An examination of camptocormia assessment by dynamic quantification of sagittal posture.

Objective: Camptocormia is a disabling pathology of the axial system that debilitates patients in their daily life. To date, there have been no studies evaluating the impact of camptocormia on walking performance. This study presents a new method for assessing sagittal posture under walking conditions in patients with camptocormia.

Communication activity in stroke patients with aphasia.

Objective: To study communication disability in stroke patients with aphasia.

Patients And Methods: Prospective, multicentric cohort study of patients with aphasia, consecutively included after a first stroke, and examined 1 year later at home. Assessment included a stroke severity scale, the Barthel Index, the boston diagnostic aphasia examination, a communication questionnaire, and the aphasia depression rating scale.

Effect of early compensation of distal motor deficiency by the Chignon ankle-foot orthosis on gait in hemiplegic patients: a randomized pilot study.

Objective: To compare the effect of the Chignon ankle-foot orthosis on gait versus a standard ankle-foot orthosis.

Method: A multicentre randomized study was conducted in seven rehabilitation centres. Hemiplegic patients were recruited after unilateral stroke lasting less than six months.

Reliability of magnetic resonance imaging measurements of the cross-sectional area of the muscle contractile and non-contractile components.

Background/purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used to study skeletal muscles patients with muscular disorders. We report an MRI technique for evaluating the trunk muscles. This technique takes both the component surface area (CSA) and the density of the muscles on MRI axial slices into account .

An orthosis and physiotherapy programme for camptocormia: a prospective case study.

Objective: Camptocormia, or bent spine syndrome, is an acquired postural disease leading to lumbar kyphosis observed when the patient stands up. Classic orthoses and physiotherapy programmes provide little correction and are often poorly tolerated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerance of a new orthosis combined with physiotherapy for treating camptocormia.

Anatomical optimization of skin electrode placement to record electromyographic activity of erector spinae muscles.

Fine analysis of body movements is now technologically feasible, together with simultaneous recording of multiple muscle activity. This is especially true for the trunk and back muscles during human walking. However, there have been few anatomic studies of the area where deep back muscle activity is recordable by skin electrodes.

Severe and long-lasting complications of the nerve root and spinal cord after central neuraxial blockade.

Background: Although rare, major complications after spinal and epidural anesthesia do occur. We report the complications after central neuraxial blockade occurring in 2000 in France.

Methods: A retrospective questionnaire study was sent to all French rehabilitation centers to detail severe and long-lasting neurologic complications after central neuraxial blockade.

Intravesical capsaicin versus resiniferatoxin for the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia in spinal cord injured patients: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study.

Purpose: Chemical defunctionalization of C-fiber bladder afferents with intravesical vanilloids such as capsaicin (CAP) or resiniferatoxin (RTX) improves detrusor hyperreflexia in humans and animals. The little existing data comparing the efficacy and tolerance of these 2 vanilloid agents seem to favor RTX in 10% alcohol over CAP, which is usually diluted in 30% alcohol. We compared the efficacy and tolerability of the 2 vanilloid agonists in what to our knowledge is the first randomized, controlled study comparing nonalcohol CAP vs RTX in 10% alcohol in neurogenic patients with detrusor hyperreflexia.

Botulinum a toxin and detrusor sphincter dyssynergia: a double-blind lidocaine-controlled study in 13 patients with spinal cord disease.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and tolerance of botulinum A toxin (BTx) versus lidocaine (L), applied in the external urethral sphincter with a single transperineal injection in order to treat detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) in spinal cord injured patients.

Methods: Thirteen patients (1F, 12 M) suffering from chronic urinary retention due to DSD were randomised to receive one transperineal injection of 100 IU BTx Botox degrees in 4 ml of 9% saline (botulinum group, (BG)) or 4 ml of 0.5% L (lidocaine group, (LG)).