scholarly journals Virtual reality for the treatment of neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injuries: A scoping review

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip D. Austin ◽  
Philip J. Siddall
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries

scholarly journals A Therapeutic Matrix: Virtual Reality as a Clinical Tool for Spinal Cord Injury-Induced Neuropathic Pain

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1201
Author(s):  
Erik Leemhuis ◽  
Valentina Giuffrida ◽  
Anna Maria Giannini ◽  
Mariella Pazzaglia
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Residual Body ◽  
Clinical Tool ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Maladaptive Plasticity

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic, debilitating, and resistant form of pain. The onset rate of NP following spinal cord injuries (SCI) is high and may reduce the quality of life more than the sensorimotor loss itself. The long-term ineffectiveness of current treatments in managing symptoms and counteracting maladaptive plasticity highlights the need to find alternative therapeutic approaches. Virtual reality (VR) is possibly the best way to administer the specific illusory or reality-like experience and promote behavioral responses that may be effective in mitigating the effects of long-established NP. This approach aims to promote a more systematic adoption of VR-related techniques in pain research and management procedures, highlighting the encouraging preliminary results in SCI. We suggest that the multisensory modulation of the sense of agency and ownership by residual body signals may produce positive responses in cases of brain-body disconnection. First, we focus on the transversal role embodiment and how multisensory and environmental or artificial stimuli modulate illusory sensations of bodily presence and ownership. Then, we present a brief overview of the use of VR in healthcare and pain management. Finally, we discus research experiences which used VR in patients with SCI to treating NP, including the most recent combinations of VR with further stimulation techniques.

scholarly journals Systematic scoping review protocol for clinical prediction rules (CPRs) in the management of patients with spinal cord injuries

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e025076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake Boggenpoel ◽  
Vuyolwethu Madasa ◽  
Tarryn Jeftha ◽  
Conran Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Clinical Prediction ◽  
Clinical Prediction Rules ◽  
Prediction Rules ◽  
Review Protocol

IntroductionThe upsurge in the use of clinical prediction models in general medical practice is a result of evidence-based practice. However, the total number of clinical prediction rules (CPRs) currently being used or undergoing impact analysis in the management of patients who have sustained spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is unknown. This scoping review protocol will describe the current CPRs being used and highlight their possible strengths and weaknesses in SCI management.Methods and analysisArksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework will be used. The following databases will be searched to identify relevant literature relating to the use of CPRs in the management of patients who have sustained an SCI: PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Medline, OvidMedline and Google Scholar. Grey literature as well as reference lists of included studies will be searched. All studies relating to the use of CPRs in the management of patients with SCIs will be included. Literature searches and data extraction will be performed independently by two groups of reviewers.Ethics and disseminationEthical clearance is not required for this scoping review study since only secondary data sources will be used. The findings of this review will be disseminated by means of peer-reviewed publication and conference proceedings. The final paper will be submitted for publication. Results of this review will also be presented at relevant conferences and disseminated to important stakeholders such as practicing physicians within specialised spinal care facilities within South Africa.

scholarly journals Virtual reality improves embodiment and neuropathic pain caused by spinal cord injury

Neurology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (18) ◽  
pp. 1894-1903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polona Pozeg ◽  
Estelle Palluel ◽  
Roberta Ronchi ◽  
Marco Solcà ◽  
Abdul-Wahab Al-Khodairy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale Pain ◽  
Body Ownership ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Cord Injury

Objective:To investigate changes in body ownership and chronic neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) using multisensory own body illusions and virtual reality (VR).Methods:Twenty patients with SCI with paraplegia and 20 healthy control participants (HC) participated in 2 factorial, randomized, repeated-measures design studies. In the virtual leg illusion (VLI), we applied asynchronous or synchronous visuotactile stimulation to the participant's back (either immediately above the lesion level or at the shoulder) and to the virtual legs as seen on a VR head-mounted display. We tested the effect of the VLI on the sense of leg ownership (questionnaires) and on perceived neuropathic pain (visual analogue scale pain ratings). We compared illusory leg ownership with illusory global body ownership (induced in the full body illusion [FBI]), by applying asynchronous or synchronous visuotactile stimulation to the participant's back and the back of a virtual body as seen on a head-mounted display.Results:Our data show that patients with SCI are less sensitive to multisensory stimulations inducing illusory leg ownership (as compared to HC) and that leg ownership decreased with time since SCI. In contrast, we found no differences between groups in global body ownership as tested in the FBI. VLI and FBI were both associated with mild analgesia that was only during the VLI specific for synchronous visuotactile stimulation and the lower back position.Conclusions:The present findings show that VR exposure using multisensory stimulation differently affected leg vs body ownership, and is associated with mild analgesia with potential for SCI neurorehabilitation protocols.

scholarly journals P.188 Neurotrauma in Indigenous populations of Canada: challenges and future directions: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (s3) ◽  
pp. S74-S74
Author(s):  
Z Salaheen ◽  
A Moghaddamjou ◽  
MG Fehlings
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Mesh Terms ◽  
Cord Injury

Background: Neurotrauma accounts for over 24 000 hospitalizations annually in Canada. Among those affected, Indigenous peoples are disproportionately impacted. The goal of this scoping review is to identify factors underlying these disparities. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to collect papers pertaining to neurotrauma in Indigenous populations of Canada. Using MEDLINE, 676 articles were screened with MeSH terms including ‘Indigenous’, ‘spinal cord injuries’, ‘brain injuries, traumatic’ and ‘Canada’ as of April 2021. Results: Studies report over twice the incidence of traumatic brain injury and traumatic spinal cord injury in Indigenous populations compared to non-Indigenous populations. The burden of neurotrauma is attributable to infrastructure disparities in rural communities and reserves, elevated rates of substance use and violence, and inequities in treatment and rehabilitation following injury. These issues are deeply rooted in the trauma endured by Indigenous peoples through the course of Canadian history, owing to government policies that severely impacted their socioeconomic conditions, culture, and access to healthcare services. Conclusions: Systems-level interventions guided by Indigenous community members will help to address the disparities that Indigenous peoples face in the care and rehabilitation of neurotrauma. This study will inform further research of culturally appropriate approaches to reduce neurotrauma burden among Indigenous peoples.

Role of Microglia and Astrocytes in Spinal Cord Injury Induced Neuropathic Pain

2021 ◽  
pp. 097275312110463
Author(s):  
Gurwattan S. Miranpuri ◽  
Parul Bali ◽  
Justyn Nguyen ◽  
Jason J Kim ◽  
Shweta Modgil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries incite varying degrees of symptoms in patients, ranging from weakness and incoordination to paralysis. Common amongst spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating medical condition. Unfortunately, there remain many clinical impediments in treating NP because there is a lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms behind SCI-induced NP (SCINP). Given that more than 450,000 people in the United States alone suffer from SCI, it is unsatisfactory that current treatments yield poor results in alleviating and treating NP. In this review, we briefly discussed the models of SCINP along with the mechanisms of NP progression. Further, current treatment modalities are herein explored for SCINP involving pharmacological interventions targeting glia cells and astrocytes. The studies presented in this review provide insight for new directions regarding SCINP alleviation. Given the severity and incapacitating effects of SCINP, it is imperative to study the pathways involved and find new therapeutic targets in coordination with stem cell research, and to develop a new gold-standard in SCINP treatment.

Interventions to Improve Employment Outcomes for People With Spinal Cord Injuries: a Scoping Review Protocol Using the Donabedian Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ntsikelelo Pefile ◽  
Joyce Diphale Mothabeng ◽  
Saloshni Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Community Integration ◽  
Employment Outcomes ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Donabedian Model

Abstract Background Unemployment among persons with spinal cord injury (PWSCI) is high and often leads to poverty (including their families). Modifiable and unmodifiable factors that influence employment among PWSCI are known and are addressed throughout the rehabilitation process. The overall aim of rehabilitation of PWSCI is quality of life and community integration (including employment). Interventions that seek to improve employment outcomes among PWSCI are well documented. However, no integrated reviews clearly describe the resources utilised, interventions utilised, duration of interventions and the outcomes (and tools used) to improve employment outcomes among PWSCI. Policymakers and rehabilitation professionals require this information to develop models or strategies to improve employment outcomes for PWSCI. This review aims to map evidence on interventions and approaches that aim to enhance the employment of PWSCI. Methodology This review will map evidence on interventions that improve employment outcomes among PWSCI, using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Donabedian model as the guiding lens. The first stage includes the development of the research question and will be reviewed throughout the review process. The PCC framework will be utilised to determine the inclusion and exclusion criteria and develop the search terms. Peer-reviewed primary studies will be identified using the Boolean search terms on PubMed, MEDLINE, Ebscohost, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Cochrane databases. Two independent reviewers will identify primary studies and charting data, and one reviewer will act as a supervisor and arbitrator. Data charting tool will be utilised to gather the required information from the selected studies. Nvivo software version 25 will be used to develop themes for summarising and reporting the data. The quality of the courses selected will be evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). DiscussionData from the selected studies will be discussed in relation to the research questions and the Donabedian model. Information gathered from this scoping review will enable policymakers, rehabilitation professionals and other stakeholders to use this as a foundation in an attempt to develop strategies or models that seek to improve employment outcomes among PWSCI. Moreover, a gap in current practice will be identified, and further research needed in the field will be described.

scholarly journals Go Virtual to Get Real: Virtual Reality as a Resource for Spinal Cord Treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1819
Author(s):  
Erik Leemhuis ◽  
Rita Maria Esposito ◽  
Luigi De Gennaro ◽  
Mariella Pazzaglia
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neural Regeneration ◽  
Multisensory Perception ◽  
Person Perspective ◽  
Motor Intention ◽  
Areas Of Interest ◽  
The Impact

Increasingly, refined virtual reality (VR) techniques allow for the simultaneous and coherent stimulation of multiple sensory and motor domains. In some clinical interventions, such as those related to spinal cord injuries (SCIs), the impact of VR on people′s multisensory perception, movements, attitudes, and even modulations of socio-cognitive aspects of their behavior may influence every phase of their rehabilitation treatment, from the acute to chronic stages. This work describes the potential advantages of using first-person-perspective VR to treat SCIs and its implications for manipulating sensory-motor feedback to alter body signals. By situating a patient with SCI in a virtual environment, sensorial perceptions and motor intention can be enriched into a more coherent bodily experience that also promotes processes of neural regeneration and plasticity. In addition to the great potential of research, the most significant areas of interest concern is managing neuropathic pain, motor rehabilitation, and psychological well-being.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document