Self-care Experiences of Adolescents with Spinal Muscular Atrophy

PurposeWe examined the self-care experiences of adolescents with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) and their perceptions of the interactions between their body and the environment.MethodsWe interviewed ten adolescents with SMA aged 13–18 years regarding personal care practices. Purposive sampling was conducted in two medical centers in northern Taiwan. Data were analyzed using the Giorgi analysis method.ResultsFour constitutions were identified: (1) limited space for independent development, (2) multiple reconstructions of self-image to improve physical ability, (3) self-care of disease, and (4) developing activity styles to accommodate social culture.ConclusionThe self-care lived experiences of patients reflect dynamic changes in the body and environment. Self-existence was exhibited by adjustment, practice, and creativity of physical activity to integrate into society. Nursing staff should understand the self-care experiences and needs of adolescents with SMA to develop a database of self-care skills. This study recommended that nursing staff improve their ability to guide patients in taking care of themselves by developing body awareness self-care courses and individual care plans in response to various stages of disability to help patients delay deterioration, realize their physical potential, and promote independence and social development.     

Minimum clinically important difference of the health-related quality of life scales in adult spinal deformity calculated by latent class analysis: is it appropriate to use the same values for surgical and nonsurgical patients?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) parameters have been shown to be reliable and valid in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) has become increasingly important to clinicians in evaluating patients with a threshold of improvement that is clinically relevant.

Voluntary ambulation using voluntary upper limb muscle activity and Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) in a patient with complete paraplegia due to chronic spinal cord injury: A case report

Context: We sought to describe our experience with the Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) for active knee extension and voluntary ambulation with remaining muscle activity in a patient with complete paraplegia after spinal cord injury.

Findings: A 30-year-old man with complete paraplegia used the HAL® for 1 month (10 sessions) using his remaining muscle activity, including hip flexor and upper limb activity. Electromyography was used to evaluate muscle activity of the gluteus maximus, tensor fascia lata, quadriceps femoris, and hamstring muscles in synchronization with the Vicon motion capture system. A HAL® session included a knee extension session with the hip flexor and voluntary gait with upper limb activity. After using the HAL® for one month, the patient’s manual muscle hip flexor scores improved from 1/5 to 2/5 for the right and from 2/5 to 3/5 for the left knee, and from 0/5 to 1/5 for the extension of both knees.

Conclusion/clinical relevance: Knee extension sessions with HAL®, and hip flexor and upper-limb-triggered HAL® ambulation seem a safe and feasible option in a patient with complete paraplegia due to spinal cord injury.     

Lumbar Spinal Cord Stimulation Can Improve Muscle Strength and Gait Independently of the Analgesic Effect: A Case Report

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is widely used for pain relief in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and muscle weakness is a common finding in patients with chronic pain. We present here a single case report of a 47‐year‐old woman, who, after SCS for FBSS, had continuous improvement in lower leg muscle strength and gait, but only transient and minimal pain relief. To the authors’ knowledge, this is only the second published case report of significant improvement in “motor” function, independent of the analgesic effect following SCS in FBSS. If SCS, in fact, does improve muscle strength, new strategies for the management of patients with chronic pain might be opened up. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.     

环化酶激活剂对大鼠感觉神经元保护作用的实验研究

目的探讨环化酶激活剂（前列腺素E1、腺苷及Zn^2＋离子）对周围神经损伤后感觉神经元的保护作用.方法在大鼠坐骨神经夹毁模型术后21 d,取背根节用图像分析法观测前列腺素E1（PGE1）、腺苷（Ade）和高Zn^2＋饲料（Zn^2＋）对背根节细胞数、核偏心率及核等圆径的影响,并与人胎盘神经生长因子（hNGF）的作用相比较.结果NGF及环化酶激活剂组与夹毁对照组相比都能增进背根节细胞的存活和减轻核偏移（P＜0.05）;NGF组和高Zn^2＋饲料组在背根节细胞存活数、核偏心率及核等圆径方面与假手术组无差别（P＞0.05）.结论PEG1、Ade及Zn^2＋离子等环化酶激活剂对DRG神经元均有保护作用,其中Zn^2＋离子的保护效应与NGF无差别.     

椎管扩大成形术治疗腰椎管狭窄

目的：探讨椎管扩大成形术治疗腰椎管狭窄的效果。方法：椎板减压后复位，用棘突或髂骨植于一侧开槽处扩大椎管，并进行椎板及关节突关节植骨，对54例随访病人的手术前后临床表现及X线和CT进行比较。结果：随访6—39个月，临床优良率为81．1％。随访X线片显示椎板明显后移，CT测量与术前对比显示椎管内径扩大明显。结论：椎管扩大成形术操作简单，效果满意，术后并发症少，是治疗腰椎管狭窄的又一选择。     

手术治疗胸腰椎结核合并后凸畸形

目的:探讨单切口双入路椎弓根系统内固定、后外侧植骨同期病灶清除、椎间植骨治疗胸腰椎结核合并后凸畸形的疗效。方法:对78例胸腰椎结核合并后凸畸形患者采用单切口双入路行后外侧植骨椎弓根系统内固定,同期病灶清除、椎间植骨治疗,观察患者症状及截瘫改善情况,后凸畸形矫正情况及植骨融合情况。结果:所有患者症状均明显改善,48例合并截瘫的患者中,25例完全恢复正常,7例ASIA分级改善1￣3级;植骨均在术后6个月￣1年融合,治愈率52.08%,好转率14.58%。后凸Cobb角平均矫正28.7°,随访1.4￣6.5年,平均2.6年,后凸角平均丢失2.9°。结论:单切口双入路后外侧椎弓根系统内固定同期病灶清除、椎间植骨可恢复脊柱的即刻稳定性,有利于植骨融合,后凸畸形矫正满意。     

全脊柱截骨矫正严重后凸畸形

[目的]探讨全脊柱截骨矫正脊柱后凸的治疗经验。[方法]全脊柱截骨加椎弓根钉内固定系统闭合及植骨矫正脊柱后凸。[结果]于1984～2005年采用上述方法治疗50例病人。术后全组病例均未发生脊髓损伤，术后临床症状得到不同程度的改善。经历2～15a平均2．4a随访，X线CT复查示螺钉位置良好，无松动断钉。植骨3个月后均达到满意融合。[结论]经全脊柱截骨加有效的内固定手术不仅手术视野开阔操作安全方便；而且截骨和内固定相结合同时完成，是治疗脊柱后凸目前更完善并不断改进一种好方法。