Venous thromboembolism: exploring incidence and utility of screening in individuals with dual diagnosis.

Objectives: The development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication following spinal cord injury (SCI) and brain injury (BI), leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to explore the incidence of VTE in patients with the dual diagnosis (DD) of SCI and concomitant BI using ultrasonography.

Design: Retrospective study.

Prognostic value of tissue bridges in cervical spinal cord injury: a longitudinal, multicentre, retrospective cohort study.

Background: The accuracy of prognostication in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) needs to be improved. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of preserved spinal tissue bridges-injury-spared neural tissue adjacent to the lesion-for prediction of sensorimotor recovery in a large, multicentre cohort of people with SCI.

Methods: For this longitudinal study, we included patients with acute cervical SCI (vertebrae C1-C7) admitted to one of three trauma or rehabilitation centres: Murnau, Germany (March 18, 2010-March 1, 2021); Zurich, Switzerland (May 12, 2002-March 2, 2019); and Denver, CO, USA (Jan 12, 2010-Feb 16, 2017).

A Single Dermatome Clinical Prediction Rule for Independent Walking 1 Year After Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To derive and validate a simple, accurate CPR to predict future independent walking ability after SCI at the bedside that does not rely on motor scores and is predictive for those initially classified in the middle of the SCI severity spectrum.

Design: Retrospective cohort study. Binary variables were derived, indicating degrees of sensation to evaluate predictive value of pinprick and light touch variables across dermatomes.

Spinal cord injury and prescribed opioids for pain: a scoping review.

Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering neurological condition affecting physical and psycho-social functioning and associated high rates of pain. Thus, individuals with SCI may be more likely to be exposed to prescription opioids. A scoping review was conducted to synthesize published research findings on post-acute SCI and prescription opioid use for pain, identify literature gaps, and propose recommendations for future research.

Venous thromboembolism: Exploring incidence and utility of screening in spinal cord injury.

To assess the incidence and possible risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients admitted to a SCI rehabilitation center. Retrospective review. Acute neurorehabilitation hospital specializing in SCI.

Venous Thromboembolism: Exploring Incidence and Utility of Screening in Individuals With Brain Injury.

Objective: To determine the incidence of VTE in the population with brain injuries (BIs) using ultrasonography, and to assess the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) development and/or bleeding complications related to anticoagulation.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Acute rehabilitation hospital.

Predicting Outdoor Walking 1 Year After Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective, Multisite External Validation Study.

Background And Purpose: Predicting future outdoor walking ability after spinal cord injury (SCI) is important, as this is associated with community engagement and social participation. A clinical prediction rule (CPR) was derived for predicting outdoor walking 1 year after SCI. While promising, this CPR has not been validated, which is necessary to establish its clinical value.

Spinal Cord Tissue Bridges Validation Study: Predictive Relationships With Sensory Scores Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), widths of ventral tissue bridges demonstrated significant predictive relationships with future pinprick sensory scores, and widths of dorsal tissue bridges demonstrated significant predictive relationships with future light touch sensory scores, following spinal cord injury (SCI). These studies involved smaller participant numbers, and external validation of their findings is warranted.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to validate these previous findings using a larger independent data set.

The impact of a structured rehabilitation program for uninsured individuals.

Purpose/objective: Health disparities in rehabilitation have been identified in brain injury (BI), spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, and amputee populations. A free clinic was established to serve such uninsured individuals. The purpose of this exploratory study was to characterize the sample of patients attending a free rehabilitation clinic by investigating their demographics, access to care, trends in quality of life, and satisfaction with the rehabilitation program.

A comparison of one year outcomes between standardized locomotor training and usual care after motor incomplete spinal cord injury: Community participation, quality of life and re-hospitalization.

Context/objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in a significant loss of mobility and independence coinciding with reports of decreased quality of life (QOL), community participation, and medical complications often requiring re-hospitalization. Locomotor training (LT), the repetition of stepping-like patterning has shown beneficial effects for improving walking ability after motor incomplete SCI, but the potential impact of LT on psychosocial outcomes has not been well-established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate one year QOL, community participation and re-hospitalization outcomes between individuals who participated in a standardized LT program and those who received usual care (UC).

Lateral Corticospinal Tract and Dorsal Column Damage: Predictive Relationships With Motor and Sensory Scores at Discharge From Acute Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To determine if lateral corticospinal tract (LCST) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future ipsilateral lower extremity motor function (LEMS) and if dorsal column (DC) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future light touch (LT) sensory function post spinal cord injury (SCI) at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

Design: Retrospective analyses of imaging and clinical outcomes.

Setting: University and academic hospital.

Utilization of Complementary and Integrative Health Care by People With Spinal Cord Injury in the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems: A Descriptive Study.

Objective: To characterize the use of complementary and integrative health care (CIH) by people with spinal cord injury.

Design: Cross-sectional self-report study.

Setting: Participants were recruited from 5 Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) centers across the United States.

The influence of conventional T MRI indices in predicting who will walk outside one year after spinal cord injury.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indices of spinal cord damage are predictive of future motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI): hyperintensity length, midsagittal tissue bridges, and Brain and Spinal Injury Center (BASIC) scores. Whether these indices are predictive of outdoor walking after SCI is unknown. The primary purpose was to see if these MRI indices predict the ability to walk outdoors one-year after SCI.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Ventilator-Dependent High Tetraplegia Managed With Diaphragmatic Pacing Systems.

Objective: To explore participants' experiences after implantation of a diaphragmatic pacing system (DPS).

Design: Cross-sectional, observational study using self-report questionnaires.

Setting: Participants were recruited from 6 Spinal Cord Injury Model System centers across the United States (Craig Hospital, CO; Jefferson/Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, PA; Kessler Rehabilitation Center, NJ; University of Miami, FL; The Shirly Ryan Ability Lab, IL; Shepherd Center, GA).

Axial MRI biomarkers of spinal cord damage to predict future walking and motor function: a retrospective study.

Study Design: Retrospective.

Objectives: Primary: to assess if axial damage ratios are predictors of future walking after spinal cord injury (SCI), and if they add any predictive value if initial neurological impairment grades are available. Secondary: to determine if lateral spinal cord regions are predictors of future lower extremity motor scores (LEMS).

Establishing the inter-rater reliability of spinal cord damage manual measurement using magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objectives: To establish the inter-rater reliability in the quantitative evaluation of spinal cord damage following cervical incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI was used to perform manual measurements of the cranial and caudal boundaries of edema, edema length, midsagittal tissue bridge ratio, axial damage ratio, and edema volume in 10 participants with cervical incomplete SCI.

Midsagittal tissue bridges are associated with walking ability in incomplete spinal cord injury: A magnetic resonance imaging case series.

: Following spinal cord injury (SCI), early prediction of future walking ability is difficult, due to factors such as spinal shock, sedation, impending surgery, and secondary long bone fracture. Accurate, objective biomarkers used in the acute stage of SCI would inform individualized patient management and enhance both patient/family expectations and treatment outcomes. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and specifically a midsagittal T2-weighted image, the amount of tissue bridging (measured as spared spinal cord tissue) shows potential to serve as such a biomarker.

Exoskeleton-assisted gait training to improve gait in individuals with spinal cord injury: a pilot randomized study.

Background: Robotic wearable exoskeletons have been utilized as a gait training device in persons with spinal cord injury. This pilot study investigated the feasibility of offering exoskeleton-assisted gait training (EGT) on gait in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) in preparation for a phase III RCT. The objective was to assess treatment reliability and potential efficacy of EGT and conventional physical therapy (CPT).

Robot-Assisted Training of Arm and Hand Movement Shows Functional Improvements for Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility, tolerability, and effectiveness of robotic-assisted arm training in incomplete chronic tetraplegia.

Design: Pretest/posttest/follow-up was conducted. Ten individuals with chronic cervical spinal cord injury were enrolled.

Modification of electrical pain threshold by voluntary breathing-controlled electrical stimulation (BreEStim) in healthy subjects.

Background: Pain has a distinct sensory and affective (i.e., unpleasantness) component.

Breathing-controlled electrical stimulation could modify the affective component of neuropathic pain after amputation: a case report.

In this case, a 31-year-old male suffered phantom neuropathic pain for more than 3 years after an above-the-knee amputation. His shooting phantom pain disappeared after the first session of breathing-controlled electrical stimulation, and reappeared or was triggered 28 days after an experimental error during which he received sustained electrical stimulation. In other words, painful shooting stimuli may not have been "cured" but forgotten and retriggered by a fearful event due to the experimental error.

Robotic training and clinical assessment of upper extremity movements after spinal cord injury: a single case report.

Case Report: A 28-year-old woman, with incomplete spinal cord injury at the C2 level, classified as American Spinal Injury Impairment Scale C (AIS), participated in a robotic rehabilitation program 29 months after injury. Robotic training was provided to both upper extremities using the MAHI Exo-II, an exoskeleton device designed for rehabilitation of the upper limb, for 12 × 3-h sessions over 4 weeks. Training involved elbow flexion/extension, forearm supination/pronation, wrist flexion/extension, and radial/ulnar deviation.