Report of practicability of a 6-month home-based functional electrical stimulation cycling program in an individual with tetraplegia

Background

Sedentarism is common among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, new technologies such as functional electrical stimulation cycles with internet connectivity may provide incentive by removing some of the limitations and external barriers.

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of a long-term home-based functional electrical stimulation lower extremities cycling (FES-LEC) program on exercise adherence, body composition, energy expenditure, and quality of life (QOL) in an adult with chronic tetraplegia.

Participant

A 53-year-old man, 33 years post-motor complete C4 SCI participated in FES-LEC in his home, three sessions per week for 24 weeks.

Methods

Exercise adherence was calculated as the percentage of performed cycling sessions relative to the recommended number of cycling sessions. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Energy expenditure was measured using a COSMED K4b2 and QOL via the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO-QOL) Brief Questionnaire. Testing was performed before and after the 24-week exercise program.

Results

The participant cycled 59 out of a recommended 72 sessions which is an exercise adherence rate of 82%. Body composition displayed increases in total body lean mass (LM) with an increase of 3.3% and an increase in leg LM of 7.1%. Energy expenditure increased by 1.26 kcal/minute or greater than 200%. The physical and psychological domain scores of QOL increased by 25 and 4.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

This case study provides encouragement concerning the practicality of a home-based FES-LEC program for those with SCI.     

Effects of a fifty-six month electrical stimulation cycling program after tetraplegia: case report

Background: Functional electrical stimulation cycling is a common clinical treatment for individuals with spinal cord injury and other paralytic conditions, however, the long term effects of home-based functional electrical stimulation cycling remains unreported.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a long-term home-based functional electrical stimulation lower extremities cycling (FES-LEC) program on body composition.

Participant: An adult male 52.7 years of age at pre-intervention and 57.3 years of age at post-intervention with chronic C4 spinal cord injury and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale C.

Methods: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans were performed on the participant before and after the FES cycling program to determine body composition changes. An RT300 FES cycle was issued to the participant with the recommendation to cycle three times per week for general conditioning and the maintenance of physical health.

Results: Total body lean mass (LM) increased from 39.13?kg to 46.35?kg, an 18.5% increase while total body fat mass (FM) increased by just 3.7% from 20.85?kg to 21.64?kg. Legs LM increased by 10.9% (10.93?kg to 12.12?kg). There was a negligible decrease in total body bone mineral content (BMC) with a pre-training measure of 2.09?kg compared to a post-training measure of 1.98?kg. Lower extremities FM increased by less than 1% from 3.51?kg to 3.54?kg.

Conclusion: Natural limitations of a single subject case report disallow a causal conclusion. However, for this particular older adult with chronic tetraplegia, home-based FES-LEC appears to have resulted in cardio-metabolic protective body composition changes.     

Use of peripheral nerve transfers in tetraplegia: evaluation of feasibility and morbidity

Background

Peripheral nerve transfers are being used to improve upper extremity function in cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility and perioperative complications following these procedures.

Methods

Eligible SCI patients with upper extremity dysfunction were assessed and followed for a minimum of 3 months after surgery. Data regarding demographics, medical history, physical examination, electrodiagnostic testing, intraoperative nerve stimulation, recipient nerve histomorphometry, surgical procedure, and complications were collected.

Results

Seven patients had surgery on eight limbs, mean age of 28 ± 9.9 years and mean time from SCI injury of 5.1 ± 5.2 years. All patients had volitional elbow flexion and no volitional hand function. The nerve to the brachialis muscle was used as the expendable donor, and the recipients included the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) (for volitional prehension), nerve branches to the flexor carpi radialis, and flexor digitorum superficialis. Two patients underwent additional nerve transfers: (1) supinator to extensor carpi ulnaris or (2) deltoid to triceps. No patients had any loss of baseline upper extremity function, seven of eight AIN nerve specimens had preserved micro-architecture, and all intraoperative stimulation of recipient neuromuscular units was successful further supporting feasibility. Four patients had perioperative complications; all resolved or improved (paresthesias).

Conclusion

Nerve transfers can be used to reestablish volitional control of hand function in SCI. This surgery does not downgrade existing function, uses expendable donor nerve, and has no postoperative immobilization, which might make it a more viable option than traditional tendon transfer and other procedures.     

Development of acute promyelocytic leukemia in a patient with tetraplegia while in inpatient rehabilitation: A case report

Study Design: a single case report.

Objectives: To report a case of a patient with tetraplegia who developed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) while in inpatient rehabilitation after 10.5 months.

Setting: A VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Service and Disorders Unit

Case Report: A 47 year-old male with a stage IV sacral pressure ulcer and C4 AIS A complete tetraplegia secondary to a motor vehicle collision, developed fever, thrombocytopenia, and anemia 20 months after his injury while in inpatient rehabilitation and was found to have APL, confirmed following bone marrow biopsy.

Conclusion: There is a wide differential for fever after a spinal cord injury. In this case report, the source of fever was APL. It is important as healthcare providers to not overlook fevers when otherwise common causes do not fit the clinical picture. Additionally, there has been no association found between traumatic spinal cord injury and the development of acute leukemia, however this is the first case report. Therefore, it is important to continue investigating to determine if an association exists.     

Factors associated with upper extremity contractures after cervical spinal cord injury: A pilot study

Objective: To examine the prevalence of joint contractures in the upper limb and association with voluntary strength, innervation status, functional status, and demographics in a convenience sample of individuals with cervical spinal cord injury to inform future prospective studies.

Design: Cross-sectional convenience sampled pilot study.

Setting: Department of Veterans Affairs Research Laboratory.

Participants: Thirty-eight participants with cervical level spinal cord injury.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Contractures were measured with goniometric passive range of motion. Every joint in the upper extremity was evaluated bilaterally. Muscle strength was measured with manual muscle testing. Innervation status was determined clinically with surface electrical stimulation. Functional independence was measured with the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III).

Results: Every participant tested had multiple joints with contractures and, on average, participants were unable to achieve the normative values of passive movement in 52% of the joints tested. Contractures were most common in the shoulder and hand. There was a weak negative relationship between percentage of contractures and time post-injury and a moderate positive relationship between percentage of contractures and age. There was a strong negative correlation between SCIM-III score and percentage of contractures.

Conclusions: Joint contractures were noted in over half of the joints tested. These joint contractures were associated with decreased functional ability as measured by the SCIM-III. This highlights the need the need for detailed evaluation of the arm and hand early after injury as well as continued monitoring of joint characteristics throughout the life course of the individual with tetraplegia.     

Use and evaluation of assistive technologies for upper limb function in tetraplegia

ContextMore than half of all spinal cord injuries (SCI) occur at the cervical level leading to loss of upper limb function, restricted activity and reduced independence. Several technologies have been developed to assist with upper limb functions in the SCI population.ObjectiveThere is no clear clinical consensus on the effectiveness of the current assistive technologies for the cervical SCI population, hence this study reviews the literature in the years between 1999 and 2019.MethodsA systematic review was performed on the state-of-the-art assistive technology that supports and improves the function of impaired upper limbs in cervical SCI populations. Combinations of terms, covering assistive technology, SCI, and upper limb, were used in the search, which resulted in a total of 1770 articles. Data extractions were performed on the selected studies which involved summarizing details on the assistive technologies, characteristics of study participants, outcome measures, and improved upper limb functions when using the device.ResultsA total of 24 articles were found and grouped into five categories, including neuroprostheses (invasive and non-invasive), orthotic devices, hybrid systems, robots, and arm supports. Only a few selected studies comprehensively reported characteristics of the participants. There was a wide range of outcome measures and all studies reported improvements in upper limb function with the devices.ConclusionsThis study highlighted that assistive technologies can improve functions of the upper limbs in SCI patients. It was challenging to draw generalizable conclusions because of factors, such as heterogeneity of recruited participants, a wide range of outcome measures, and the different technologies employed.     

Cortical blindness associated with autonomic dysreflexia in a man with tetraplegia: a rare but serious complication

CONTEXT: To describe a case of a 44-year-old man with complete C4 tetraplegia who developed transient cortical blindness in the subacute setting following episodes of autonomic dysreflexia. FINDINGS: Transient cortical blindness the day after surgery for appendicitis that had resulted in severe autonomic dysreflexia (AD) requiring aggressive blood pressure management. Imaging showed no evidence of acute stroke, but did show vasospasm in the occipital lobes. Vision improved over the next couple of months. Conclusion/clinical relevance: This case illustrates a possible profound vasomotor phenomenon (cortical blindness) associated with AD and its symptomatic treatment. Early recognition of AD and treatment of its underlying cause cannot be overemphasized.     

The SCIRehab project: treatment time spent in SCI rehabilitation. Therapeutic recreation treatment time during inpatient rehabilitation

Objective

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), certified therapeutic recreation specialists (CTRSs) work with patients during rehabilitation to re-create leisure lifestyles. Although there is much literature available to describe the benefits of recreation, little has been written about the process of inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation therapeutic recreation (TR) programs or the effectiveness of such programs. To delineate how TR time is used during inpatient rehabilitation for SCI.

Methods

Six rehabilitation centers enrolled 600 patients with traumatic SCI for an observational study. CTRSs documented time spent on each of a set of specific TR activities during each patient encounter. Patterns of time use are described, for all patients and by neurologic category. Ordinary least-squares stepwise regression models are used to identify patient and injury characteristics predictive of total treatment time (overall and average per week) and time spent in TR activities.

Results

Ninety-four percent of patients enrolled in the SCIRehab study participated in TR. Patients received a mean total of 17.5 hours of TR; significant differences were seen in the amount of time spent in each activity among and within neurologic groups. The majority (76%) of patients participated in at least one structured therapeutic outing. Patient and injury characteristics explained little of the variation in time spent within activities.

Conclusion

The large amount of variability seen in TR treatment time within and among injury group categories, which is not explained well by patient and injury characteristics, sets the stage for future analyses to associate treatments with outcomes.     

The SCIRehab project: treatment time spent in SCI rehabilitation. Psychology treatment time during inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Background

Rehabilitation psychologists are integral members of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation teams.

Objective

To describe specific information regarding types and intensity of treatments delivered by rehabilitation psychologists to patients with various levels of SCI.

Methods

Utilizing a taxonomy of psychological interventions as a framework, rehabilitation psychologists documented time spent on specific psychology interventions for each interaction they had with 600 patients with traumatic SCI at 6 inpatient SCI rehabilitation centers. Associations of patient and injury characteristics with time spent on various psychological interventions were examined using ordinary least squares stepwise regression models.

Results

Psychologists focus the majority of the time they spend with patients with SCI on psychotherapeutic interventions of processing emotions, emotional adjustment, and family coping, while educational efforts focus mostly on coping and adjusting to the new injury. There was wide variation in the amount of time spent on psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational interventions; patient, injury, and clinician characteristics explained little of the variation in time spent.

Conclusions

Variations observed in psychological treatment delivery mirror real-world human complexity and clinical experience; they are not explained well by patient and injury characteristics and set the stage for future analyses to associate treatments with outcomes.     

Cortical blindness associated with autonomic dysreflexia in a man with tetraplegia: A rare but serious complication

Abstract

Context

To describe a case of a 44-year-old man with complete C4 tetraplegia who developed transient cortical blindness in the subacute setting following episodes of autonomic dysreflexia.

Findings

Transient cortical blindness the day after surgery for appendicitis that had resulted in severe autonomic dysreflexia (AD) requiring aggressive blood pressure management. Imaging showed no evidence of acute stroke, but did show vasospasm in the occipital lobes. Vision improved over the next couple of months.

Conclusion/clinical relevance

This case illustrates a possible profound vasomotor phenomenon (cortical blindness) associated with AD and its symptomatic treatment. Early recognition of AD and treatment of its underlying cause cannot be overemphasized.     

The SCIRehab project: treatment time spent in SCI rehabilitation. Physical therapy treatment time during inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Background/objective

To describe the nature and distribution of activities during physical therapy (PT) delivered in inpatient spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation and discuss predictors (patient and injury characteristics) of the amount of time spent in PT for specific treatment activities.

Methods

Six hundred patients from six inpatient SCI centers were enrolled in the SCIRehab study. Physical therapists documented details, including time spent, of treatment provided during 37 306 PT sessions that occurred during inpatient SCI rehabilitation. Ordinary least squares regression models associated patient and injury characteristics with time spent in specific PT activities.

Results

SCIRehab patients received a mean total of 55.3 hours of PT over the course of their rehabilitation stay. Significant differences among four neurologic groups were seen in the amount of time spent on most activities, including the most common PT activities of strengthening exercises, stretching, transfer training, wheelchair mobility training, and gait training. Most PT work (77%) was provided in individual therapy sessions; the remaining 23% was done in group settings. Patient and injury characteristics explained only some of the variations seen in time spent on wheelchair mobility, transfer and bed mobility training, and range of motion/stretching.

Conclusion

Analysis yielded both expected and unexpected trends in SCI rehabilitation. Significant variation was seen in time spent on PT activities within and among injury groups. Providing therapeutic strengthening treatments consumed the greatest proportion of PT time. About one-quarter of all PT services were provided in group settings. Details about services provided, including time spent, will serve as a starting point in detailing the optimal treatment delivery for maximal outcomes.     

The SCIRehab project: treatment time spent in SCI rehabilitation. Occupational therapy treatment time during inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Background

Occupational therapy (OT) is a critical component of the rehabilitation process after spinal cord injury (SCI), the constitution of which has not been studied or documented in full detail previously.

Objective

To describe the type and distribution of SCI rehabilitation OT activities, including the amount of time spent on evaluation and treatment, and to discuss predictors (patient and injury characteristics) of the amount of time dedicated to OT treatment activities.

Methods

Six inpatient rehabilitation centers enrolled 600 patients with traumatic SCI in the first year of the SCIRehab. Occupational therapists documented 32 512 therapy sessions including time spent and specifics of each therapeutic activity. Analysis of variance and contingency tables/chi-square tests were used to test differences across neurologic injury groups for continuous and categorical variables.

Results

SCIRehab patients received a mean total of 52 hours of OT over the course of their rehabilitation stay. Statistically significant differences among four neurologic injury groups were seen in time spent on each OT activity. The activities that consumed the most OT time (individual and group sessions combined) were strengthening/endurance exercises, activities of daily living (ADLs), range of motion (ROM)/stretching, education, and a grouping of ‘therapeutic activities’ that included tenodesis training, fine motor activities, manual therapy, vestibular training, edema management, breathing exercise, cognitive retraining, visual/perceptual training desensitization, and don/doff adaptive equipment. Seventy-seven percent of OT work occurred in individual treatment sessions, with the most frequent OT activity involving ADLs. The variation in time (mean minutes per week) spent on OT ROM/stretching, ADLs, transfer training, assessment, and therapeutic activities can be explained in part by patient and injury characteristics, such as admission Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score, neurologic injury group, and the medical severity of illness score.

Conclusion

OT treatment patterns for patients with traumatic SCI show much variation in activity selection and time spent on activities, within and among neurologic level of injury groups. Some of the variation can be explained by patient and injury characteristics. Almost all patients with SCI participated in strengthening/endurance and ROM/stretching exercises during OT treatment and these two activities are where the most time was spent when therapy provided in individual and group settings was combined. ADL work consumed the most time in individual therapy sessions.     

Combining robotic exoskeleton and body weight unweighing technology to promote walking activity in tetraplegia following SCI: A case study

Context: To investigate the feasibility of combining the lower-limb exoskeleton and body weight unweighing technology for assisted walking in tetraplegia following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Findings: A 66-year-old participant with a complete SCI at the C7 level, graded on the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) as AIS A, participated in nine sessions of overground walking with the assistance from exoskeleton and body weight unweighing system. The participant could tolerate the intensity and ambulate with exoskeleton assistance for a short distance with acceptable and appropriate gait kinematics after training.

Conclusion: This report showed that using technology can assist non-ambulatory individuals following SCI to stand and ambulate with assistance which may promote general physical and psychological health if used in the long term.     

Transfer of supinator motor branches to the posterior interosseous nerve to reconstruct thumb and finger extension in tetraplegia: case report

We treated a patient with tetraplegia who had paralysis of thumb and finger extension by transferring supinator motor branches to the posterior interosseous nerve. Surgery was performed bilaterally, 7 months after a spinal cord injury. Six months after surgery, with the wrist in neutral, extension of the thumb and finger were almost full, bilaterally. In tetraplegic patients with strong wrist extensors, supinator motor branch transfer is a promising new alternative for the reconstruction of thumb and finger extension.     

Dysphagia in individuals with tetraplegia: incidence and risk factors

Background/objective

Dysphagia following cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) can increase risk for pulmonary complications that may delay the rehabilitative process. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for dysphagia after cervical SCI.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

Individuals with cervical SCI within 31 days of injury underwent a bedside swallow evaluation (BSE) followed by a videofluoroscopy swallow study (VFSS) within 72 hours of the BSE. Subjects were diagnosed as having dysphagia if they had positive findings in either BSE or VFSS.

Results

Twenty-nine patients (7 female and 22 male) were enrolled. Of these, 21 (72%) had high cervical tetraplegia (C4 or higher) and 8 (38%) had lower cervical tetraplegia. A tracheostomy was present in 18 (62%) patients; 15 (52%) subjects were on ventilators. Dysphagia was diagnosed in 12 (41%) subjects. Dysphagia was noted in 62% of the subjects with tracheostomy and 53% of the subjects on the ventilator, but only tracheostomy resulted in a statistically significant association with dysphagia (P = 0.047). All three subjects who had nasogastric tubes were diagnosed with dysphagia (P = 0.029). The relationships between dysphagia and gender, high versus low tetraplegia, presence of halo or collar, head injury, and ventilator use were not statistically significant, but age was a significant risk factor (P = 0.028).

Conclusions

Dysphagia is present in about 41% of individuals with acute tetraplegia. Only age, tracheostomy, and nasogastric tubes were identified as significant risk factors for dysphagia for individuals with tetraplegia. No relationship between dysphagia and level of SCI, spine surgery, collar, and ventilator use was found to exist.     

Outcomes of a home cycling program using functional electrical stimulation or passive motion for children with spinal cord injury: a case series

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Children with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular complications. Stationary cycling using functional electrical stimulation (FES) or passive motion has been suggested to address these complications. The purpose of this case series is to report the outcomes of a 6-month at-home cycling program for 4 children with SCI. METHODS: Two children cycled with FES and 2 cycled passively at home for 1 hour, 3 times per week. OUTCOME MEASURES: Data collected included bone mineral density of the left femoral neck, distal femur, and proximal tibia; quadriceps and hamstring muscle volume; stimulated quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength; a fasting lipid profile; and heart rate and oxygen consumption during incremental upper extremity ergometry testing. RESULTS: The 2 children cycling with FES and 1 child cycling passively exhibited improved bone mineral density, muscle volume, stimulated quadriceps strength, and lower resting heart rate. For the second child cycling passively, few changes were realized. Overall, the lipid results were inconsistent, with some positive and some negative changes seen. CONCLUSIONS: This case series suggests that cycling with or without FES may have positive health benefits and was a practical home exercise option for these children with SCI.     

Comparison of 24-hour cardiovascular and autonomic function in paraplegia, tetraplegia, and control groups: implications for cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND: Fluctuations in 24-hour cardiovascular hemodynamics, specifically heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP), are thought to reflect autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) represent a model of ANS dysfunction, which may affect 24-hour hemodynamics and predispose these individuals to increased cardiovascular disease risk. OBJECTIVE: To determine 24-hour cardiovascular and ANS function among individuals with tetraplegia (n=20; TETRA: C4-C8), high paraplegia (n=10; HP: T2-T5), low paraplegia (n=9; LP: T7-T12), and non-SCI controls (n=10). Twenty-four-hour ANS function was assessed by time domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV); the standard deviation of the 5-minute average R-R intervals (SDANN; milliseconds/ms), and the root-mean square of the standard deviation of the R-R intervals (rMSSD; ms). Subjects wore 24-hour ambulatory monitors to record HR, HRV, and BP. Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significantly lower 24-hour BP in the tetraplegic group; however, BP did not differ between the HP, LP, and control groups. Mixed ANOVA suggested significantly elevated 24-hour HR in the HP and LP groups compared to the TETRA and control groups (P<0.05); daytime HR was higher in both paraplegic groups compared to the TETRA and control groups (P<0.01) and nighttime HR was significantly elevated in the LP group compared to the TETRA and control groups (P<0.01). Twenty-four-hour SDANN was significantly increased in the HP group compared to the LP and TETRA groups (P<0.05) and rMSSD was significantly lower in the LP compared to the other three groups (P<0.05). Elevated 24-hour HR in persons with paraplegia, in concert with altered HRV dynamics, may impart significant adverse cardiovascular consequences, which are currently unappreciated.     

颈椎间盘突出致脊髓半切综合征1例

患者,男,58岁,因左侧肢体无力,右侧肢体麻木1个月入院。病史：患者于入院前1个月无明显诱因出现左侧肢体无力,轻微麻木症状,并出现右侧肢体感觉麻木,较左侧严重。之后感觉左侧肢体无力加重,行走时身体不自主向左侧偏移,并有左足踩棉花的感觉,无大小便异常。既往体健,无外伤史。体格检查：颈后部棘突压痛,无放射痛。