Gunshot Wound to the Spine With Delayed Radiculopathy: A Case Report.

Gunshot wounds (GSWs) to any part of the body can leave a trail of insidious complications. When the spinal cord is the injured organ, these sequelae can be debilitating to the patient and often exhaust all known therapeutic approaches available to the providers. The management of pain associated with GSWs to the spine is often a clinical challenge and there is often a question as to whether or not surgical intervention can help with pain relief in these cases.

Complete worldwide operative experience in laparoscopic diaphragm pacing: results and differences in spinal cord injured patients and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Background: Diaphragm movement is essential for adequate ventilation, and when the diaphragm is adversely affected patients face lifelong positive-pressure mechanical ventilation or death. This report summarizes the complete worldwide multicenter experience with diaphragm pacing stimulation (DPS) to maintain and provide diaphragm function in ventilator-dependent spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and respiratory-compromised patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It will highlight the surgical experiences and the differences in diaphragm function in these two groups of patients.

Spinal cord injury and co-occurring traumatic brain injury: assessment and incidence.

Objectives: To examine prospectively the incidence and severity of co-occurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to describe a TBI assessment process for SCI rehabilitation professionals.

Design: A prospective, cohort design to collect and analyze clinical variables relevant for diagnosing co-occurring TBI.

Setting: An urban, single-center National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research Model Spinal Cord Injury System in the Southeastern United States.

Effects of intrathecal baclofen on perceived sexual functioning in men with spinal cord injury.

Background/objective: Reports in the literature suggest that administration of intrathecal baclofen to control spasticity may have deleterious effects on erectile function in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). A prospective study was conducted to document any changes in perceived sexual function after implant of a baclofen pump.

Methods: Seven adult men with SCI (ASIA A or B) who received intrathecal baclofen through an implantable pump for treatment of severe spasticity were followed for an average of 670 days (22.

Effect of co-morbid traumatic brain injury on functional outcome of persons with spinal cord injuries.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine if persons who sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI) and co-morbid brain injury (dual diagnosis [DDS]) evidence smaller functional gains and experience significantly longer rehabilitation lengths of stay than persons with only an SCI.

Design: This retrospective comparison study was performed at a 100-bed rehabilitation hospital specializing in acute SCI and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Summary scale outcome data of persons who sustained an SCI were compared with outcome data of a group of persons with a DDS.