Identifying mild traumatic brain injury in the post-acute polytrauma setting: a scoping review of diagnostic approaches and screening tools.

Objective: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is frequently overlooked in polytrauma patients due to the overshadowing of more severe injuries, a fact that makes its identification in post-acute settings challenging since symptoms overlap with other conditions and no validated diagnostic tools exist. To address this gap, this scoping review explored the literature on mTBI diagnosis in post-acute civilian polytrauma settings.

Methods: By utilizing the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, the review focused on studies from 2010 to 2024 related to delayed mTBI diagnosis in adults.

Identifying priorities and developing strategies for building capacity in amputation research in Canada.

Background: Compared to other patient population groups, the field of amputation research in Canada lacks cohesion largely due to limited funding sources, lack of connection among research scientists, and loose ties among geographically dispersed healthcare centres, research institutes and advocacy groups. As a result, advances in clinical care are hampered and ultimately negatively influence outcomes of persons living with limb loss.

Objective: To stimulate a national strategy on advancing amputation research in Canada, a consensus-workshop was organized with an expert panel of stakeholders to identify key research priorities and potential strategies to build researcher and funding capacity in the field.

Acute and long-term clinical, neuropsychological and return-to-work sequelae following electrical injury: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine acute and long-term clinical, neuropsychological, and return-to-work (RTW) effects of electrical injuries (EIs). This study aims to further contrast sequelae between low-voltage and high-voltage injuries (LVIs and HVIs). We hypothesise that all EIs will result in substantial adverse effects during both phases of management, with HVIs contributing to greater rates of sequelae.

It's time to move on from the bell curve.

The bell curve was first described in the 18th century by de Moivre and Gauss to depict the distribution of binomial events, such as coin tossing, or repeated measures of physical objects. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the bell curve was appropriated, or perhaps misappropriated, to apply to biologic and social measures across people. For many years we used it to derive reference values for our electrophysiologic studies.

Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism, and Occupational Therapy: A Search for Understanding.

Occupational therapists strive to be mindful, competent practitioners and continuously look for ways to improve practice. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has strong evidence of effectiveness in helping people with autism achieve goals, yet it does not seem to be implemented in occupational therapy practice. To better understand whether ABA could be an evidence-based option to expand occupational therapy practice, the authors conducted an iterative, multiphase investigation of relevant literature.

Use of Nintendo Wii Fit™ in the rehabilitation of outpatients following total knee replacement: a preliminary randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine whether Nintendo Wii Fit™ is an acceptable adjunct to physiotherapy treatment in the rehabilitation of balance, lower extremity movement, strength and function in outpatients following total knee replacement.

Design: Preliminary randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient department of a rehabilitation hospital.

Efficacy of 7 days per week inpatient admissions and rehabilitation therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of 7 d/wk of inpatient admissions and rehabilitation therapy (7DART) in a rehabilitation hospital.

Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective electronic data review.

Setting: Rehabilitation hospital.

The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist as a screening measure for posttraumatic stress disorder in rehabilitation after burn injuries.

Objectives: To determine the profile of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among outpatients with burn injuries referred to psychology in a rehabilitation hospital, and the utility of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) as a screening measure for PTSD.

Design: Retrospective psychological chart review.

Setting: Outpatient burn clinic of a rehabilitation hospital.

Diagnosis of long-term sequelae after low-voltage electrical injury.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of diagnostic tests and specialty consultations in aiding the diagnosis of long-term symptoms after low-voltage electrical injury (EI). A retrospective hospital chart review of low-voltage electrical-injured patients admitted to the outpatient burn clinic of a rehabilitation hospital was conducted (January 2002 to March 2006). Results of tests and specialty consultations were compared between patients with low-voltage contact injuries and patients with low-voltage flash injuries using Student's t-test and χ(2) with a P < .

Inpatient oncology rehabilitation in Toronto: a descriptive 18-month retrospective record review.

Purpose: The purpose was twofold: (1) to develop a comprehensive profile of patients discharged from an inpatient oncology rehabilitation unit and (2) to explore the relationships between patient characteristics and functional status.

Methods: A retrospective review of electronic data from all patients discharged from oncology rehabilitation between November 1, 2008, and March 31, 2010, was conducted. Data elements included age, sex, primary language, living arrangements, cancer diagnosis, comorbidities, and admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM(™)) scores.

The utility of a video game system in rehabilitation of burn and nonburn patients: a survey among occupational therapy and physiotherapy practitioners.

The objective of this study was to investigate perceptions of occupational therapists and physiotherapists on the use of Nintendo Wii™ (Nintendo of America Inc., Redmond, WA) in rehabilitation. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists in a rehabilitation hospital trialed four Wii games that addressed physical movement, balance, coordination, and cognitive performance.

Emotion-focused principles for working with borderline personality disorder.

This paper discusses the function of emotion, its importance in the treatment of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), and the integration of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) principles in the psychotherapeutic management of patients with BPD. EFT principles involve emotional assessment; a strong therapeutic alliance as a necessary context for treatment; the therapeutic relationship as a bond that regulates affect through empathy, emotional validation, and interpersonal soothing; emotion-regulation; psychoeducation about emotional processes; the therapist as an emotional coach; and transforming emotion schemes as primary mechanisms of change. The authors discuss how EFT principles can be viewed as primary intervention strategies in the treatment of patients with BPD and how they can be incorporated into various psychotherapy approaches.

The experience of senior stroke survivors: factors in community participation among wheelchair users.

Purpose: This qualitative study investigated the lived experience of senior stroke survivors who used prescribed wheelchairs in their home and community.

Methods: The study involved semi-structured, in-depth interviews that were conducted with 10 participants, aged 70 to 80, who had used a wheelchair for a mean of 5.6 years.