Medical rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury during 40 years of academic physiatric practice.

There are many different paths that lead to an academic physiatric career and a lifelong interest in spinal cord injury (SCI) medicine. It is unfortunate that after decades of cellular-based research in multiple laboratories, there are still no interventions available that can reverse the neurologic loss that follows SCI. In contrast, medical rehabilitation research during the last 40 yrs has led to remarkable improvements in the lives of persons with SCI as evident in their increased life expectancy, shorter hospitalizations, fewer rehospitalizations, and more effective treatments for male sexual dysfunction and fertility, as well as spasticity, heterotrophic ossification, and neuropathic pain.

Traumatic brain injury research since the 1998 NIH Consensus Conference: accomplishments and unmet goals.

In 1998, an NIH sponsored Consensus Conference on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Rehabilitation identified 30 different areas of needed research. A comprehensive review of recently generated research knowledge in the field of TBI has shown that a large number of Class III and IV evidence studies have been published, but relatively few of the more scientifically rigorous Class I or II studies. A rapid growth of publications on TBI rehabilitation has generated new knowledge in the epidemiology of TBI, the management of TBI and its secondary medical complications, rehabilitation of cognitive impairment, impact of TBI on community integration and quality of life, incidence of psychiatric dysfunction, and how caregivers and family members are affected.

Reliability of the Bryce/Ragnarsson spinal cord injury pain taxonomy.

Background/objective: Pain is a common secondary complication of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the literature offers varying estimates of the numbers of persons with SCI who develop pain. The variability in these numbers is caused in part by differences in the classification of pain; there is currently no commonly accepted classification system for pain affecting persons after SCI.

The effect of electrically induced lower extremity ergometry on an ischial pressure ulcer: a case study.

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at an increased risk of pressure ulcer development. Electrical stimulation of adjacent muscles may be underutilized as a tool for pressure ulcer healing in individuals with SCI.

Method: Single case study.

Results of the NIH consensus conference on "rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury".

In 1998, the National Institute for Health (NIH) organized a consensus conference about the rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The conference results are based on an extensive bibliography from the scientific literature and presentations at the conference. The focus of this conference was the evaluation of rehabilitative measures for the cognitive and behavioral consequences of TBI, and the extent to which specific interventions are supported by existing evidence.

Rehabilitation of the patient with chronic critical illness.

Patients with CCI have continuing profound medical needs, poor prognosis for significant functional recovery, and a high mortality rate. Nonetheless, some survive for months or years, but unfortunately, often with functional skills and quality of life lower than need be. Careful evaluation of each patient's medical condition and potential for functional improvement, early involvement of the rehabilitation team, prevention and treatment of medical conditions associated with prolonged bed rest and immobility, reduction of the emotional and financial burden of family members, and establishment of reasonable goals can increase self-sufficiency and quality of life regardless of discharge destination.