的反应、描述MS病变的进展,从而有利于研究MS不同表现型疾病的进展。本文回顾和介绍MS斑块病理改变及与MRI表现间的联系,并阐述MR扩散成像技术在脊髓MS的应用。     

Forgiveness and health-related outcomes among people with spinal cord injury

Purpose.?As motor vehicle accidents and violence cause the majority of spinal cord injuries (SCI) sustained in the USA and people with SCI will likely struggle with emotional issues related to the offender, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine potential salutary effects of forgiveness among people with SCI incurred traumatically. Specifically, we hypothesized that forgiveness would have positive associations with health-related outcomes.

Method.?A community-based sample of 140 adults (19–82 years of age) with SCI completed a self-report survey regarding dispositional forgiveness of self and others, health behavior, health status, and life satisfaction. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the relationships in question.

Results.?After controlling for demographic variables, forgiveness of self was significantly associated with health behavior and life satisfaction (uniquely accounting for 7% and 13% of the variance, respectively) and forgiveness of others was significantly associated with health status (uniquely accounting for 9% of the variance).

Conclusion.?Results suggest that forgiveness may play a role in the health and life satisfaction of people with traumatic SCI, with the benefit depending on the type of forgiveness offered.     

Reliability and validity of perceived self-efficacy in wheeled mobility scale among elite wheelchair-dependent athletes with a spinal cord injury

Purpose: To study the reliability and validity of the perceived self-efficacy in wheeled mobility scale among elite athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: During the Beijing Paralympics, 79 participants with SCI completed the SCI Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES), the revised Self-Efficacy in Wheeled Mobility scale (SEWM) and the perceived wheeled mobility (WM) at present Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Sample included athletes from 18 countries and subcategorized by gender, lesion level/completeness and type of sports. Reliability and concurrent validity were determined. Results: SEWM Cronbach’s α was 0.905. High internal consistency was confirmed in Split-half correlation coefficient (r = 0.87). Validity was supported by significant correlations between SWEM and ESES total scores (r = 0.64, p < 0.05), and between SEWM and WM VAS scores (r = 0.60; p < 0.001). Subgroups analyses showed that athletes with tetraplegia showed significantly lower WM self-efficacy levels than those with paraplegia. There was a significant difference in perceived WM self-efficacy between athletes who participated in dynamic wheelchair sports and those who participated in non-wheelchair sports (p < 0.03). Conclusions: The SEWM is a reliable and valid scale among Paralympic athletes with SCI. Findings confirmed a significantly higher perception of self-efficacy in WM among athletes who participated in dynamic wheelchair sports.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Increased self-efficacy in wheeled mobility (WM) may encourage wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) to approach, persist, and persevere at WM related tasks that were previously avoided.

• The perceived self-efficacy in WM scale (SEWM), which is available on-line in five different languages, may find clinical applications for people with SCI in different countries.

• The SEWM can be applied to the assessment of progress in WM levels during the acute rehabilitation phase, and also in structured WM workshops conducted after discharge from the hospital.

     

Chronic disease self-management for individuals with stroke,multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of people with neurological conditions who take the chronic disease self-management (CDSM) programme. The CDSM programme is used to teach skills to manage chronic conditions, and prevent secondary conditions. Few studies have explored the use of the CDSM programme with people with neurological conditions, in spite of the long standing and sometimes unpredictable nature of those conditions.

Method. This qualitative study explored the experience of people with stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI) who participated in the CDSM programme. We completed individual interviews using a semi-structured interview guide with 22 individuals with stroke, MS and SCI.

Results. Five categories emerged from the interview discussions including: (1) pre-programme influences; (2) group; (3) factors affecting learning opportunities; (4) workshop content and (5) outcomes.

Conclusions. The results of this study provide insights regarding the optimal way to present the CDSM programme to people with neurological conditions.     

静息态功能磁共振和纤维追踪技术在单纯脊髓受累型多发性硬化患者的临床应用

目的联合应用静息态功能磁共振成像(resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging,RS-fMRI)和纤维追踪技术探索单纯脊髓受累的多发性硬化患者(multiple sclerosis patients with simple spinal cord involvement,MS-SSCI)脑部功能和脑白质完整性是否有改变。材料与方法利用RS-fMRI比较22例MS-SSCI及22例年龄、性别相匹配的健康对照组的基础脑活动,将组间有差异的区域作为感兴趣区,利用纤维追踪技术重建穿过这些区域的白质纤维束,比较两组之间纤维束的部分各向异性(FA)和表观弥散系数(ADC),最后将MS-SSCI组感兴趣区低频振幅(amplitude of low frequency fluctuation,ALFF)、FA、ADC分别与临床扩展残疾状态量表(expanded disability states scale,EDSS)评分进行Pearson相关分析。结果与健康对照组相比,MS-SSCI组右侧海马ALFF值明显减低,左侧额中回、左侧后扣带回、右侧枕中回ALFF值明显增高(双样本t检验,经AlphaSim校正,P＜0.01,体素大小＞40),MS-SSCI组右侧海马FA值(t右侧海马=2.099, P右侧海马=0.042)和ADC值(t右侧海马=－2.053,P右侧海马=0.047)存在明显差异;MS-SSCI左侧后扣带回ALFF值与EDSS显著相关,结构变化参数与EDSS间无明显相关性(P＞0.05)。结论 MS-SSCI脑内存在功能和结构异常,功能改变与认知障碍密切相关。     

Effects of hand cycle training on wheelchair capacity during clinical rehabilitation in persons with a spinal cord injury

Purpose.?To evaluate the effects of a structured hand cycle training programme on physical capacity in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) during clinical rehabilitation.

Method.?Twenty subjects with SCI who followed hand cycle training were compared with matched control subjects from a Dutch longitudinal cohort study, who received usual care.

Primary outcomes of physical capacity were peak power output (PO_peak), peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) and oxygen pulse during a hand rim wheelchair test. Secondary outcome measures were isometric peak muscle strength of the upper extremities and pulmonary function. Hand cycle capacity (PO_peak and VO_2peak) was evaluated in the training group only.

Results.?Strong tendencies for improvement were found in wheelchair capacity, reflected by PO_peak and oxygen pulse after additional hand cycle training. Significant effects on shoulder exo- and endo-rotation and unilateral elbow flexion strength were found but no improvements on pulmonary function.

Conclusions.?Additional hand cycle training during clinical rehabilitation seems to show similar or slightly favourable results on wheelchair capacity and muscle strength compared with regular care. The heterogeneous subject group and large variation in training period may explain the limited effects of additional hand cycle training on wheelchair capacity.     

Psychosocial factors associated with physical activity in ambulatory and manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: a mixed-methods study

Purpose: To identify psychosocial factors which explain lower levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) who are ambulatory relative to those who use manual wheelchairs. Method: For the quantitative study component, 347 adults with SCI (78% male; M age?=?47.7) completed baseline measures of LTPA attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions. Six months later, LTPA was assessed. The qualitative component involved semi-structured interviews with six ambulant adults with SCI (five male, M age?=?52.8) addressing LTPA experiences with an emphasis on barriers and facilitators. Results: Ambulatory individuals had poorer attitudes towards LTPA than chair users (p?=?0.004). Their attitudes had significant indirect effects on LTPA, through intentions. Perceived behavioural control was a significant negative predictor of LTPA. Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: an underestimated disability, low wheelchair skill self-efficacy and experiencing chronic pain. Conclusions: Poorer attitudes towards LTPA may partially explain why ambulatory individuals are less active. The qualitative and quantitative data suggest ambulators are an often-overlooked subgroup in need of targeted resources to enhance their attitudes, wheelchair skill self-efficacy and awareness of LTPA opportunities.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation practitioners must be sensitive to the unique needs of spinal cord injured individuals who are ambulatory, and tailor physical activity promotional strategies to suit the needs of this distinct group.

• Lack of wheelchair skills is a participation barrier for ambulators; ambulators should be introduced to activities that do not require wheelchair use, such as swimming, hand-cycling and adapted forms of circuit training.

• Strategies that encourage wheelchair skill development in non-wheelchair using ambulators, may increase physical activity opportunities for this segment of the spinal injured population.

     

Masculine role variables and outcomes among men with spinal cord injury

Purpose.?Few studies have considered the impact of masculine role variables on outcome and adjustment to SCI among men. The present study examined the relations among SCI, views of masculinity, psychological adjustment, and rehabilitation outcomes among men with SCI.

Method.?The sample included 20 men with SCI receiving inpatient rehabilitation, with a mean age of 45 years. Data included demographic variables as well as Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI), Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Satisfaction with Life Scale ratings, and change in marital status.

Results.?The findings revealed that satisfaction with life was positively related to scores on the CMNI Violence scale, FIM change from admission to discharge was positively related to the CMNI Emotional Control scale and negatively related to the CMNI Dominance scale. Change in marital status was inversely related to the CMNI Emotional Control and Primacy of Work scales and the GRCS Restricted Emotionality and Power, Success, and Competition scales.

Conclusions.?The findings show that certain aspects of the traditional masculine role (i.e., ability to modulate strong emotions) may be adaptive in the rehabilitation process, whereas other aspects (i.e., a dominant interpersonal style) may present a barrier to effective rehabilitation.     

Masculine role variables and outcomes among men with spinal cord injury

Purpose. Few studies have considered the impact of masculine role variables on outcome and adjustment to SCI among men. The present study examined the relations among SCI, views of masculinity, psychological adjustment, and rehabilitation outcomes among men with SCI.

Method. The sample included 20 men with SCI receiving inpatient rehabilitation, with a mean age of 45 years. Data included demographic variables as well as Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI), Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Satisfaction with Life Scale ratings, and change in marital status.

Results. The findings revealed that satisfaction with life was positively related to scores on the CMNI Violence scale, FIM change from admission to discharge was positively related to the CMNI Emotional Control scale and negatively related to the CMNI Dominance scale. Change in marital status was inversely related to the CMNI Emotional Control and Primacy of Work scales and the GRCS Restricted Emotionality and Power, Success, and Competition scales.

Conclusions. The findings show that certain aspects of the traditional masculine role (i.e., ability to modulate strong emotions) may be adaptive in the rehabilitation process, whereas other aspects (i.e., a dominant interpersonal style) may present a barrier to effective rehabilitation.     

Excess mortality associated with mental illness and substance use disorders among veteran clinic users with spinal cord injury

Purpose.?Among veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) or disease aetiologies, examine the association between diagnosed mental illness (MI) and substance use disorders (SUD) on mortality after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors, SCI severity, injury duration and chronic physical illnesses.

Method.?Longitudinal analysis of Veteran Health Administration(VHA) administrative data and Medicare claims for FY 1999–2004 matched with Spinal Cord Dysfunction-Registry (SCD-R) of VHA clinic users (N == 8334) with SCI. SCI was identified through SCD-R; individual MIs (anxiety, bipolar, depressive disorders, psychoses, post-traumatic disorder and schizophrenia) and SUDs (tobacco, alcohol and/or drug) were identified through ICD-9-CM codes. Cox-proportional hazards regressions were used to examine association between MI and SUD and time to death in years.

Results.?Among veterans with SCI, 17%% died by the end of FY 2004. Veterans with psychosis (35%%), depression (22%%) and alcohol and/or drug use (20%%) had significantly higher rates of mortality compared to those without these diagnoses. After adjusting for other independent variables in the study, hazards ratios for psychosis was 1.47 (95%%CI == 1.24, 1.75), for alcohol and/or drug use was 1.30 (95%% CI == 1.11, 1.53).

Conclusions.?Some types of MI and SUD were associated with excess mortality among veterans with SCI. Care for MI and SUD needs to be routinely integrated into SCI management. Future research is needed to determine whether depression and SUD treatment provides opportunity to improve survival.     

Agricultural workers' return to work following spinal cord injury: a comparison with other industry workers

Purpose:?To investigate the impact of spinal cord injury on employment outcomes as experienced by agricultural workers in comparison with persons employed in other industries. Because of the challenges associated with working in many of the agricultural industries, it was anticipated that agricultural workers would achieve inferior return-to-work outcomes.

Method:?Survey of all employed persons who experienced a traumatic spinal cord injury in southeastern Australia between 1990 and 1996 (inclusive).

Results:?Contrary to expectation, agricultural workers had a significantly higher rate of return to work (61.7% vs. 41.1%). However, an investigation into the hours spent working and agricultural workers' satisfaction with their employment activities, indicated that most were underemployed and had the potential to achieve even better outcomes.

Conclusion:?Results indicate that more can be done to help injured agricultural workers achieve their employment potential.     

Shoulder ultrasound abnormalities, physical examination findings, and pain in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

Brose SW, Boninger ML, Fullerton B, McCann T, Collinger JL, Impink BG, Dyson-Hudson TA. Shoulder ultrasound abnormalities, physical examination findings, and pain in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

Objectives

To investigate the presence of ultrasound (US) abnormalities in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) using a quantitative Ultrasound Shoulder Pathology Rating Scale (USPRS). To investigate physical examination (PE) findings using a quantitative Physical Examination of the Shoulder Scale (PESS), and to obtain data about pain and other subject characteristics such as age, years with SCI, and weight.

Design

Case series.

Setting

National Veterans' Wheelchair Games 2005 and 2006.

Participants

Volunteer sample of manual wheelchair users with SCI participating in the National Veterans' Wheelchair Games.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Presence of relationships between US findings, PE findings, pain, and subject characteristics.

Results

The USPRS correlated with age, duration of SCI, and weight (all P<.01), and showed a positive trend with the total Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) score (r=.258, P=.073). Several US findings related to presence of PE findings for specific structures. The PESS score correlated with the WUSPI (r=.679, P<.001) and duration of SCI (P<.05). The presence of untreated shoulder pain that curtailed activity was noted in 24.5% of subjects, and this was related to increased WUSPI scores (P=.002).

Conclusions

PE and US abnormalities are common in manual wheelchair users with SCI. The USPRS and PESS demonstrated evidence for external validity and hold promise as research tools. Untreated shoulder pain is common in manual wheelchair users with SCI, and further investigation of this pain is indicated.     

无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤程度的影响因素研究

目的探讨无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤程度的影响因素。方法回顾性分析44例无骨折脱位的颈脊髓损伤病例的MRI资料。从矢状位和轴位图像观察记录：脊髓损伤的长度，脊髓损伤处椎间盘突出最大径，椎间盘突出类型，脊髓损伤处椎管前后径、黄韧带厚度、椎体后缘骨赘有无和脊髓损伤节段，同时记录患者的年龄和性别。以脊髓损伤长度为应变量，以性别、年龄、椎间盘突出最大径、椎管前后径、椎间盘突出类型、黄韧带厚度、椎体后缘骨赘有无、脊髓损伤节段为自变量，进行多因素相关性分析。结果①44例中，脊髓损伤的长度为3～22mm，椎间盘突出的最大径为4～8mm，椎管前后径为4～9mm，黄韧带厚度为2—7mm，脊髓损伤平面位于C。～C，水平。②颈脊髓损伤的程度与颈椎间盘突出程度、颈椎管径前后径、颈椎黄韧带的厚度、颈脊髓损伤节段相关，差异有显著性意义（P〈0、01）。结论无骨折脱位的颈脊髓损伤的程度与颈椎间盘突出程度正相关，与颈椎管径前后径负相关，与颈椎黄韧带的厚度、颈脊髓损伤节段相关，与椎间盘突出的类型、椎体后缘有无骨赘、性别和年龄无关。