Are rehabilitation outcomes after severe anoxic brain injury different from severe traumatic brain injury? A matched case-control study.

Many reports have investigated rehabilitation outcomes after a traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, comparably less is known about whether they differ from outcomes of an anoxic brain injury (ABI). Thus, we aimed to compare the rehabilitation outcomes of patients with ABI with control patients who have TBI. Forty participants with ABI and 40 participants with TBI were included in this retrospective study.

A Different Presentation of Mal De Meleda: New Skin Lesions in a Residual Limb after Traumatic Amputation.

Mal de Meleda is a rare autosomal recessive skin disease which is known as keratoderma palmoplantaris transgradiens. Here we report a case of Mal de Meleda who had skin lesions in the residual limb and pseudoainhum in the thigh after traumatic lower leg amputation. A 71-year-old female was admitted to our tertiary hospital for prosthetic rehabilitation.

Determinants of disease-specific health-related quality of life in Turkish stroke survivors.

Stroke is a worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality that affects health-related quality of life. In this study, our objective was to identify determinants of disease-specific health-related quality of life in Turkish stroke survivors. A total of 114 consecutive patients who experienced a stroke at least 6 months earlier were studied.

The relationship between prosthesis use, phantom pain and psychiatric symptoms in male traumatic limb amputees.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify psychiatric symptoms by comparing male patients with traumatic leg amputations (LAs) with healthy controls and to determine the association between these psychiatric symptoms and phantom pain and prosthesis use characteristics.

Methods: One hundred four volunteers, 51 LA patients (group 1) and 53 healthy controls (group 2) were included. Demographic data including age, height, weight, time since amputation, duration of prosthesis use, and Satisfaction with Prosthesis Questionnaire scores were recorded.

Quality of life and functionality after lower limb amputations: comparison between uni- vs. bilateral amputee patients.

Background: It is difficult for the lower limb amputee patients to adapt to their new lifestyles.

Objective: To compare the life quality and functionality of patients with bilateral vs. unilateral lower extremity amputations.

Effects of botulinum toxin-A on the muscle architecture of stroke patients: the first ultrasonographic study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore in vivo the effects of botulinum toxin-A treatment on the muscle architecture of patients with stroke, using musculoskeletal ultrasonography.

Methods: This prospective clinical trial included 26 adult stroke sufferers with a mean age of 55 years (standard deviation 14). Pennation angles between the fascicle path and the deep aponeurosis of the muscle, fascicle length, muscle thickness and muscle compressibility were scanned at the bulkiest part of the medial gastrocnemius on both limbs.

The effects of balneotherapy on disease activity, functional status, pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of balneotherapy on disease activity, functional status, metrology index, pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Materials And Methods: The study included 28 patients (27 male and 1 female) diagnosed with AS according to modified New York criteria. The patients were treated with balneotherapy for 3 weeks (30 min/day, 5 days/week).

Which treatment approach is better for hemiplegic shoulder pain in stroke patients: intra-articular steroid or suprascapular nerve block? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine which injection technique was effective for patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain.

Design: Randomized prospective double-blind study.

Setting: Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit.

Autonomic dysreflexia as a complication of a fecal management system in a man with tetraplegia.

Background/objective: To present a case of autonomic dysreflexia caused by the use of a fecal management system in a patient with tetraplegia.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Military rehabilitation center.

Sonographic evaluation of the sciatic nerve in patients with lower-limb amputations.

Hypertrophy of the sciatic nerve after lower-limb amputation in patients with sarcomas has been previously reported by magnetic resonance imaging; however, sonographic evaluation of the sciatic nerve after lower-limb amputation due to nonmalignant causes has not been done before. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform imaging of the sciatic nerve in lower-limb amputees and to find out whether sonographic findings were related to clinical characteristics. Twenty-three males with lower-limb amputations due to traumatic injuries were enrolled.

The efficacy of serial casting after botulinum toxin type A injection in improving equinovarus deformity in patients with chronic stroke.

Introduction: Spasticity is an important early complication of stroke, which may lead to shortening of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles and contracture in the Achilles tendon and soft tissues of the ankle. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is a promising drug for the management of focal spasticity. Serial casting is another alternative method for reducing contractures due to spasticity.

The effects of electrical stimulation combined with continuous passive motion versus isometric exercise on symptoms, functional capacity, quality of life and balance in knee osteoarthritis: randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of electrical stimulation combined with continuous passive motion (CPM-ES) versus isometric exercise on symptoms, functional capacity, quality of life, muscle strength, knee and thigh circle measurements, and balance in knee osteoarthritis (OA). This is a randomized clinical trial. The study was done in Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GMMA) Rehabilitation Center.

Evaluation of the patellar tendon in transtibial amputees: a preliminary sonographic study.

This study aimed to provide sonographic imaging of the patellar tendon (PT) - one of the main weight bearing structures for prosthetic use - in transtibial amputees. Thirteen males, who had been under follow-up for unilateral traumatic transtibial amputations, were enrolled. After physical examination of the limb, pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs.

Muscle strength and bone mineral density in mine victims with transtibial amputation.

The aims of this study were to: (i) Determine if there were significant bone mineral density and muscle strength differences between intact and amputated limbs, and (ii) investigate the possible relationship between local bone loss and muscle strength in transtibial amputees. Fifteen male veterans with traumatic unilateral transtibial amputations who ranged in age from 18-45 years were included in this prospective study. Lower limb muscle strength was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer.

Manual lymphatic drainage in management of edema in a case with CRPS: why the(y) wait?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder characterized by pain, edema, skin color changes and autonomic abnormalities. Its treatment is quite difficult and in most of the patients effective results cannot be reached. Manual lymphatic drainage is a very rare method for managing limb edema in CRPS.

Brunnstrom recovery stage and motricity index for the evaluation of upper extremity in stroke: analysis for correlation and responsiveness.

The aim of this study was to find out first whether Brunnstrom recovery stage (BRS) and motricity index (MI) were correlated with each other and second to observe whether the two assessment tools were sensitive to changes regarding the rehabilitation outcome. Forty-six stroke patients who were admitted to the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit at our Rehabilitation Centre were recruited. All measurements were made within the first 72 h of admission and on the last day of discharge.

Medical complications, physical function and communication skills in patients with traumatic brain injury: a single centre 5-year experience.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to review the medical complications of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who were followed in 2000-2006.

Methods And Procedures: The demographic data, functional and cognitive status of 116 persons with TBI were noted. The presence of communication problems, swallowing disturbances, urinary and faecal incontinence, pressure ulcer, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), post-traumatic seizure (PTS) and heterotopic ossification (HO) were recorded at first admission and follow-up.

Primary paraspinal hydatid cyst treated with puncture, aspiration, injection and re-aspiration (PAIR) technique: a case report.

Hydatid disease is a parasitic tapeworm infection that usually involves liver and lungs. Primary skeletal muscle hydatid cyst without liver and lung involvement is rare. En bloc resection without inducing rupture and spreading the daughter cyst is recommended treatment strategy and accepted to be curative for intramuscular hydatid cyst.

A heterotopic ossification related to temporary placement of a skull bone flap. Case report.

The authors report on a 19-year-old man who sustained a traumatic brain injury. Following decompressive craniotomy, he suffered from an unusual heterotopic ossification due to the temporary placement of the skull bone flap in his thigh. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that a possible causal relationship between these entities has been reported in the literature.