Cardiac arrhythmias six months following traumatic spinal cord injury

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias at six months following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the prevalence of arrhythmias between participants with cervical and thoracic SCI.DesignA prospective observational study using continuous twenty-four-hour Holter monitoring.SettingInpatient rehabilitation unit of a university research hospital and patient home setting.ParticipantsFifty-five participants with acute traumatic SCI were prospectively included. For each participant, the SCI was characterized according to the International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI by the neurological level and severity according to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale.Outcome measuresComparisons between demographic characteristics and arrhythmogenic occurrences as early as possible after SCI (4 ± 2 days) followed by 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks and 6 month time points of Holter monitoring.ResultsBradycardia (heart rate [HR] <50 bpm) was present in 29% and 33% of the participants with cervical (C1–C8) and thoracic (T1–T12) SCI six months after SCI, respectively. The differences in episodes of bradycardia between the two groups were not significant (P < 0.54). The mean maximum HR increased significantly from 4 weeks to 6 months post-SCI (P < 0.001), however mean minimum and maximum HR were not significantly different between the groups at the six-month time point. There were no differences in many arrhythmias between recording periods or between groups at six months.ConclusionsAt the six-month timepoint following traumatic SCI, there were no significant differences in occurrences of arrhythmias between participants with cervical and thoracic SCI compared to the findings observed in the first month following SCI.     

A case report on a child with fracture and dislocation of the upper cervical spine accompanied by spinal cord injury

Rationale:This study describes an 8-year-old boy with a C2 fracture and dislocation with a left C2–C3 articular process interlocking and spinal cord injury who underwent open reduction and internal fixation using the posterior cervical approach and achieved satisfactory results.Patient concerns:An 8-year-old boy underwent an emergency transfer from a previous hospital after a car accident.Diagnoses:Axial fracture and dislocation with spinal cord injury (American Spinal Injury Association grade C), traumatic shock, brain contusion, intracranial hemorrhage, mandibular fracture, pulmonary contusion and hemorrhage, left vertebral artery stenosis, and multiple fractures throughout the body. Radiological examination revealed a fracture of the lower edge of the C2 vertebral body, fourth-degree anterior spondylolisthesis of the C2 vertebral body, interlocking of the left C2–C3 articular processes, widening of the C2–C3 vertebral space, and occlusion of the V1 and 2 segments of the left vertebral artery.Interventions:The boy was immediately intubated and transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for rescue treatment. However, the reduction was unsuccessful with 2 weeks of cranial traction. Thus, an open reduction was performed under general anesthesia. One month after the surgery, the boy was discharged from the hospital on foot after rehabilitation treatment.Outcomes:The boy was discharged from the hospital 1 month after surgery. At the 8-month follow-up, a radiological examination showed that the corrected C2 vertebral body fracture and dislocation were satisfactorily reduced, and the spinal cord was adequately decompressed. The internal fixation position was also good, and the spinal sequence had recovered well. In summary, except for the muscle strength of the right upper limb, which was slightly worse, the other clinical symptoms were significantly improved.Lessons:In treating cervical fracture and dislocation with unilateral facet lock, the posterior open reduction of pedicle screw and lateral mass screw internal fixation achieved satisfactory results. Consequently, treating complex cervical spine injuries in children requires an accurate diagnosis and careful treatment strategy.     

Effect of Concussion on Reaction Time and Neurocognitive Factors: Implications for Subsequent Lower Extremity Injury

BackgroundRecent evidence has demonstrated that athletes are at greater risk for a lower extremity injury following a return-to-sport (RTS) after sport-related concussion (SRC). The reason for this is not completely clear, but it has been hypothesized that persistent deficits in neurocognitive factors may be a contributing factor.Hypothesis/PurposeThis study assessed simple reaction time, processing speed, attention, and concentration in a group of athletes, post-concussion upon clearance for RTS for potential deficits that may result in slower reaction time, processing speed, attention, and concentration. The researchers hypothesized that the concussion group would demonstrate worse scores on both assessments compared to a sex-, age-, and sport-matched cohort.Study DesignCase-controlled studyMethodsTwelve participants who had suffered a SRC and eight healthy individuals who were matched to the concussed group by age, sex, and sport were evaluated. Those with a concussion had been cleared for RTS by a licensed healthcare provider. Each participant underwent neurocognitive tests that included a simple reaction time test (SRT) and the King-Devick Test (K-D). Independent t-tests were performed to compare the groups with significance set a priori at p<0.05.ResultsThere was a significant difference (p =0.024) between groups for SRT with the concussed group demonstrating a better SRT than the control group. There were no significant differences (p =0.939) between the groups for the K-D.ConclusionWith no significant differences between groups in the K-D assessment and, surprisingly, the concussed group having a better SRT compared to the healthy group, our hypothesis was not supported.Clinical RelevanceThese specific measures, compounded with extensive post-concussion time lapse until RTS clearance, may have limited capacity in revealing potential persistent deficits in relevant neurocognitive characteristics.Level of EvidenceLevel of Evidence 3     

Post-Traumatic Epilepsy: Cellular Mechanisms and Implications for Treatment

Summary: Epilepsy complicates severe head trauma. Development of persistent seizures appears to correlate with the extent of trauma. Although early reports suggested that prophylactic administration of antiepileptic drugs would prevent epileptogenesis, controlled studies have failed to corroborate this assumption. Head trauma initiates a sequence of responses that includes altered blood flow and vasoregulation, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, increases in intracranial pressure, focal or diffuse ischemia, hemorrhage, inflammation, necrosis, and disruption of fiber tracts. The presence of an intracranial hematoma has a robust association with the development of post-traumatic epilepsy. Extravasation of blood is followed by hemolysis and deposition of heme-containing compounds into the neuropil, initiating a sequence of univalent redox reactions and generating various free radical species, including superoxides, hydroxyl radicals, peroxides, and perferryl ions. Free radicals initiate peroxidation reactions by hydrogen abstraction from methylene groups adjacent to double bonds of fatty acids and lipids within cellular membranes. Intrinsic enzymatic mechanisms for control of free radical reactions include activation of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. Steroids, proteins, and tocopherol also terminate per-oxidative reactions. Tocopherol and selenium are effective in preventing tissue injury initiated by ferrous chloride and heme compounds. Treatment strategies for prevention or prophylaxis of post-traumatic epilepsy must await absolute knowledge of mechanisms. Antioxidants and chelators may be useful, given the speculation that peroxidative reactions may be an important component of brain injury responses. However, potential treatment strategies involving -y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists, NMDA receptor antagonists, and barbiturates need further scientific assessment.     

88例颈椎过伸性损伤手术疗效分析

目的 探讨手术与非手术治疗颈椎过伸性损伤(CWI)的疗效.方法 对88例颈椎过伸性损伤患者进行回顾性分析.其中手术组64例(颈椎前路手术减压术44例,后路减压术20例),非手术组24例.颈椎损伤神经功能恢复按Frankle分级和ASIA评分标准进行评估.结果 随访6～24个月,结果显示,两组神经功能均较治疗前有明显改善,手术组比非手术组神经功能恢复好,两组间差异有统计学意义;前路手术较后路手术神经功能恢复好.结论 手术治疗急性颈椎过伸性损伤疗效较好;而前路减压是过伸性颈椎损伤首选的治疗方法.     

重型颅脑损伤病人的临床评估

对６８例重型脑外伤患者的评分和预后评估进行分析，提出以重型脑外伤病人的血压、脉搏、呼吸、神智（ＧＣＳ）、瞳孔５项指标作为评估指数进行评分（简称重型脑外伤评估指数），总分为２５分，最低分５分。结果表明：评分在７分以下，持续２～４ｈ者，抢救意义不大；８～１３分，抢救４～６ｈ无效者，其死亡、残废率很高；计分在１４分以上者，有抢救意义，尤以１８分以上者，抢救意义明显增大     

大鼠脊髓损伤后巢蛋白在脊髓组织中的表达

目的探讨大鼠脊髓损伤后巢蛋白(nestin)的表达规律及其意义。方法30只Wister成年大鼠,随机分为正常对照组(A组)、损伤组(B组)。采用Allen打击模型(25g·cm),在T10段造成急性脊髓损伤,于损伤后1d、3d、1周、4周、8周进行取材,对距离损伤中心5mm处脊髓进行nestin免疫组化检测。应用图像分析软件进行nestin阳性区域面积侧算。结果A组脊髓室管膜细胞只可见极少数细胞胞浆内nestin表达,白质中几乎无表达。B组中nestin于损伤后24h表达于室管膜以及软膜,灰质和白质亦有少量表达,1周达到高峰(P<0.05),4周明显下降,8周时很少或几乎无表达。结论脊髓组织的许多部位可能存在具有分化和更新潜能的祖细胞,脊髓损伤后这些细胞被激活,在功能恢复中可能发挥着重要的作用。     

选择性融合术治疗老年人颈椎过伸性损伤

目的探讨选择性融合治疗合并多节段退变的颈椎过伸性损伤的手术疗效。方法对2002~2006年收治的16例颈椎过伸性损伤根据临床表现实施单节段椎间隙减压,植骨融合内固定术,术后予以脱水、抗感染等对症治疗。结果所有患者随访均获得了骨性融合,神经功能障碍按JOA评分由术前14~16(平均15.2±1.3)分改善至术后16~17(平均16.7±0.6)分。结论选择性融合治疗多节段退变的颈椎过伸性损伤是一种简单、安全的手术治疗方法,可以减少患者的创伤,最大程度地保留患者颈椎运动功能。     

改良翼点入路治疗颅底脑挫伤及血肿78例分析

目的:总结改良翼点入路治疗颅底脑挫伤及血肿的方法及经验。方法:运用改良翼点入路对78例颅脑损伤患者进行手术治疗。结果:本组67例术后存活,病死率14.1%,骨瓣回植率65%。结论:该入路暴露彻底,减压充分,便于手术操作和减轻术后脑肿胀,病死率低。     

骨盆骨折合并后尿道损伤治疗分析

收集1977～1986年我院收治的骨盆骨折合并后尿道损伤未经外院处理的58例,分析治疗结果。2例入院后不久死于复合创伤,未作处理。6例早期作单纯膀胱造瘘,二期经会阴作尿道修补,结果不满意。50例采用耻骨上膀胱造瘘,经尿道口插入Foley导尿管,以伸入后尿道的食指将导尿管轻柔地引入膀胱,用0.5kg重力牵引,使尿道断端对合。耻骨后不作常规探查,略加吸引后放置引流,加强抗感染治疗。结果比较满意:4例因尿道狭窄,半年后3例行会阴切开后尿道修补,1例失访。46例近期治愈出院,31例经1～9年随访,排尿通畅者25例,欠通畅者6例;尿失禁者1例;阳萎者4例,勃起不坚1例,晚期并发症亦相对地较少。