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.     

Contextualizing the lived experience of quality of life for persons with spinal cord injury: A mixed-methods application of the response shift model

Objective: The objective of this study was to gain greater insight into individuals’ quality of life (QOL) definitions, appraisals, and adaptations following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: A mixed-methods design, applying the Schwartz and Sprangers response shift (RS) model. RS is a cognitive process wherein, in response to a change in health status, individuals change internal standards, values, or conceptualization of QOL

Setting: Community-dwelling participants who receive medical treatment at a major Midwestern medical system and nearby Veterans’ Affairs hospital.

Participants: A purposive sample of participants with SCI (N?=?40) completed semi-structured interviews and accompanying quantitative measures.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Outcome Measures: Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis to identify themes. Analysis of variance were performed to detect differences based on themes and QOL, well-being, and demographic and injury characteristics.

Results: Four RS themes were identified, capturing the range of participant perceptions of QOL. The themes ranged from complete RS, indicating active engagement in maintaining QOL, to awareness and comparisons redefining QOL, to a relative lack of RS. Average QOL ratings differed as a function of response shift themes. PROMIS Global Health, Anxiety, and Depression also differed as a function of RS themes.

Conclusion: The RS model contextualizes differences in QOL definitions, appraisals, and adaptations in a way standardized QOL measures alone do not.     

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.     

脊髓损伤大鼠的阴茎海绵体肌电图研究

目的探讨海绵体肌电图诊断脊髓性勃起功能障碍的价值。方法将24只成年雄性SD大鼠(300～400 g)分成:对照组、T9和L6损伤组(每组8只)。损伤脊髓1周后,用肌电图仪采集注射阿朴吗啡前后阴茎肌电数据,采集频率20～3 000 Hz、扫描速度5 ms／d、灵敏度10 μV／d。用t检验方法分析统计数据。结果对照组使用阿朴吗啡10 min均方根振幅为(5．60±0．89)μV, 大于T9损伤组(3．60±1．14)μV(P<0．05);使用阿朴吗啡前、使用后5 min和10 min高／低功率比均为0．05±0．03,小于L6损伤组0．13±0．04、0．15±0．07、0．13±0．07(P<0．05)。T9损伤组使用阿朴吗啡后5 min和10 min平均频率分别为(122．40±47．99)、(151．80±76．42)Hz,较L6损伤组(278．83±118．66)、(265．00±81．35)Hz低(P<0．05)。结论海绵体肌电图对脊髓性勃起功能障碍有诊断价值。     

Poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin play an active role in the recovery of spinal cord injury

Objective To investigate the role of poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin in promoting the functional recovery of the injured spinal cord. Methods Poly-lactic acid ( PLA) or agarose was embedded in the space between two stumps of the hemisectioned spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry was used to show astroglia proliferation and the infiltration of RhoA-positive cells. Locomotor activity recovery was evaluated by testing the function of hindlimbs. Results Astrogli-as and RhoA labeled non-neuronal cells accumulated in the area adjacent to the implant, while the number of RhoA-positive cells was decreased dramatically in the absence of implant. Animals implanted with agarose gelatin recovered more quickly than those with PLA, concomitant with a higher survival rate of the neurons. Conclusion Both PLA and agarose gelatin benefited the recovery of spinal cord after injury by providing a scaffold for astroglia processes. Modulation of the rigidity, pore size and inner structure of PLA and agarose gelatin might make these biodegradable materials more effective in the regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS).     

Late results of laterofixation in the treatment of bilateral abductor paralysis of the vocal cords: a clinical study with long-term follow-up

Thirty-four patients with bilateral vocal cord abductor paralysis were treated surgically during the period from 1960 to 1979. The main cause of paralysis was thyroid surgery (85%). Woodman's external laterofixation was performed in 31 patients, 1 had laterofixation by laryngofissure and 2 had endoscopic arytenoidectomy. In Woodman's procedure the body of the arytenoid cartilage was removed in 10 cases and mobilized from the cricoarytenoid joint in 21 cases. Thirteen of the 34 patients needed further surgery. Including previously performed procedures in 6 patients, altogether 68 operations were performed and 17 patients (50%) were operated on more than once. The immediate failure rate of laterofixation was 22% but the need for reoperation increased with time and the total failure rate of the method was 44%. Endoscopic arytenoidectomy was successful in 1 of 2 cases as a primary operation and in 3 of 3 cases as secondary operation. Follow-up time ranged from 2 months to 29 years 8 months (mean 15 years 10 months).     

Spinal epidural hematoma. Report of a case and review of the literature

We report the case of a thoracic epidural hematoma at the T7-T9 level which occurred after placement of spinal epidural catheter for continuous anaesthesia in acute pancreatitis. The male patient felt a sudden back pain after six days of successful analgesia and became paraplegic 24 hours afterwards. An emergency laminectomy and removal of the hematoma were performed; however, the patient recovered only incompletely.We discuss the clinical signs and symptoms of spinal epidural hematoma as well as its diagnostics and therapy. The controversial views from the literature concernings its etiology are critically reviewed.