A Clinical Approach to Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Speech and Swallow in an Acute Rehabilitation Facility

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1044-1048
Author(s):  
Melissa M. Howard ◽  
Emily R. Rosario
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Rehabilitation Facility ◽  
Acute Rehabilitation ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is a widely used treatment modality for dysphagia therapy despite the inconclusive evidence of its effectiveness. Our objective was to complete a retrospective review to analyze the results of NMES with our patient population in an acute rehabilitation facility. In this clinical focus article, we briefly review the current literature on NMES, discuss a clinical protocol of NMES use in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, and discuss the need for future research in this area. Conclusions As with much of the NMES literature, we observed improvement in the ability to swallow following a cerebrovascular accident and traumatic brain injury when a combination of swallowing therapy and NMES treatment was used. Although this combination works for our patients to improve swallow function, the impact of swallow therapy alone remains unclear. Further investigative research to clarify NMES protocols and patient population is needed to optimize results. Therefore, a large randomized clinical trial would be beneficial to clearly define the role of NMES in recovery of swallowing ability following a brain injury.

scholarly journals Spatial Neglect Hinders Success of Inpatient Rehabilitation in Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 451-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peii Chen ◽  
Irene Ward ◽  
Ummais Khan ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Kimberly Hreha
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Spatial Neglect ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Discharge Disposition ◽  
The Impact

Background. Current knowledge about spatial neglect and its impact on rehabilitation mostly originates from stroke studies. Objective. To examine the impact of spatial neglect on rehabilitation outcome in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods. The retrospective study included 156 consecutive patients with TBI (73 women; median age = 69.5 years; interquartile range = 50-81 years) at an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). We examined whether the presence of spatial neglect affected the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, length of stay, or discharge disposition. Based on the available medical records, we also explored whether spatial neglect was associated with tactile sensation or muscle strength asymmetry in the extremities and whether specific brain injuries or lesions predicted spatial neglect. Results. In all, 30.1% (47 of 156) of the sample had spatial neglect. Sex, age, severity of TBI, or time postinjury did not differ between patients with and without spatial neglect. In comparison to patients without spatial neglect, patients with the disorder stayed in IRF 5 days longer, had lower FIM scores at discharge, improved slower in both Cognitive and Motor FIM scores, and might have less likelihood of return home. In addition, left-sided neglect was associated with asymmetric strength in the lower extremities, specifically left weaker than the right. Finally, brain injury–induced mass effect predicted left-sided neglect. Conclusions. Spatial neglect is common following TBI, impedes rehabilitation progress in both motor and cognitive domains, and prolongs length of stay. Future research is needed for linking specific traumatic injuries and lesioned networks to spatial neglect and related impairment.

Early versus Late Tracheostomy: Is There an Outcome Difference?

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 370-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Elkbuli ◽  
Raed Ismail Narvel ◽  
Paul J. Spano ◽  
Valerie Polcz ◽  
Astrid Casin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Glasgow Coma Scale ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Early Tracheostomy ◽  
Outcome Difference ◽  
The Impact

The effect of timing in patients requiring tracheostomy varies in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of early tracheostomy on outcomes in trauma patients with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study is a four-year review of trauma patients undergoing tracheostomy. Patients were divided into two groups based on TBI/non-TBI. Each group was divided into three subgroups based on tracheostomy timing: zero to three days, four to seven days, and greater than seven days postadmission. TBI patients were stratified by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and non-TBI patients were stratified by the Injury Severity Score (ISS). The primary outcome was ventilator-free days (VFDs). Significance was defined as P < 0.05. Two hundred eighty-nine trauma patients met the study criteria: 151 had TBI (55.2%) versus 138 (47.8%) non-TBI. There were no significant differences in demographics within and between groups. In TBI patients, statistically significant increases in VFDs were observed with GCS 13 to 15 for tracheostomies performed in four to seven versus greater than seven days ( P = 0.005). For GCS <8 and 8 to 12, there were significant increases in VFDs for tracheostomies performed at days 1 to 3 and 4 to 7 versus greater than seven days (P << 0.05 for both). For non-TBI tracheostomies, only ISS ≥ 25 with tracheostomies performed at zero to three days versus greater than seven days was associated with improved VFDs. Early tracheostomies in TBI patients were associated with improved VFDs. In trauma patients with no TBI, early tracheostomy was associated with improved VFDs only in patients with ISS ≥ 25. Future research studies should investigate reasons TBI and non-TBI patients may differ.

scholarly journals Impact of “Sick” and “Recovery” Roles on Brain Injury Rehabilitation Outcomes

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
David A. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Program Planning ◽  
Psychosocial Distress ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sick Role ◽  
Shared Variance ◽  
The Impact

This study utilizes a multivariate, correlational, expost facto research design to examine Parsons’ “sick role” as a dynamic, time-sensitive process of “sick role” and “recovery role” and the impact of this process on goal attainment (H1) and psychosocial distress (H2) of adult survivors of acquired brain injury. Measures used include the Brief Symptom Inventory-18, a Goal Attainment Scale, and an original instrument to measure sick role process. 60 survivors of ABI enrolled in community reentry rehabilitation participated. Stepwise regression analyses did not fully support the multivariate hypotheses. Two models emerged from the stepwise analyses. Goal attainment, gender, and postrehab responsibilities accounted for 40% of the shared variance of psychosocial distress. Anxiety and depression accounted for 22% of the shared variance of goal attainment with anxiety contributing to the majority of the explained variance. Bivariate analysis found sick role variables, anxiety, somatization, depression, gender, and goal attainment as significant. The study has implications for ABI rehabilitation in placing greater emphasis on sick role processes, anxiety, gender, and goal attainment in guiding program planning and future research with survivors of ABI.

Observations of Activity Levels in a Purpose-Built, Inpatient, Rehabilitation Facility

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Scrivener ◽  
Natasha Pocovi ◽  
Taryn Jones ◽  
Bridget Dean ◽  
Shaun Gallagher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Position ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Multidisciplinary Care ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Rehabilitation Facility ◽  
Mapping Techniques ◽  
The Impact

Background: Effective rehabilitation should include high levels of physical activity. The impact of the environmental design on activity levels has had minimal consideration. Purpose: This study investigates activity levels of inpatients undergoing rehabilitation in a new rehabilitation facility with innovative design and multidisciplinary care, comparing weekday and weekend activity levels, as well as changes over a 12-month period. Method: An observational study reporting participants’ location, people present, body position, and activity type on 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day using behavior mapping techniques. Fifteen participants were observed in a mixed rehabilitation unit with neurological, orthopedic, and other health conditions. Results: Results were calculated as the proportion of observations participants spent in each location, position, and performing activities (physical, cognitive, social), and time spent alone and inactive. On average, participants were engaged in activity for 86% (standard deviation [ SD] = 9) of the day, with physical activity accounting for 51% ( SD = 11), cognitive activity 28% ( SD = 10), and social activity 42% ( SD = 16). There was more physical activity (mean difference [ MD] 8% absolute, confidence interval [CI] = [4, 12], p < .01) and less social activity ( MD −6% absolute, CI [−11, −1], p = .02) on weekdays compared to weekends. Overall, participants were alone and inactive for 12% ( SD = 9) of the day. Participants observed in 2016 displayed similar results to those observed in 2015. Conclusion: High levels of activity were achieved in this facility that underwent environmental redesign, construction of new facilities, and implementation of evidence-based strategies.

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