Long-Term Follow-up of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the motor, sensory, and functional recovery in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods. Forty-one patients with SCI participated in this study. Twenty patients were evaluated after discharge. Each patient was evaluated by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at admission, before discharge, and at least at 6 months after discharge. Friedman, Dunn, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. Results. There were 17 male and 3 female patients. Seven patients had complete SCI, and 13 patients had incomplete SCI. The evaluation of motor, sensory, and FIM scores at admission showed significant improvement in all of the patients during the follow-up period (P < 0.0001). Five incompletely injured cases improved with regard to ASIA staging. Motor and FIM scores significantly increased at follow-up for converted and unconverted patients. All parameters increased at follow-up in patients who were complete and incomplete. Motor scores significantly increased at discharge and at follow-up. FIM scores also increased significantly at follow-up in incomplete patients. Conclusion. Motor, sensory, and FIM scores increased in patients with SCI after a follow-up period of 18 months. Improvement to a higher ASIA stage could be accomplished by 25% of the patients. Although both complete and incomplete patients recovered significantly at the follow-up period, only incompletely injured cases could convert to a higher ASIA stage.

Download Full-text

Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for chronic spinal cord injury: A long-term follow-up study

Journal of Neurorestoratology ◽

10.26599/jnr.2021.9040008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 94-105

Author(s):

Naifeng Kuang ◽

Xiaoyu Wang ◽

Yuexia Chen ◽

Guifeng Liu ◽

Fan’e Kong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Autonomic Function ◽

Spinal Injury ◽

International Standards ◽

Olfactory Ensheathing Cell ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Long Term Follow Up

Spinal cord injury is a serious disabling condition. Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) is one of the most promising treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI). Thirty-nine patients with chronic SCI received OEC transplantation and completed long-term follow-up, with a minimum follow-up of 7 years. We assessed sensorimotor function with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) and autonomic nervous function by the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI), and sympathetic skin responses (SSR). The scores of each group were significantly higher after OECs transplantation than before treatment. SSR latencies were shorter and response amplitudes increased after treatment. Long-term follow-up showed further improvement only in motor function and autonomic function compared with 3 months postoperatively. No complications occurred in any patient during long-term follow-up. The results indicate that the transplantation of OECs in spinal cord restored function without serious side effects.

Download Full-text

TEleRehabilitation Nepal (TERN) to improve quality of life of people with spinal cord injury and acquired brain injury. A proof-of-concept study.

10.1101/2021.06.21.21257001 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Raju Dhakal ◽

Mandira Baniya ◽

Rosie M Solomon ◽

Chanda Rana ◽

Prajwal Ghimire ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Long Term Follow Up

Background: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) lead to unemployment, poverty, increased mortality and decreased quality of life in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Telemedicine is increasingly facilitating access to healthcare, in LMICs. This prospective cohort intervention study aims to investigate feasibility and acceptability of telerehabilitation to provide long-term follow-up of individuals with SCI and ABI, in Nepal, post-discharge from hospital. Methods: TERN was delivered by Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre, Nepal, in collaboration with University of Leeds, UK. A home visit connected participants to the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), through a specialised video conference system. The MDT performed a comprehensive assessment before recommending personalised interventions. Outcome measures assessed functional independence in performing activities of daily living, health-related quality of life and emotional disturbances using Modified Barthel Index, EuroQoL-5D, and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale, respectively. A subset of participants was interviewed, exploring acceptability of telerehabilitation. Findings: Between January and December 2020, 97 participants with SCI (n = 82) and ABI (n = 15) were enrolled. After receiving telerehabilitation, significant improvement to self-reported functional independence (p<.001) and quality of life were found, (p<.001). Self-reported severity of depression, anxiety and stress significantly decreased (p<.001). Qualitative interviews (n = 18) revealed participants accepted telerehabilitation, they valued regular contact with professionals without costly, difficult travel. Interpretation: This is the first study to test telerehabilitation in Nepal. This approach can be safely delivered for long-term follow-up for individuals with SCI or ABI, overcoming geographical barriers to healthcare access. A larger-scale controlled study is required to further explore clinical and cost-effectiveness.

Download Full-text

Long-Term Follow-Up After Spinal Cord Injury in Canada

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e513252007-001 ◽

2006 ◽

Author(s):

Mark I. Tonack ◽

Sander L. Hitzig ◽

B. Catharine Craven ◽

Kent A. Campbell ◽

Kathryn A. Boschen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Long Term Follow Up

Download Full-text

OPEN HAEMORRHOIDS SURGERY IN SPINAL CORD INJURY PATIENTS

International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies ◽

10.32553/ijmbs.v4i11.1532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Khaled Hassan

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Anal Fissure ◽

Open Surgery ◽

Anal Fissures ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Grade Iii

This Pilot retrospective research conducted on the results of open surgery in patients with Grade III and IV haemorrhoids With SCI. No major complications had arisen at 6 weeks post-operative and all wounds had healed, but 1 patient Anal fissure recurrence. 75% of patients reported a substantial increase in anorectal anorexia during long-term follow-up. With symptoms. Five patients reported recurrences: three haemorrhoids (18 percent) and two anal fissures (25 percent). Keywords: Haemorrhoids, Pilot retrospective research, Anorectal Anorexia.

Download Full-text