Prognostic factors in patients with active non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Background and study aims

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the main causes of hospitalisation. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic factors in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

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.     

Outcomes after occupational therapy intervention for traumatic brachial plexus injury: A prospective longitudinal cohort study

Study DesignProspective longitudinal cohort study.IntroductionTraumatic brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) can be devastating and negatively impact daily function and quality of life. Occupational therapists play an important role in rehabilitation; however, studies identifying outcomes are lacking.PurposeThis study aims to describe outcomes including motor recovery, upper limb function, participation, pain, and quality of life for people receiving occupational therapy intervention.MethodsA convenience sample of English-speaking adults (n = 30) with a traumatic BPI, attending the clinic between December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2016, participated. Participants received occupational therapy focusing on sensorimotor retraining and activity-based rehabilitation. Data on active range of motion (goniometry), strength (Medical Research Council (MRC)), upper-limb function (UEFI15, QuickDASH), participation (PSFS), pain (Brief Pain Inventory), and quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) were collected at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.ResultsElbow flexion strength showed significant improvement at all time-points, average increase 2.17 (MRC) (95% confidence interval: 1.29-3.04; P < .001) and mean final MRC grading 3.86 (standard error: 0.44). Significant improvements at 12 months were seen in: shoulder abduction strength and range, flexion strength and range, external rotation range; elbow extension strength and flexion range; thumb flexion and extension strength. Upper limb function (QuickDASH) showed significant improvement (mean change = 18.85; 95% confidence interval: 4.12-33.59; P = .02). Forearm protonation range and finger flexion strength were significantly worse. Remaining outcomes did not show significant improvement.ConclusionsOccupational therapy with surgical intervention can improve strength, range, and upper limb function with people following traumatic BPI. Further investigations into impact on participation, pain, and quality of life are required.     

上肢骨肿瘤切除后的自体骨移植重建

目的探讨应用自体骨移植对上肢骨肿瘤切除后的骨缺损修复重建的效果。方法1998年8月～2004年3月，收治上肢骨肿瘤切除后的骨缺损16例。男8例，女8例。年龄7～45岁。经病理确诊，肱骨近端尤文肉瘤和骨肉瘤各1例；肱骨远端尤文肉瘤2例；桡骨远端骨巨细胞瘤8例，高分化软骨肉瘤2例，恶性纤维组织细胞瘤和骨肉瘤各1例。2例肱骨近端肿瘤行自体锁骨代肱骨；2例肱骨远端肿瘤行自体腓骨代肱骨；12例桡骨远端肿瘤中，1例行自体髂骨移植，11例行自体腓骨代桡骨进行重建。采用MSTS系统进行术后功能评价。结果2例肱骨近端自体锁骨移植患者分别随访36个月和12个月，术后保持部分肩关节前屈和后伸功能，但外展功能丧失；MSTS评分分别为23分和22分。2例肱骨远端自体腓骨移植患者分别随访4个月和6个月，肘关节功能良好，移植骨连接处已经出现骨愈合；MSTS功能评分分别为24分和19分。12例桡骨远端自体骨移植患者中11例随访6～75个月，功能良好，无明显并发症；1例髂骨植骨的桡骨远端骨巨细胞瘤术后3个月移植骨完全愈合，至今随访75个月，肿瘤无复发。MSTS功能评分18~27分，平均22．6分。结论自体骨移植在上肢骨肿瘤切除后骨缺损的重建，尤其是儿童的骨缺损重建中，是一种较好的方法。