International standards to document remaining autonomic function after spinal cord injury

This is the first guideline describing the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI). This guideline should be used as an adjunct to the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) including the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS), which documents the neurological examination of individuals with SCI. The Autonomic Standards Assessment Form is recommended to be completed during the evaluation of individuals with SCI, but is not a part of the ISNCSCI. A web-based training course (Autonomic Standards Training E Program (ASTeP)) is available to assist clinicians with understanding autonomic dysfunctions following SCI and with completion of the Autonomic Standards Assessment Form (www.ASIAlearningcenter.com).     

_ 2009 review and revisions of the international standards for the neurological classification of spinal cord injury

The International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) were recently reviewed by the ASIA's Education and Standards Committees, in collaboration with the International Spinal Cord Society's Education Committee. Available educational materials for the ISNCSCI were also reviewed. The last citable reference for the ISNCSCI's methodology is the ISNCSCI Reference Manual, published in 2003 by ASIA. The Standards Committee recommended that the numerous items that were revised should be published and a precedent established for a routine published review of the ISNCSCI. The Standards Committee also noted that, although the 2008 reprint pocket booklet is current, the reference manual should be revised after proposals to modify/revise the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS as modified from Frankel) are considered. In addition, the Standards Committee adopted a process for thorough and transparent review of requests to revise the ISNCSCI.     

International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury: Training Effect on Accurate Classification

Objective:     

International Standards For Neurological Classification Of Spinal Cord Injury: Training Effect On Accurate Classification

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy and agreement of International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISCSCI) classification and to determine the effectiveness of formal training for pediatric clinicians.

Study Population: Participants (N = 28) in a formal 90-minute classification training session.

Outcome Measure: Pre/post-training examination of 1 0 case examples of a variety of neurological classifications.

Results: Regardless of years of experience with the ISCSCI, a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.05) in classification was achieved after formal training. Before training, 27%(539 of 1,960) of the questions were answered incorrectly. After training, the percentage of incorrect classifications decreased to 11%(198 of 1 ,960) incorrect (P < 0.05). After training, the percentage of incorrect motor level classifications decreased by 23%(42%to 19%incorrect; P < 0.05). Post-training improvements were also demonstrated (P < 0.05) in classifying sensory levels (9%to 3%incorrect), neurological levels (31%to 6%incorrect), and severity of injury (9%to 0%incorrect). After training, reductions in classification errors (P < 0.05) were demonstrated in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) A (from 20%to 7%), B (50%to 11%), C (71%to 46%), and D (63%to 16%).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated the benefits of formal, standardized training for accurate classification of the ISCSCI. Effective training programs must emphasize the guidelines and decision algorithms used to determine motor level and ASIA AIS designations because these remained problematic after training and are often a concern of patients/parents and are primary endpoints in clinical trials for neurological recovery.     

How to learn the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI) content: Self-study through booklet is not enough

ObjectiveTo investigate the baseline knowledge of autonomic functions and specifically the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI) among medical students and to present the effective methods in learning of the ISAFSCIDesignInterventional training sessionSettingA tertiary hospital.Participants37 medical studentsInterventionsBefore training, a self-rating questionnaire including 24 concepts extracted from the ISAFSCI was administrated to the students. Then students were divided into two groups. One group (N = 19) had a one-hour ISAFSCI booklet self-study (BSS), while the other group (N = 18) received a one-hour lecture-based learning (LBL) about the ISAFSCI. After BSS/LBL, all students were examined by a 15-question written test on the knowledge of ISAFSCI.Main Outcome MeasuresBaseline knowledge self-rating questionnaire before training and comparison of post-training performance on the written test between the BSS and LBL groupsResultsBefore training, students were familiar with only 8 out of the 24 concepts within the questionnaire (demonstrating baseline knowledge rate beyond 50%). Significant difference in post-training performance (P<0.05) between BBS and LBL groups was noted for 5 of 15 items tested, including hypohydrosis, broncho-pulmonary system, lower urinary tract function, bowel function and female sexual function. All questions except the one regarding hypohydrosis were answered with greater than 80% accuracy by LBL group.ConclusionUse of ISAFSCI booklet alone for self-study by medical students is not sufficient to obtain bassline knowledge of autonomic discussions after SCI. It is recommended that formal lecture or presentation should be used to improve the effectiveness of learning the ISAFSCI for medical students.     

Computerized Classification of Neurologic Injury Based on the International Standards for Classification of Spinal Cord Injury

Background/Objective:

To develop and test a computer program to accurately score International Standards for Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISCSCI) examinations.

Methods:

A computer program was written following the algorithm published in the ISCSCI 2003 manual. Two methods were used to test the computer program''s accuracy. First, 94 hand-scored examinations representing 25 different patients were entered into the program. Differences between hand-scored examinations and computer-scored examinations were evaluated for accuracy. Second, all case examples from the ISCSCI manual were entered into the computer program to verify its accuracy.

Results:

Of the 94 hand-scored examinations, the computer detected all incorrectly scored examinations. Furthermore, the computer scoring agreed with every examination''s scores that were correctly calculated by hand. Of the hand-scored examinations, 10% of sensory total scores and 4% of motor scores were incorrect. For sensory level and motor level, there were errors in 9% and 26% of hand-scored examinations, respectively; 13% of hand-scored examinations had incorrectly assigned ASIA Impairment Scale classification.

Conclusion:

This study showed that the computer program we developed was effective in correctly scoring ISCSCI examinations and was able to detect errors in hand-scored examinations.     

颈椎脊髓损伤患者自主神经性反射异常的临床处理

目的 探讨颈椎脊髓损伤患者自主神经性反射异常（autonomic dysreflexia,AD）的临床诊治措施.方法 2006年9月～2011年9月,共诊治23例颈椎脊髓损伤后发生自主神经性反射异常的患者,主要措施为去除对张力感受器和痛觉感受器的不良刺激.结果 19例患者在去除不良刺激后1-5 min内症状完全缓解,其余4例患者经Ca2＋通道阻滞剂治疗后血压降致正常.结论对于颈椎脊髓损伤的患者,应注意观察并解除可能导致AD发生的因素;一旦诊断为AD,应尽快消除诱因并对症处理,避免出现并发症.     

Reference for the 2011 revision of the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury

Abstract

The latest revision of the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) was available in booklet format in June 2011, and is published in this issue of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. The ISNCSCI were initially developed in 1982 to provide guidelines for the consistent classification of the neurological level and extent of the injury to achieve reliable data for clinical care and research studies. This revision was generated from the Standards Committee of the American Spinal Injury Association in collaboration with the International Spinal Cord Society's Education Committee. This article details and explains the updates and serves as a reference for these revisions and clarifications.     

The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury: Intra-Rater Agreement of Total Motor and Sensory Scores in the Pediatric Population

Background: The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISCSCI) is the gold standard for evaluating and classifying the neurological consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Objective: To determine the within-rater agreement for total scores of light touch (LT), pin prick (PP), and total motor (TM) in children and youth.

Design: Part of a larger cross-sectional study to determine the intra-rater reliability of the standards when applied to children and youth.

Participants/Methods: A total of 187 subjects participated in 2 repeated examinations performed by the same rater. A total of 7 raters participated in this study. Intraclass correlations coefficients (ICCs), with 95% Cl were calculated to determine agreement between the 2 examinations for LT, PP, and TM.

Results: With the exception of subjects younger than 6 years, agreement on repeated total PP, LT, and TM scores were good to excellent, as shown by ICC values of 0.92 or higher. Although agreement was high for the youngest age group for LT (ICC = 0.920), PP (ICC = 0.957), and TM (ICC = 0.971), all of the lower 95% Cl values fell well below 0.66, indicating poor precision. All subgroups had good to high agreement for total PP, LT, and TM scores, as indicated by ICC values of 0.87 and higher. There were lower 95% Cl (LCI) values for the 6- to 11-year-old group with incomplete paraplegia due to the low number of subjects in that subgroup (N = 4). The LCI values were poor for PP for the subgroups with 6- to 11-year-olds with incomplete tetraplegia (LCI = 0.675) and the 12- to 15-year-old group with incomplete paraplegia (LCI = 0.707) and for TM for 16- to 21-year-old group with complete paraplegia (LCI = 0.706).

Conclusions: In children as young as 6 years, within-rater agreement on LT, PP, and TM exceeded recommended values for clinical measures. With the exception of 6- to 11-year-olds with incomplete injuries, type of injury and severity of injury were not factors in agreement. Although more work is needed to define the lower age limit in which the ISCSCI have utility, these data represent growing evidence supporting the use of the ISCSCI when evaluating the neurological consequence of SCI in children.     

The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury: Intra-Rater Agreement of Total Motor and Sensory Scores in the Pediatric Population

Background:

The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISCSCI) is the gold standard for evaluating and classifying the neurological consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objective:

To determine the within-rater agreement for total scores of light touch (LT), pin prick (PP), and total motor (TM) in children and youth.

Design:

Part of a larger cross-sectional study to determine the intra-rater reliability of the standards when applied to children and youth.

Participants/Methods:

A total of 187 subjects participated in 2 repeated examinations performed by the same rater. A total of 7 raters participated in this study. Intraclass correlations coefficients (ICCs), with 95% CI were calculated to determine agreement between the 2 examinations for LT, PP, and TM.

Results:

With the exception of subjects younger than 6 years, agreement on repeated total PP, LT, and TM scores were good to excellent, as shown by ICC values of 0.92 or higher. Although agreement was high for the youngest age group for LT (ICC = 0.920), PP (ICC = 0.957), and TM (ICC = 0.971), all of the lower 95% CI values fell well below 0.66, indicating poor precision. All subgroups had good to high agreement for total PP, LT, and TM scores, as indicated by ICC values of 0.87 and higher. There were lower 95% CI (LCI) values for the 6- to 11-year-old group with incomplete paraplegia due to the low number of subjects in that subgroup (N = 4). The LCI values were poor for PP for the subgroups with 6- to 11-year-olds with incomplete tetraplegia (LCI = 0.675) and the 12- to 15-year-old group with incomplete paraplegia (LCI = 0.707) and for TM for 16- to 21-year-old group with complete paraplegia (LCI = 0.706).

Conclusions:

In children as young as 6 years, within-rater agreement on LT, PP, and TM exceeded recommended values for clinical measures. With the exception of 6- to 11-year-olds with incomplete injuries, type of injury and severity of injury were not factors in agreement. Although more work is needed to define the lower age limit in which the ISCSCI have utility, these data represent growing evidence supporting the use of the ISCSCI when evaluating the neurological consequence of SCI in children.     

Application of injury severity score to multiple injuries headed by spinal cord injury

Objective： To evaluate the application of injury severity score （ISS） to multiple injuries headed by spinal cord injury. Methods： The data of 55 cases （40 males and 15 females, aged 17-69 years, mean = 41 years） of multiple injuries headed by spinal cord injury treated in our hospital from January 2000 to December 2004 were reviewed and analyzed with ISS （Version of AIS-2005 ） to explore their relationship. Results ： The ISS values increased with the number of injured regions, so did the complications. The recovery rate was negatively related to ISS values. During the period of immunity observation, the patients with ISS 〉 25 could undergo planned operations safely. Conclusions： Treatment for multiple injuries headed by spinal cord injury closely depends on the general and local conditions of the patients. ISS may provide useful data for the choice of treatment methods.     

不同程度颈脊髓损伤后低钠血症的临床分析

 目的回顾性总结急性颈脊髓损伤后低钠血症的发生特点,并分析其可能的发生原因,以及脊髓损伤严重程度、性别、年龄等因素对血钠变化的影响。方法研究对象为2005年6月至2011年3月急诊收治的一组颈椎外伤患者,排除合并颅脑外伤及慢性疾病的患者,入选病例分为完全性脊髓损伤组、不完全性脊髓损伤组及无神经功能障碍组,回顾性分析各组病例的血钠变化情况。结果入选病例共102例,男83例,女19例;年龄17~68岁,平均45.6岁。完全性脊髓损伤组23例,不完全性脊髓损伤组60例,无神经功能障碍组19例。共发生低钠血症共39例,完全性脊髓损伤组15例(65%),不完全性脊髓损伤组23例(38%),无神经功能障碍组1例(5%)。低钠血症发生率在三组间两两比较,差异有统计学意义,完全性脊髓损伤组低钠血症的发生率明显高于不完全性脊髓损伤组和无神经功能障碍组。Logistic逐步回归分析结果显示低钠血症与患者脊髓损伤程度有明确相关关系,而与患者的年龄、性别、脊髓损伤节段无相关关系。结论急性颈脊髓损伤后具有较高的低钠血症发生率,虽然影响钠盐平衡的因素及相互作用非常复杂,但颈脊髓损伤致自主神经功能障碍、神经内分泌功能异常以及血液动力学改变可能是导致颈脊髓损伤后电解质系统异常的重要原因。     

Reliability and repeatability of the motor and sensory examination of the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury

Objective:     

大鼠脊髓损伤后线粒体代谢功能和还原型谷胱甘肽水平的变化

目的 探讨大鼠脊髓损伤后伤段脊髓线粒体代谢功能和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)水平的变化.方法 取48只SD大鼠,随机分为假手术组(对照组)和脊髓损伤组(SCI组),每组又分为处理后6、12、24 h 3个时相组,每个时相组8只,分别提取伤段脊髓的线粒体,测定线粒体呼吸功能[呼吸Ⅲ态(R3)、呼吸Ⅳ态(R4)、呼吸控制率(RCR)及磷氧比(P/O)值]、三磷酸腺苷酶(ATPase)活性(Na+、K+-ATP酶和Ca2+、Mg2+-ATP酶活性)及GSH的变化.结果 SCI组在伤后6、12、24 h伤段脊髓线粒体的R3、RCR及P/O均显著低于对照组,R4显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).SCl组Na+、K+-ATP酶和Ca2+、Mg2+-ATP酶较对照组明显降低,伤后6 h急剧下降,12 h后稍有代偿性升高,24 h后又下降,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).GSH水平SCI组与对照组相比明显降低,以伤后12 h最为明显,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 脊髓损伤后伤段脊髓线粒体的呼吸功能、ATPase酶活性及GSH水平明显下降,说明脊髓损伤后线粒体能量代谢功能和自由基清除能力均受到明显损害.     

神经元胞外基质网络在脊髓损伤修复作用中的研究进展

神经元胞外基质网络是由细胞外基质分子高度凝聚且环绕神经元形成的复杂的网络结构.在维持神经元性能、保护神经元免受有害物质的影响等方面起重要作用.然而,在脊髓损伤后,神经元胞外基质网络形成一道包裹在神经元外,限制神经可塑性的物理屏障,阻碍神经元轴突再生和髓鞘形成,同时,也会促进局部神经炎症吸收.本文主要阐述神经元胞外基质网...     

脊髓损伤ASIA神经学分类标准在临床应用中存在的问题及原因分析

目的:分析脊髓损伤ASIA神经学分类标准(ASIA标准)在临床应用中存在的问题,探讨解决的方法。方法:收集2010年我院收治的341例脊髓损伤患者的临床资料,首先由中级职称医师统计入院时诊断记录、ASIA残损分级记录表和影像学资料,整理出残损分级、脊髓损伤平面和运动平面作为原始记录。再由高级职称医师组成的AISA标准专家组根据原始记录和病历对每例患者的残损分级、损伤平面和运动平面重新评估,得出审核后评定结果。比较审核前后的评定结果。结果:原始记录178例A级患者经审核后1例定为B级,2例定为C级;43例B级患者经审核后15例定为C级,1例定为A级;34例C级患者经审核后1例定为B级,1例定为D级;45例患者未分级。15例C级被误定为B级是由于原始记录者认为运动平面以下超过3个节段以远有少量运动功能的患者属于B级而非C级。1例B级和2例C级被误定为A级是因评定时仅依据ASIA残损伤分级记录表格中的信息而忽略了体格检查中直肠感觉存在和远端非关键肌运动功能保留的记录。A至B、B至C和D至C的级别误定各1例是因对记录表格中信息的归纳错误所致。原始记录中损伤平面:颈髓139例,胸髓145例,圆锥损伤21例,马尾综合征12例,7例未定平面,审核后均与原始记录一致;17例腰髓损伤经审核后只有1例为腰髓损伤,12例为圆锥综合征,4例为马尾综合征。对ASIA标准中腰髓损伤与圆锥综合征及马尾综合征损伤范围理解不清是将后两者误诊为腰髓损伤的主要原因。22例残损D级中央综合征病例中有18例在原始记录中将运动平面定为颈髓,但查体显示下肢关键肌肌力可达2～5级,是忽略运动平面意义造成的使用不当。结论:应用脊髓损伤ASIA标准时应详细、准确理解其内容,以减少对相同标准的不同理解而产生错误的评估结果。     

Effect of intravesical botulinum toxin injection on symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia in a patient with chronic spinal cord injury: a case report

Context: There are few treatment options for managing autonomic dysreflexia in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). According to some studies, intravesical botulinum toxin for SCI patients with autonomic dysreflexia has a preventive effect on symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia. However, the usefulness of an intravesical botulinum toxin injection has never been reported for autonomic dysreflexia in an adult patient with chronic cervical SCI, although there has been for one pediatric patient.

Findings: A 62-year-old man with chronic cervical SCI had neurogenic bladder due to C6-7 SCI since sustaining a fall in 1980. He presented with an intermittent headache and severe hypertension because of persistent autonomic dysreflexia. His symptoms did not improve with conservative management, and he could not undergo an operation to resect the lung cancer because of his uncontrolled blood pressure. To control his fluctuating blood pressure, he was taken to an operating room to receive an intravesical botulinum toxin injection for refractory bladder spasms. Subsequently, his blood pressure was controlled, and then the lung mass could be surgically removed. His improved condition lasted for more than 6 months.

Conclusion: This case suggests that botulinum toxin is a logical treatment option for autonomic dysreflexia as well as neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with chronic SCI. Dedicated research is warranted to assess the efficacy of an intravesical botulinum toxin injection, as it was used successfully to stop the symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia in our patient.     

Reference for the 2011 revision of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury

The latest revision of the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) was available in booklet format in June 2011, and is published in this issue of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. The ISNCSCI were initially developed in 1982 to provide guidelines for the consistent classification of the neurological level and extent of the injury to achieve reliable data for clinical care and research studies. This revision was generated from the Standards Committee of the American Spinal Injury Association in collaboration with the International Spinal Cord Society's Education Committee. This article details and explains the updates and serves as a reference for these revisions and clarifications.