Diffusion tensor imaging reveals diffuse white matter injuries in locked-in syndrome patients.

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a state of quadriplegia and anarthria with preserved consciousness, which is generally triggered by a disruption of specific white matter fiber tracts, following a lesion in the ventral part of the pons. However, the impact of focal lesions on the whole brain white matter microstructure and structural connectivity pathways remains unknown. We used diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) and tract-based statistics to characterise the whole white matter tracts in seven consecutive LIS patients, with ventral pontine injuries but no significant supratentorial lesions detected with morphological MRI.

Resting-state networks distinguish locked-in from vegetative state patients.

Purpose: Locked-in syndrome and vegetative state are distinct outcomes from coma. Despite their differences, they are clinically difficult to distinguish at the early stage and current diagnostic tools remain insufficient. Since some brain functions are preserved in locked-in syndrome, we postulated that networks of spontaneously co-activated brain areas might be present in locked-in patients, similar to healthy controls, but not in patients in a vegetative state.

Cellular magnetic resonance imaging for the differentiation of infectious and degenerative vertebral disorders: preliminary results.

Purpose: To evaluate macrophage imaging using the ability of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to differentiate infectious vertebral osteomyelitis and degenerative disk-related inflammatory endplates. The in vivo demonstration of the different distribution of macrophages in those two disorders may allow a more accurate characterization of vertebral endplate abnormalities than classical extracellular MR changes.

Materials And Methods: In 12 patients with endplate abnormalities (six cases of bacteriologically proven spondylodiscitis, six cases of disk degeneration-related endplate changes), two MRI sessions were realized: before and 24 hours after injection of SPIO.

[What is the interest of early mobilization after total hip arthroplasty? Development of French guidelines for clinical practice].

Aims: To develop clinical practice guidelines for early mobilisation after total hip replacement (THR).

Method: We used the French Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Sofmer) methodology, which associates a systematic review of the literature, the collection of information regarding current clinical practice and external review by a multidisciplinary expert panel.

Results: Recommending early mobilisation after THR is not established by a review of the literature.

[Secondary screening for osteoporosis in patients admitted for hip fracture to a rehabilitation center. Results of a survey].

Goals: To determine prevalence, risk factors and treatment of osteoporosis in patients with hip fracture observed in a rehabilitation ward.

Background: Hip fractures are associated with up to 20% excess mortality in the first year after fracture and cause functional disability in most survivors. Despite available risk indices and physician information, osteoporosis is still underdiagnosed and undertreated.