Employment satisfaction of individuals with spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVES: Community reentry after a spinal cord injury is a long-term integrative process, because individuals must adjust to an extraordinary new set of circumstances. In this study, quality-of-life and work satisfaction variables associated with employed or unemployed individuals with spinal cord injury were examined. METHODS: Quality-of-life and work satisfaction variables associated with 109 employed or unemployed individuals with spinal cord injury were examined by using an employment satisfaction survey. RESULTS: Most of those employed indicated that they would either change jobs or some employment variable such as duties, supervisor, or hours worked. Participants who were not working attributed unemployment to an array of factors including ongoing health problems, lack of transportation, and impact of and/or lost disability benefits. Both groups offered feedback related to information provided to them by medical professionals about return-to-work resources. CONCLUSIONS: The following three themes emerged from this analysis: (1) more comprehensive provider training about spinal cord injury is needed; (2) increased communication between consumer and family would be beneficial; and (3) an increase in the flexibility and availability of services would help to ensure access to essential care.     

Exploration of quality-of-life goals in individuals with spinal cord injury

The aim of the study is to investigate the applicability of structured interviews for exploration of quality-of-life goals using an established instrument. Structured interviews were performed using WHOQOL-BREF and Disabilities Module as guideline with 35 clients admitted for first rehabilitation intervention after spinal cord injury. Although participants found some questions difficult to answer or psychologically stressful, most of them have appreciated the interviews' help considering their position in life at an early phase of rehabilitation. WHOQOL-BREF and Disabilities Module is an appropriate tool as an interview guideline for exploring quality-of-life goals.     

Diurnal blood pressure variation in quadriplegic chronic spinal cord injury patients.

1. Measurement of blood pressure and heart rate over a 24 h period was performed in 10 quadriplegic spinal cord injury patients and 10 immobilized, neurologically intact orthopaedic subjects by using the Spacelabs 90207 automated ambulatory monitoring system. 2. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell significantly at night in orthopaedic subjects but not in quadriplegic patients, and night-time blood pressures were similar in both groups. 3. Cumulative summation of differences from a reference value (cusum analysis) confirmed a markedly diminished diurnal blood pressure variation in the quadriplegic patients. 4. These findings could not be accounted for on the basis of blood pressure variations during chronic postural change. 5. Heart rate fell significantly at night in both groups. 6. The findings suggest that the increase in blood pressure during waking hours in neurologically intact subjects is a consequence of a diurnal variation in sympathetic activity (absent in quadriplegic patients with sympathetic decentralization) which is independent of changes in physical activity.     

Leisure participation for individuals living with acquired spinal cord injury

Traditionally, rehabilitation professionals have viewed and studied leisure participation in terms of quantifiable activities. Advances in leisure studies have, however, led to recognition of the need for and value of examining leisure as a subjective experience too. Accordingly, this study used a qualitative approach to explore postinjury leisure participation for individuals living with acquired spinal cord injury. A secondary analysis was performed for data from a primary study that examined social adaptation needs related to community living after rehabilitation. Participants who had completed their initial rehabilitation at least 3 years earlier took part in in-depth, personal interviews. The analysis identified specific leisure activities participants had done and/or are doing after spinal cord injury. It also provided insight into how and why these activities are being done and/or not being done. Major findings are illustrated by participants' personal verbatim quotes. Implications and recommendations for further research and professional practice in rehabilitation are outlined.     

神经干细胞转基因疗法与运动性脊髓损伤的治疗

背景：神经干细胞基因疗法的提出,给运动性脊髓损伤的修复与治疗提供了广阔的应用前景和挑战。目的：综述神经干细胞的增殖分化和基因调控促进运动性脊髓损伤恢复的效果。方法：应用计算机检索Medline数据库、维普数据库和清华同方数据库1991-01/2010-12有关神经干细胞疗法治疗运动性脊髓损伤的文献,以＂neural stem cells,gene therapy,exercise spinal cord injury,gene modification,gene transfection＂为英文检索词,以＂神经干细胞,脊髓损伤,基因治疗＂为中文检索词,排除重复性、陈旧性研究,对所得文献资料进行整理,运用归纳演绎等方法进行分析。结果与结论：神经干细胞的基因治疗能够通过其神经营养因子的修饰、增殖分化和移植技术,以替代坏死、凋亡的神经细胞,并在损伤区域分泌大量的神经营养因子,达到改善局部微环境,促进神经通路的重建、新生神经元的增殖等促进运动性脊髓损伤的再生与修复。同时,神经干细胞基因治疗运动性脊髓损伤还面临着巨大的考验,包括神经干细胞基因治疗技术的成熟性、转基因后的稳定高效表达性等相关问题还没有得到很好的解决,仍需要不断的进行基础性研究和临床实验。     

神经干细胞转基因疗法与运动性脊髓损伤的治疗

背景:神经干细胞基因疗法的提出,给运动性脊髓损伤的修复与治疗提供了广阔的应用前景和挑战.目的:综述神经干细胞的增殖分化和基因调控促进运动性脊髓损伤恢复的效果.方法:应用计算机检索Medline 数据库、维普数据库和清华同方数据库1991-01/2010-12 有关神经干细胞疗法治疗运动性脊髓损伤的文献,以"neural stem cells,gene therapy,exercise spinal cord injury,gene modification,gene transfection"为英文检索词,以"神经干细胞,脊髓损伤,基因治疗"为中文检索词,排除重复性、陈旧性研究,对所得文献资料进行整理,运用归纳演绎等方法进行分析.结果与结论:神经干细胞的基因治疗能够通过其神经营养因子的修饰、增殖分化和移植技术,以替代坏死、凋亡的神经细胞,并在损伤区域分泌大量的神经营养因子,达到改善局部微环境,促进神经通路的重建、新生神经元的增殖等促进运动性脊髓损伤的再生与修复.同时,神经干细胞基因治疗运动性脊髓损伤还面临着巨大的考验,包括神经干细胞基因治疗技术的成熟性、转基因后的稳定高效表达性等相关问题还没有得到很好的解决,仍需要不断的进行基础性研究和临床实验.     

Baclofen-induced cough suppression in cervical spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the GABA-agonist baclofen on cough reflex sensitivity in subjects with cervical spinal cord injury (C-SCI). Baclofen has been shown to inhibit the cough reflex in able-bodied volunteers. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized control trial. SETTING: Veterans Affairs medical center with large outpatient SCI population. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve adult males (11 outpatients) with C-SCI chronically maintained on oral baclofen for the treatment of muscle spasm. INTERVENTION: Subjects underwent cough challenge testing with inhaled capsaicin. The concentrations (microM) of capsaicin inducing 2 or more (C2) and 5 or more (C5) coughs were determined. Mean values for log C2 and log C5 were compared with a control group of outpatients with C-SCI not receiving baclofen. RESULTS: Subjects treated with baclofen had a significantly higher cough threshold (diminished cough reflex sensitivity) than control subjects. Mean (+/- standard error of the mean) values for log C2 in study subjects and controls were 1.28 +/- .16 and .65 +/- .15, respectively (p = .009). Mean values for log C5 in subjects receiving baclofen and in control subjects were 2.20 +/- .22 and 1.43 +/- .23, respectively (p = .024). Subjects and controls did not differ in terms of age, spirometric parameters, or duration of injury. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that chronic therapy with baclofen diminishes cough reflex sensitivity in subjects with C-SCI. The clinical significance of this finding remains to be elucidated.     

颈髓损伤压疮发生原因分析及预防

本文分析了10例颈髓损伤病人压疮发生的原因,包括对高危人群评估不当、措施不当、局部因素等,并对压疮发生的原因采取针对性的预防措施,包括有效减压、使用防护措施、加强营养等,有效地降低了颈髓损伤压疮的发生。     

脊髓损伤患者康复期生存质量的研究

目的：测量脊髓损伤患者住院康复期的生存质量,以及康复治疗对脊髓损伤患者生存质量的影响,探讨改善脊髓损伤患者生存质量的干预方式。方法：91例符合入选标准的住院康复期的脊髓损伤患者,分为综合康复组和传统康复组;100例符合入选标准的骨关节疾患非脊髓损伤需要康复治疗的患者作为对照组。结果：脊髓损伤患者26—50岁占57.14%,损伤原因交通事故、高处坠落、重物砸伤占73.63%。比较生存质量总分及各领域得分,脊髓损伤患者明显低于骨关节疾患非脊髓损伤患者(P<0.05)。治疗前后比较,综合康复组和传统康复组生存质量总分、生理领域得分、环境领域得分均有所提高(P<0.05),但心理领域得分有所下降,社会领域得分差异无显著性意义。治疗前后生存质量总分、生理领域得分综合康复组比传统康复组提高更明显(P<0.05)。治疗后两组BI均有明显提高（P<0.01）,综合康复组比传统康复组改善更明显（P<0.05）。结论：脊髓损伤患者以青壮年为主,康复期脊髓损伤患者的生存质量比骨关节疾患非脊髓损伤人群低。现代康复治疗技术与传统中医相结合的综合康复治疗能更有效地提高康复期脊髓损伤患者的日常生活活动能力及生存质量。     

Quantifying muscle coactivation in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury using wavelets

BackgroundIndividuals with incomplete spinal cord injury often have decreased gait function and coactivation of antagonistic muscle pairs. Common ways of quantifying coactivation using electromyographic signals do not consider frequency information in the signal. As electromyographic signals from different motor unit types have different frequency components and muscle fiber type can change in individuals with spinal cord injury, it may be beneficial to consider frequency components. The aims were to demonstrate the utility of using a method which considers temporal and frequency components of the electromyographical signal to quantify coactivation in lower extremity muscles in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury through 1) comparison with able-bodied individuals and 2) comparison before and after body weight supported treadmill training.MethodsFrequency decomposition techniques were applied to electromyographical signals to consider the temporal and frequency components of the electromyographical signals to quantify coactivation over a range of frequencies.ResultsOur main findings show that correlation coefficients between total EMG intensities of rectus femoris-biceps femoris and medial gastrocnemius-tibialis anterior were significantly different between able-bodied individuals and those with incomplete spinal cord injury (p = 0006, p = 0.01). The correlation spectra of medial gastrocnemius-tibialis anterior of the spinal cord injury group were substantially different than those the able-bodied group, while the EMG normalcy score was significantly different (p = 0.002). We also found that there was a change in coactivation of ankle muscles after body weight supported treadmill training.InterpretationOur findings indicate that there may be frequency specific differences in muscle coactivation between able-bodied individuals and those with incomplete spinal cord injury. Changes in coactivation were also observed before and after body weight supported treadmill training. These differences may reflect the changes in recruitment patterns of different motor unit types.     

Satisfaction with technological equipment in individuals with tetraplegia following spinal cord injury]

OBJECTIVE: To measure the acquisition, use and satisfaction with high technology equipment by spinal cord injured tetraplegic subjects. DESIGN AND SETTING: A questionnaire was mailed to 102 tetraplegic subjects who were hospitalised in the rehabilitation center of Kerpape (Ploemeur, France) between 1998 and 2004, and 59 subjects responded. The questionnaire asked about the use of telephones, computers, wheelchairs and environmental controls at home. RESULTS: When a piece of equipment was acquired, it was very often used. Patient satisfaction with equipment was 79.3%. Home phones and mobile phones were often used with options such as hands-free devices (78 and 59% respectively). A total of 64.4% of subjects acquired a manual wheelchair and 61% a power wheelchair. The most commonly acquired options on the power wheelchairs were the powered recline (73,7%) and tilt (71,1%) systems. All options were used but all were more desired than acquired. A total of 27.1% of subjects desired a pushrim-activated power-assist wheelchair, but only 15.3% had acquired one; 695% of subjects had a computer. Communication was the first use for the computer (82.5%); 49.2% of subjects had acquired an environmental control system, but 20% desired one. The first reason for lack of acquisition was financial difficulties but also accessibility and information problems. The factor that influenced the acquisition and need for equipment was the degree of spinal cord injury. No other factor reduced patient satisfaction with equipment. CONCLUSION: Patients were satisfied with the equipment they acquired. But their needs, especially wheelchair options and environmental control systems, were not satisfied.     

外伤性颈椎间盘突出型脊髓损伤的治疗

目的:评价外伤性颈椎间盘突出型脊髓损伤手术治疗效果.方法:回顾性分析38例外伤性颈椎间盘突出型脊髓损伤患者作为手术组,均采用颈椎前路椎间盘摘除、椎体间植骨、钛板内固定术、依据Frankel分级情况及JOA改善率,并以因为各种原因出现外伤性颈椎盘突出型脊髓损伤但未手术治疗者35例作为对照组,进行组内和组间对比,评价治疗效果.结果:手术组术后Frankel分级恢复1～4个等级.术后2个月JOA改善率为59.92％,对照组Frankel分级恢复1～2个等级,术后2月JOA改善率为35.70％.组间对比显示手术组患者脊髓功能恢复程度优于保守治疗组.结论:颈椎间盘突出是无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的重要病理基础,合理的前路手术能获得较理想的脊髓功能恢复效果.     

急性颈髓损伤患者的预见性护理

目的探讨急性颈髓损伤患者预见性的护理措施。方法回顾性分析、总结41例急性颈髓损伤患者早期的治疗与护理。结果除1例死亡,1例放弃治疗外,余39例患者均能控制病情、治愈并发症后出院。结论有预见性、针对性地实施护理措施,能有效减少并发症的发生,促进患者康复。     

Lumbar support thickness: effect on seated buttock pressure in individuals with and without spinal cord injury.

We compared the effects of different lumbar support thicknesses on seated buttock pressure in individuals with and without spinal cord injury (SCI). Eighteen subjects with SCI (SCI group) and 18 subjects without SCI (control group) were seated on a pressure-sensing transducer incorporated into an adjustable chair. The output was calibrated so that eight pressure intervals (colors) were displayed. The lumbar support thickness was adjusted to 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 cm, and the highest and lowest seated buttock pressures were analyzed. External measurements of the hip angle were taken for each lumbar support condition. High reliability of repeated seated test positions was found (intraclass correlation coefficient = .93). The 5- and 7.5-cm-thick lumbar supports caused a decrease in the highest pressure areas in the control group, but no change in the SCI group. The hip angle was increased with each increment in lumbar support thickness in both groups, but the SCI group's hip angle was consistently less than that of the control group for each lumbar support condition. The results of this study suggest that in individuals with chronic paralysis (greater than or equal to 3 years), the use of a wheelchair lumbar support has a negligible effect on seated buttock pressure.