Functional Priorities in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury: Using Discrete Choice Experiments To Determine Preferences

Recovery Insights Following Spinal Cord Injury: A Consumer's Perspective

The individual with spinal cord injury is the most important member of the interdisciplinary team of health care professionals who provide care and researchers who progress treatments. The consumer voice is critical to understanding priorities and preferences. A literature search was conducted to identify consumer-level contribution, yielding 68 articles. Functional recovery priorities of motor and bladder/bowel function were universal. Priorities of secondary complications mirrored functional recovery, highlighting the impact that mitigating secondary complications can have on functional recovery. Imbedded within interventional preferences are those priorities, balanced between risks and benefits. Improving independence was consistently weighed against fear of functional decline.

Case report: Movement-related neuroplasticity in a patient after spinal cord injury in response to task-oriented bimanual training

Background

Bimanual motor training is an effective neurological rehabilitation strategy. However, its use has rarely been investigated in patients with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury (SCI). Therefore, we conducted a case study to investigate the effects of robot-assisted task-oriented bimanual training (RBMT) on upper limb function, activities of daily living, and movement-related sensorimotor activity in a patient with SCI.

Methods

A patient with bilateral upper limb paresis due to incomplete cervical SCI underwent 20 sessions of RBMT. Functional recovery was measured using clinical scales for upper limb motor function and activities of daily living. Training-induced neuroplasticity was evaluated using event-related desynchronization (ERD) induced by movement of the right hand (the more affected side), recorded on the electroencephalogram (EEG).

Results

RBMT improved the patient's upper limb motor function and activity independence. At baseline, our EEG paradigm demonstrated an ipsilateral predominance of movement-related ERD responses over the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) in relation to the moving hand. Following the RBMT, the ERD pattern shifted from being predominantly ipsilateral to a contralateral allocation.

Conclusion

The present case study provides preliminary evidence to support the therapeutic use of RBMT to restore upper limb function in patients with incomplete SCI. The recovery of function following SCI might be related to the rebalancing of sensorimotor activation.

Development and Testing of the Spinal Cord Injury Bladder and Bowel Control Questionnaire (SCI-BBC-Q)

INTRODUCTION

Recovery of lower urinary tract (LUT) and lower gastrointestinal tract (LGIT) is a high priority for people with lived experience following spinal cord injury (SCI). A universally accepted validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure of the individual sensory and motor components of LGIT and LUT function, which allows tracking of recovery is lacking. To address this literature gap, the SCI Bladder and Bowel Control Questionnaire (SCI-BBC-Q) was developed.

METHODS

The SCI-BBC-Q was developed as a direct assessment of the micturition and defecation experiences of an individual with SCI with possible neurogenic LUT and LGIT dysfunction. The SCI-BBC-Q development process consisted of two phases, measure development and evaluation. Measure development was guided by a conceptual framework, review of existing instruments and literature, and an iterative process of item incorporation, review, feedback, and consensus revision. Evaluation included cognitive interviewing, and assessments of feasibility, reliability, and content validity.

RESULTS

The final 6-item SCI-BBC-Q is a PRO, which assesses motor and sensory function related to micturition and defecation, requiring ~5 min to complete. Assessments of clarity of the instrument components with regard to understanding of what is being asked in the questionnaire, feasibility of administration, reliability, internal consistency, and agreement with proxy measures have demonstrated that the SCI-BBC-Q provides consistent, stable, and reproducible data. Significant correlations were found between SCI-BBC-Q scores and the anorectal motor and sensory components of the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of SCI.

CONCLUSION

The SCI-BBC-Q is a practical and reliable method for baseline and ongoing evaluation of patients with neurogenic LUT and LGIT dysfunction, especially in the acute and subacute period when function is changing due to neurological plasticity. It is also appropriate for use in monitoring response to treatments related to neurological recovery.

Upper Extremity Surgery in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective Comparative Mixed-Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) has a devastating effect on health and independence. Restoring upper extremity function is a top priority and can be accomplished by tendon transfer (TT) and nerve transfer (NT) surgery. The purpose of this prospective comparative study was to assess long-term changes in upper extremity function between surgical (TT or NT) and nonsurgical groups through a comprehensive mixed-methods approach.

METHODS

This multicenter cohort study compared data among 3 groups: those undergoing no surgery, TT surgery, or NT surgery. Quantitative data from the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) and 36-item Short Form Health Survey were collected at baseline and long-term follow-up (6 to 24 months). Qualitative semistructured interview data were also obtained from these participants and their identified caregivers at baseline, early follow-up (1 month), and long-term follow-up (6 to 24 months).

RESULTS

Thirty-one participants had quantitative data across all time points: no surgery ( n = 14), TT ( n = 7), and NT ( n = 10). SCIM scores improved in TT and NT groups compared with the no-surgery group ( P < 0.05). The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores did not differ among groups. Qualitative data analysis ( n = 168 interviews) corroborated SCIM findings: surgical participants and their caregivers reported improvement in transfers and ability to perform activities of daily living, including grooming and self-catheterization. Improved use of electronics and ability to operate a motor vehicle were also reported. Postoperative therapy was identified as a critical component of achieving gains.

CONCLUSIONS

TT and NT surgery lead to quantitative and qualitative functional gains when compared to no surgery. This comparative information should be used to help surgeons discuss treatment options.

CLINICAL QUSETION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, II.

Priorities of the Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Population: An International Study on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Overall priorities of the international pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI) population are unknown. The purpose was to describe and compare Life and Health (L&H) domain overall priorities of European youth with SCI and their parents and caregivers (P&C).

METHODS

A survey with a cross-sectional design, prepared by the PEPSCI Collaboration, was conducted in six European countries. In total, 202 participants, including youth with SCI (n = 101) and their P&C (n = 101), were included. Overall priorities were calculated based on unhappiness, importance, and research.

RESULTS

The sample included youth aged 8-12 years (30.7%) and 13-25 years (69.3%; 38.6% 13-17-year-olds and 30.7% youth aged 18-25 years), in addition to their P&C. The top three L&H priorities highlighted by P&C of the youth aged 8-12 years were "bladder" function (78%), "leg/foot movement" (77%), or "bowel" function (74%), compared with "leg/foot movement" (79%), "sit-to-stand" (76%), or "walking/ability to move" (75%) reported by P&C of the youth aged 13-25 years. The youth aged 13-25 years considered "leg/foot movement" (68%), "bowel" (66%), or "bladder" function (65%) as priorities. The top 10 priorities highlighted by the youth aged 13-25 years compared to the top 10 priorities rated by P&C were issues related to "personal needs". Nevertheless, "pressure injuries", "pain", "bowel function", or "mobility in the community" were highlighted as top preferences of priorities for the youth aged 13-25 years compared to their P&C.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents/young adults highlighted health domain priorities compared with their P&C, who equally considered L&H domains. Life domains, which were previously unaddressed, were highlighted by P&C, including "adulthood expectations" and "parenthood expectations". This survey will promote the involvement of stakeholders for comprehensive rehabilitation management for this population.

Complex lived experiences and hidden disability after spinal cord injury: a latent profile analysis of the Australian arm of the International Spinal Cord Injury (Aus-InSCI) Community Survey

PURPOSE

To identify and examine subgroups of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) with different patterns of lived experience, and examine hidden impairments and disability among functionally independent and ambulant people.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Latent profile analysis of population-based data from the Australian arm of the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) Community survey (n = 1579).

RESULTS

Latent subgroups reflected levels of functional independence and extent of problems with health, activity/participation, environmental barriers, and self-efficacy. Quality of life (QoL), psychological profiles, and activity/participation were often as good or better in participants who reported lower (vs. higher) functional independence alongside comparable burden of health problems and environmental barriers. QoL, mental health, and vitality reflected self-efficacy and problem burdens more closely than functional independence. Ambulant participants reported a substantial burden of underlying, potentially hidden impairments, with QoL and mental health similar to wheelchair users.

CONCLUSION

Hidden disability among more independent and/or ambulant people with SCI can affect well-being substantially. Early and ongoing access to support, rehabilitation, and SCI specialist services is important irrespective of cause, type, severity of injury, and level of functional independence. Improved access to SCI expertise and equity of care would help to improve early recognition and management of hidden disability.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Functional priorities of individuals with spinal cord injury: a Saudi Arabian perspective

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) are the deciding force behind the rehabilitation program to improve their quality of life (QoL) based on their personal preferences. Here we aimed to determine the preferences perceived most vital by Saudi SCI population to improve their QoL, and explore if these preferences are affected by gender, education, and duration, level, or extent of injury.

DESIGN

Participants ranked seven priorities of bodily functions as Rank I-VII with "I" being "Most important," and "VII" being "Least important."

SETTING

Inpatient rehabilitation facility.

PARTICIPANTS

120 participants (>18 years of age) of either sex with SCI without polytrauma, acquired brain injury, neurodegenerative disease, and dementia.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Ranking scale of seven priorities of bodily functions as Rank I-VII with "I" being "Most important," and "VII" being "Least important."

RESULTS

Of 101 individuals (mean age: 35.2 ± 14.8 years) finally included, 70.3% were males, 66.3% had onset of SCI since ≥ 3 years, 48.5% had a complete injury, and 75% had paraplegia. Most (26.7%) participants ranked walking as the first priority followed by hand/arm function (20.8%). Sexual function was the least important priority (39.6%). Hand/arm function was significantly more important for individuals with tetraplegia (p < 0.001). Trunk strength and balance was significantly less important for individuals with complete injury (p = 0.037). Participants with the onset of injury < 3 years and a complete injury reported bladder/bowel function as significantly more important (p = 0.011). Walking was significantly more important for people with incomplete injury and for people with injury duration ≥ 3 years (p = 0.022, p = 0.002 respectively).

CONCLUSION

The top priority in our sample of Saudi people with SCI was walking followed by hand/arm function while the least desired function was regaining sexual function. Walking was a prioritized function for people with injury duration ≥ 3 years and people with a complete injury while hand/arm function was highly prioritized by people with tetraplegia.

Does the disposition of passive coping mediate the association between illness perception and symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with spinal cord injury during first inpatient rehabilitation?

PURPOSE

To examine associations between illness perception, also called illness cognitions or appraisals, disposition of passive coping, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, and to test whether passive coping mediates the associations between illness perception and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Longitudinal, multicentre study. Participants were inpatients of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Measures included the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), the Utrecht Coping List passive coping subscale (UCL-P), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Mediation was tested with the PROCESS tool.

RESULTS

The questionnaires were completed by 121 participants at admission and at discharge. Of them, 70% were male, 58% had a paraplegia, and 82% an incomplete lesion. Weak to strong (0.294-0.650) significant associations were found between each pair of study variables. The use of passive coping strategies mediated the associations between illness perception and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSION

Symptoms of anxiety and depression were more frequent in people who have a threatening illness perception combined with a lower use of passive coping strategies. Therefore, it is advised that patients are screened and treated for threatening illness perception and high use of passive coping strategies during rehabilitation after SCI.

Safety of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) for the treatment of subaxial cervical spine injuries, a single center comparative matched analysis

INTRODUCTION

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) and Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion (ACCF) are both common surgical procedures in the management of pathologies of the subaxial cervical spine. While recent reviews have demonstrated ACCF to provide better decompression results compared to ACDF, the procedure has been associated with increased surgical risks. Nonetheless, the use of ACCF in a traumatic context has been poorly described. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of ACCF as compared to the more commonly performed ACDF.

METHODS

All patients undergoing ACCF or ACDF for subaxial cervical spine injuries spanning over 2 disc-spaces and 3 vertebral-levels, between 2006 and 2018, at the study center, were eligible for inclusion. Patients were matched based on age and preoperative ASIA score.

RESULTS

After matching, 60 patients were included in the matched analysis, where 30 underwent ACDF and ACCF, respectively. Vertebral body injury was significantly more common in the ACCF group (p = 0.002), while traumatic disc rupture was more frequent in the ACDF group (p = 0.032). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of surgical complications, including implant failure, wound infection, dysphagia, CSF leakage between the groups (p ≥ 0.05). The rates of revision surgeries (p > 0.999), mortality (p = 0.222), and long-term ASIA scores (p = 0.081) were also similar.

CONCLUSION

Results of both unmatched and matched analyses indicate that ACCF has comparable outcomes and no additional risks compared to ACDF. It is thus a safe approach and should be considered for patients with extensive anterior column injury.

Brief High-Velocity Motor Skill Training Increases Step Frequency and Improves Length/Frequency Coordination in Slow Walkers With Chronic Motor-Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE

To quantify spatiotemporal coordination during overground walking among persons with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury (PwMISCI) by calculating the step length (SL)/step frequency (SF) ratio (ie, the Walk Ratio [WR]) and to examine the effects of motor skill training (MST) on the relationship between changes in these parameters and walking speed (WS).

DESIGN

Between-day exploratory analysis.

SETTING

Research laboratory in a rehabilitation hospital PARTICIPANTS: PwMISCI (N=26).

INTERVENTIONS

3-day high-velocity MST.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Overground WS, SL, SF, and WR measured during the 10-Meter Walk Test.

RESULTS

Among the full sample, MST was associated with increases in WS, SL, SF, and a decrease in the WR. Relative change in WS and SF was higher among slow (ΔWS=↑46%, ΔSF=↑28%) vs fast (ΔWS=↑16%, ΔSF=↑8%) walkers. Change in the WR differed between groups (slow: ΔWR=↓10%; fast: ΔWR=0%). Twenty-six percent of the variability observed in ΔWR among slow walkers could be explained by ΔSF, while ΔSL did not contribute to ΔWR. Among fast walkers, ΔSL accounted for more than twice the observed ΔWR (43%) compared to ΔSF (15%).

CONCLUSIONS

On the whole, WR values among PwMISCI are higher than previous reports in other neurologic populations; however, values among fast walkers were comparable to noninjured adults. Slow walkers demonstrated greater variability in the WR, with higher values associated with slower WS. Following MST, increases in WS coincided with a decrease in the WR among slow walkers, mediated primarily through an effect on SF. This finding may point to a specific mechanism by which MST facilitates improvements in WS among PwMISCI with greater mobility deficits.

Effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking on bowel function in motor-complete spinal cord injury patients: involvement of the brain-gut axis, a pilot study

Evidence has demonstrated that exoskeleton robots can improve intestinal function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. This study investigated the effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) on intestinal function and intestinal flora structure in T2-L1 motor complete paraplegia patients. The results showed that five participants in the EAW group and three in the conventional group reported improvements in at least one bowel management index, including an increased frequency of bowel evacuations, less time spent on bowel management per day, and less external assistance (manual digital stimulation, medication, and enema usage). After 8 weeks of training, the amount of glycerol used in the EAW group decreased significantly (p <0.05). The EAW group showed an increasing trend in the neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) score after 8 weeks of training, while the conventional group showed a worsening trend. Patients who received the EAW intervention exhibited a decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia, while Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were upregulated. In addition, there were decreases in the abundances of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Parabacteroides, Akkermansia, Blautia, Ruminococcus 2, and Megamonas. In contrast, Ruminococcus 1, Ruminococcaceae UCG002, Faecalibacterium, Dialister, Ralstonia, Escherichia-Shigella, and Bifidobacterium showed upregulation among the top 15 genera. The abundance of Ralstonia was significantly higher in the EAW group than in the conventional group, and Dialister increased significantly in EAW individuals at 8 weeks. This study suggests that EAW can improve intestinal function of SCI patients in a limited way, and may be associated with changes in the abundance of intestinal flora, especially an increase in beneficial bacteria. In the future, we need to further understand the changes in microbial groups caused by EAW training and all related impact mechanisms, especially intestinal flora metabolites. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/.

Unintentionally intentional: unintended effects of spinal stimulation as a platform for multi-modal neurorehabilitation after spinal cord injury

Electrical stimulation of spinal neurons has emerged as a valuable tool to enhance rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. In separate parameterizations, it has shown promise for improving voluntary movement, reducing symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia, improving functions mediated by muscles of the pelvic floor (e.g., bowel, bladder, and sexual function), reducing spasms and spasticity, and decreasing neuropathic pain, among others. This diverse set of actions is related both to the density of sensorimotor neural networks in the spinal cord and to the intrinsic ability of electrical stimulation to modulate neural transmission in multiple spinal networks simultaneously. It also suggests that certain spinal stimulation parameterizations may be capable of providing multi-modal therapeutic benefits, which would directly address the complex, multi-faceted rehabilitation goals of people living with spinal cord injury. This review is intended to identify and characterize reports of spinal stimulation-based therapies specifically designed to provide multi-modal benefits and those that report relevant unintended effects of spinal stimulation paradigms parameterized to enhance a single consequence of spinal cord injury.

Implementing Lived Experience Workshops in Regional Areas of British Columbia to Enhance Clinicians' Confidence in Spinal Cord Injury Care: An Evaluation

In British Columbia (BC), there are challenges accessing specialized spinal cord injury care and resources. This paper evaluated the impact of spinal cord injury health educational workshops delivered in regional communities that were informed by persons with lived experience. A community survey was conducted with 44 persons with lived experience in a BC region to identify priority SCI health-related topics. Twenty-five topics were ranked from 1-14, with bowel and bladder management ranked 1 and 4, sexual health ranked 5, and pressure injuries ranked 7. Clinical perspectives on the priorities were collected from 102 clinicians in the BC region, who independently ranked 14 of these SCI topics and considered the former 4 topics to be lower clinical priority (ranked 11-14). These priorities informed a series of SCI clinical education workshops held at healthcare facilities in three regional cities. The goals were to improve clinicians' knowledge and confidence levels when managing spinal cord injury health and to facilitate person-centred care. Positive feedback demonstrated that educational workshops supported by lived experience perspectives effectively enhanced the clinicians' understanding of spinal cord injury and their priorities. Future plans include engaging more administrators as part of this initiative and conducting workshops in other regions of BC.

Transanal irrigation bowel routine for people with Cauda Equina Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Neurologic bowel incontinence and dysfunction are common with Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). The study objective was to evaluate the efficacy of Peristeen Anal Irrigation System (PAIS)TM in people with CES.

DESIGN

Clinical Trial.

SETTING

Spinal Cord Rehabilitation outpatient clinic at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.

METHODS

Twelve participants with a mean age of 46.2 years (range 34-72 years, 4 females) with CES used PAISTM bowel routine for 10 weeks.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Change in Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score (NBD) over 10 weeks relative to baseline. Secondary outcomes: Change in St. Mark's Fecal Incontinence score (SMFI), Cleveland Clinic Constipation score (CCC), and modified Rectal Surgeons Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Score (QOL) at week 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 compared to baseline, and self-rating of bowel function at baseline and 10 weeks. Additionally, colonic transit times were assessed using the radioactive markers (Sitzmarks) method.

RESULTS

Ten participants completed the study. Post-intervention primary outcome NBD score improved (p < 0.01). Secondary outcomes also improved significantly, including SMFI (p < 0.01), CCC (p < 0.01), QOL (p < 0.01), self-rating of bowel function (p < 0.01), and transit time improved by 22% (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Overall, a significant improvement was observed with the PAISTM for both primary, as well as secondary outcome measures, without any significant adverse effects. As this non-pharmaceutical method of bowel management is effective and has the potential to improve symptoms of bowel dysfunction in people with CES, it should be considered for those in which traditional methods of managing neurogenic bowel fail.

The secretome of macrophages has a differential impact on spinal cord injury recovery according to the polarization protocol

Introduction

The inflammatory response after spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important contributor to secondary damage. Infiltrating macrophages can acquire a spectrum of activation states, however, the microenvironment at the SCI site favors macrophage polarization into a pro-inflammatory phenotype, which is one of the reasons why macrophage transplantation has failed.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the macrophage secretome for SCI recovery. We investigated the effect of the secretome in vitro using peripheral and CNS-derived neurons and human neural stem cells. Moreover, we perform a pre-clinical trial using a SCI compression mice model and analyzed the recovery of motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Instead of transplanting the cells, we injected the paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles that they secrete, avoiding the loss of the phenotype of the transplanted cells due to local environmental cues.

Results

We demonstrated that different macrophage phenotypes have a distinct effect on neuronal growth and survival, namely, the alternative activation with IL-10 and TGF-β1 (M(IL-10+TGF-β1)) promotes significant axonal regeneration. We also observed that systemic injection of soluble factors and extracellular vesicles derived from M(IL-10+TGF-β1) macrophages promotes significant functional recovery after compressive SCI and leads to higher survival of spinal cord neurons. Additionally, the M(IL-10+TGF-β1) secretome supported the recovery of bladder function and decreased microglial activation, astrogliosis and fibrotic scar in the spinal cord. Proteomic analysis of the M(IL-10+TGF-β1)-derived secretome identified clusters of proteins involved in axon extension, dendritic spine maintenance, cell polarity establishment, and regulation of astrocytic activation.

Discussion

Overall, our results demonstrated that macrophages-derived soluble factors and extracellular vesicles might be a promising therapy for SCI with possible clinical applications.

Research Priorities of the Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Population: An International Insight for Rehabilitation Care

BACKGROUND

Although feedback from people with adult-onset spinal cord injury (SCI) has been considered for new rehabilitation programs, little is known about the priorities of the pediatric-onset SCI population. This study describes and compares health and life (H&L) domain research priorities of youth with pediatric-onset SCI and their parents/caregivers.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey, designed by the Pan-European Paediatric Spinal Cord Injury (PEPSCI) Collaboration, was performed at six European countries. Dyad data from 202 participants, youth with pediatric-onset SCI (n = 101) and their parents/caregivers (n = 101), were analyzed with the PEPSCI H&L domain surveys.

RESULTS

The cohort was composed of 8 to 12-year-olds (30.7%), 13 to 17-year-olds (38.6%), and 18 to 25-year-olds (30.7%). The top three H&L domain research priorities reported by parents/caregivers of 8 to 12-year-olds were "walking/ability to move" (91%), "bladder" function (90%), and "general health/feel" (89%), compared with "physical function" (93%), "general health/feel" (90%), and "walking/ability to move" (89%) rated by parents/caregivers of 13 to 25-year-olds. "Bowel" function (85%), "leg/foot movement" (84%), and "bladder" function (84%) were reported as priorities by 13 to 25-year-olds, whereas "physical function" (84%), "experience at school" (83%), and "general mood" were highlighted by 8 to 12-year-olds. The top 10 priorities preferred by 13 to 25-year-olds when compared with the top 10 priorities reported by their parents/caregivers, included problems related to "bowel" and "pain."

CONCLUSIONS

Health domain research priorities were highlighted by 13 to 25-year-olds, compared with their parents/caregivers who equally identified H&L domains. This survey will aid health care and clinical research organizations to engage stakeholders to implement a comprehensive research strategy for the pediatric SCI population.

Pediatric health and life domain priorities: A national survey of people with spinal cord injury and their parents and caregivers

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE

No information is available regarding priorities for pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). This study described the Health and Life (H&L) domain priorities of youth with pediatric-onset SCI and their parents/caregivers living in Spain.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Two SCI rehabilitation centers.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty participants, youth with pediatric-onset SCI (n = 26) and parents/caregivers (n = 34).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Median overall priorities calculated on the basis of importance, unhappiness, and research measured with a new survey of pediatric H&L domains and rated using a 5-point Likert Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 60 surveys were received providing information on 35 individuals with SCI: 2-7-year-olds (25.7%), 8-12-year-olds (22.9%), 13-17-year-olds (31.4%), and 18-25-year-olds (20.0%). The top three overall H&L priorities reported by parents/caregivers of 2-12-year-olds were "parenthood expectations" (84%), "leg/foot movement" (83%), and "bladder" function (83%), compared to "dressing/undressing" (78%), "walking/ability to move" (77%) and "bladder" function (77%) rated for 13-25-year-olds. "Sit-to-stand" (79%), "leg/foot movement" (78%) and "arm/hand movement" (77%) were reported as priorities by 13-25-year-olds. The 13-25-year-olds highlighted "sit-to-stand" (100%), "eating/drinking" (54%), and "physical function" (94%) as their top unhappiness, importance, and research priorities, respectively. Significant differences between tetraplegia and paraplegia were found in "mobility in the community" (unhappiness item) for 13-25-years-old.

CONCLUSION

Health domains were considered the top overall H&L priorities by parents/caregivers of 13-25-year-olds, compared to life domains reported for their 2-12-year-olds. This survey will aid rehabilitation professionals to engage stakeholders to implement a comprehensive SCI management program for the pediatric population.

Association between functional outcomes and psychological variables in persons with spinal cord injury

We aimed to explore the association of functional outcomes with psychological variables, including depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and suicide risk, in persons with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The secondary aim was to determine specific functions related to the psychological variables. This retrospective study included 259 persons with SCIs who were admitted to the Korean National Rehabilitation Center between 2019 and 2021. The participants were interviewed by a psychiatrist and completed questionnaires, including the Korean Beck Depression Inventory II (K-BDI-II), Korean Beck Anxiety Index, Insomnia Severity Index, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. To assess functional outcomes, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III) and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury were determined by a physical therapist. The findings revealed a negative correlation of SCIM III subdivisions 1 and 3 with K-BDI-II. Specifically, feeding and mobility in bed and actions to prevent pressure injuries were functional factors associated with all four psychological variables. Our findings can guide clinicians to focus on improving functional independence and activities of daily living during the management of persons with SCI to prevent psychological consequences. Developing devices that aid in improving functional independence is crucial and may improve psychological problems in such individuals.

Risk Factors for Suicidality in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Focus on Physical and Functional Characteristics

OBJECTIVE

: To demonstrate the association between the physical and functional characteristics of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and suicidality, an area of research that is less understood than the association with demographic, social, and psychological characteristics.

METHODS

: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 259 patients with SCI admitted for rehabilitation at the National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, between January 2019 and December 2021. Demographic, SCI-related, physical, and functional data were collected from their medical records. Suicide risk was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.

RESULTS

: The 259 participants had an average age of 49.1 years, and 75.7% were male. The analysis revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between age and suicidality. No significant differences were found for sex, education, occupation, or SCI-related factors. Lower upper extremity motor score (UEMS) was significantly associated with higher suicide risk. Regarding functional factors, the inability to perform independent rolling, come to sit, wheelchair propelling, and self-driving were associated with increased suicidality. In the multiple linear regression analysis, lower UEMS, limited shoulder joint motion, upper extremity spasticity, and dependent wheelchair propulsion were predictors of higher suicide risk.

CONCLUSION

: This study highlights the associations among physical status, functional dependency, and suicide risk in individuals with SCI. These findings emphasize the need to address psychological aspects and physical and functional factors in the management of individuals with SCI who are at a high risk of suicide.

Scoping Review on Brain-Computer Interface-Controlled Electrical Stimulation Interventions for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Adults: A Look at Participants, Interventions, and Technology

Purpose

While current rehabilitation practice for improving arm and hand function relies on physical/occupational therapy, a growing body of research evaluates the effects of technology-enhanced rehabilitation. We review interventions that combine a brain-computer interface (BCI) with electrical stimulation (ES) for upper limb movement rehabilitation to summarize the evidence on (1) populations of study participants, (2) BCI-ES interventions, and (3) the BCI-ES systems.

Method

After searching seven databases, two reviewers identified 23 eligible studies. We consolidated information on the study participants, interventions, and approaches used to develop integrated BCI-ES systems. The included studies investigated the use of BCI-ES interventions with stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI) populations. All studies used electroencephalography to collect brain signals for the BCI, and functional electrical stimulation was the most common type of ES. The BCI-ES interventions were typically conducted without a therapist, with sessions varying in both frequency and duration.

Results

Of the 23 eligible studies, only 3 studies involved the SCI population, compared to 20 involving individuals with stroke.

Conclusions

Future BCI-ES interventional studies could address this gap. Additionally, standardization of device and rehabilitation modalities, and study-appropriate involvement with therapists, can be considered to advance this intervention towards clinical implementation.

Design and fabrication of a custom molded splint for tetraplegics

Background

The key rehabilitation goal for cervical cord injury is promoting functional hand movement. Patients with mid to low-level cervical spinal cord injury can achieve the useful tenodesis grasp with the assistance of upper extremity orthosis. In this study, a custom molded writing device was fabricated and applied on cervical cord injured patients with the aim of hand rehabilitation.

Methods

A total of fourteen individuals with cervical spinal cord injury at C6-C7 level were recruited for the study. They were divided into two groups, where the experimental group was prescribed with the custom molded writing device and the standard-of-care group was prescribed with the traditionally available writing device. The performance of the devices was evaluated using the Quest 2.0 questionnaire and the quality of writing after an intervention time of 4 weeks.

Result

The group that used custom molded writing device performed comparatively better when compared to the conventional design. The data showed a significant difference with average QUEST scores of 4.47 ± 0.33 for the group using the wrist-driven writing device and 3.04 ± 0.70 for group using the conventional design. For better understanding of the device's performance, the writing with both the splints was also assessed.

Conclusion

A writing device using the tenodesis grasp was fabricated to rehabilitate the writing skills of individuals with cervical spinal cord injuries. The performance of the device provided a favorable result indicating to elaborate the study for future references.

Multi-Site Spinal Cord Transcutaneous Stimulation Facilitates Upper Limb Sensory and Motor Recovery in Severe Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Study

Individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) rank regaining arm and hand function as their top rehabilitation priority post-injury. Cervical spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) combined with activity-based recovery training (ABRT) is known to effectively facilitate upper extremity sensorimotor recovery in individuals with residual arm and hand function post SCI. However, scTS effectiveness in facilitating upper extremity recovery in individuals with severe SCI with minimal to no sensory and motor preservation below injury level remains largely unknown. We herein introduced a multimodal neuro-rehabilitative approach involving scTS targeting systematically identified various spinal segments combined with ABRT. We hypothesized that multi-site scTS combined with ABRT will effectively neuromodulate the spinal networks, resulting in improved integration of ascending and descending neural information required for sensory and motor recovery in individuals with severe cervical SCI. To test the hypothesis, a 53-year-old male (C2, AIS A, 8 years post-injury) received 60 ABRT sessions combined with continuous multi-site scTS. Post-training assessments revealed improved activation of previously paralyzed upper extremity muscles and sensory improvements over the dorsal and volar aspects of the hand. Most likely, altered spinal cord excitability and improved muscle activation and sensations resulted in observed sensorimotor recovery. However, despite promising neurophysiological evidence pertaining to motor re-activation, we did not observe visually appreciable functional recovery on obtained upper extremity motor assessments.

Spinal cord injury in mice amplifies anxiety: A novel light-heat conflict test exposes increased salience of anxiety over heat

Spinal cord injury (SCI) predisposes individuals to anxiety and chronic pain. Anxiety- and pain-like behavior after SCI can be tested in rodents, yet commonly used tests assess one variable and may not replicate effects of SCI or sex differences seen in humans. Thus, novel preclinical tests should be optimized to better evaluate behaviors relating to anxiety and pain. Here, we use our newly developed conflict test - the Thermal Increments Dark-Light (TIDAL) test - to explore how SCI affects anxiety- vs. pain-like behavior, and whether sex affects post-SCI behavior. The TIDAL conflict test consists of two plates connected by a walkway; one plate remains illuminated and at an isothermic temperature, whereas the other plate is dark but is heated incrementally to aversive temperatures. A control mice thermal place preference test was also performed in which both plates are illuminated. Female and male mice received moderate T9 contusion SCI or remained uninjured. At 7 days post-operative (dpo), mice with SCI increased dark plate preference throughout the TIDAL conflict test compared to uninjured mice. SCI increased dark plate preference for both sexes, although female (vs. male) mice remained on the heated-dark plate to higher temperatures. Mice with SCI that repeated TIDAL at 7 and 21 dpo showed reduced preference for the dark-heated plate at 21 dpo. Overall, in female and male mice, SCI enhances the salience of anxiety (vs. heat sensitivity). The TIDAL conflict test meets a need for preclinical anxiety- and pain-related tests that recapitulate the human condition; thus, future rodent behavioral studies should incorporate TIDAL or other conflict tests to help understand and treat neurologic disorders.

Spinal Cord Injury Community Personal Opinions and Perspectives on Spinal Cord Stimulation

Background

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) clinical trials are evaluating its efficacy and safety for motor, sensory, and autonomic recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI). The perspectives of people living with SCI are not well known and can inform the planning, delivery, and translation of SCS.

Objectives

To obtain input from people living with SCI on the top priorities for recovery, expected meaningful benefits, risk tolerance, clinical trial design, and overall interest in SCS.

Methods

Data were collected anonymously from an online survey between February and May 2020.

Results

A total of 223 respondents living with SCI completed the survey. The majority of respondents identified their gender as male (64%), were 10+ years post SCI (63%), and had a mean age of 50.8 years. Most individuals had a traumatic SCI (81%), and 45% classified themselves as having tetraplegia. Priorities for improved outcome for those with complete or incomplete tetraplegia included fine motor skills and upper body function, whereas priorities for complete or incomplete paraplegia included standing and walking, and bowel function. The meaningful benefits that are important to achieve are bowel and bladder care, less reliance on caregivers, and maintaining physical health. Perceived potential risks include further loss of function, neuropathic pain, and complications. Barriers to participation in clinical trials include inability to relocate, out-of-pocket expenses, and awareness of therapy. Respondents were more interested in transcutaneous SCS than epidural SCS (80% and 61%, respectively).

Conclusion

SCS clinical trial design, participant recruitment, and translation of the technology can be improved by better reflecting the priorities and preferences of those living with SCI identified from this study.

Application of silver nanoparticles for improving motor recovery after spinal cord injury via reduction of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess anti-inflammatory activities and have been widely deployed for promoting tissue repair. Here we explored the efficacy of AgNPs on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Our data indicated that, in a SCI rat model, local AgNPs delivery could significantly recover locomotor function and exert neuroprotection through reducing of pro-inflammatory M1 survival. Furthermore, in comparison with Raw 264.7-derived M0 and M2, a higher level of AgNPs uptake and more pronounced cytotoxicity were detected in M1. RNA-seq analysis revealed the apoptotic genes in M1 were upregulated by AgNPs, whereas in M0 and M2, pro-apoptotic genes were downregulated and PI3k-Akt pathway signaling pathway was upregulated. Moreover, AgNPs treatment preferentially reduced cell viability of human monocyte-derived M1 comparing to M2, supporting its effect on M1 in human. Overall, our findings reveal AgNPs could suppress M1 activity and imply its therapeutic potential in promoting post-SCI motor recovery.

Preservation of functional descending input to paralyzed upper extremity muscles in motor complete cervical spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is classified as complete or incomplete depending on the extent of sensorimotor preservation below the injury level. However, individuals with complete SCIs can voluntarily activate paralyzed lower limb muscles alone or by engaging non-paralyzed muscles during neurophysiological assessments, indicating presence of residual pathways across the injury. However, similar phenomena have not been explored for the upper extremity (UE) muscles following cervical SCIs.

METHODS

Eighteen individuals with motor complete cervical SCI (AIS A or B) and five age-matched non-injured (NI) individuals performed various UE events against manual resistance during functional neurophysiological assessment (FNPA), and electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from UE muscles.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrated i) voluntary activation of clinically paralyzed muscles as evident from EMG readouts, ii) increased activity in these muscles during events engaging muscles above the injury level, iii) reduced spectral properties of paralyzed muscles in SCI compared to NI participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional EMG activity in clinically paralyzed muscles indicate presence of residual pathways across the injury establishing supralesional control over the sublesional neural circuitry.

SIGNIFICANCE

The findings may help explain the neurophysiological basis for UE recovery and can be exploited in designing rehabilitation techniques to facilitate UE recovery following cervical SCIs.

Cerebral Theta-Burst Stimulation Combined with Physiotherapy in Patients with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To measure the effects of cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physiotherapy on lower extremity motor recovery in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial.

SUBJECTS

Adults with incomplete spinal cord injury.

METHODS

A total of 38 patients with incomplete spinal cord injury were randomized into either an intermittent theta-burst stimulation or a sham group. Both groups participated in physiotherapy 5 times per week for 9 weeks, and cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation or sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation was performed daily, immediately before physiotherapy. The primary outcomes were lower extremity motor score (LEMS), root-mean square (RMS), RMS of the quadriceps femoris muscle, walking speed (WS), and stride length (SL). Secondary outcomes comprised Holden Walking Ability Scale (HWAS) and modified Barthel Index (MBI). The outcomes were assessed before the intervention and 9 weeks after the start of the intervention.

RESULTS

Nine weeks of cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physiotherapy intervention resulted in improved recovery of lower extremity motor recovery in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Compared with baseline, the changes in LEMS, WS, SL, RMS, HWAS, and MBI were significant in both groups after intervention. The LEMS, WS, SL, RMS, HWAS, and MBI scores were improved more in the intermittent theta-burst stimulation group than in the sham group.

CONCLUSION

Cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physiotherapy promotes lower extremity motor recovery in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. However, this study included a small sample size and lacked a comparison of the treatment effects of multiple stimulation modes, the further research will be required in the future.

The Berlin Bimanual Test for Tetraplegia (BeBiTT): development, psychometric properties, and sensitivity to change in assistive hand exoskeleton application

BACKGROUND

Assistive hand exoskeletons are promising tools to restore hand function after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) but assessing their specific impact on bimanual hand and arm function is limited due to lack of reliable and valid clinical tests. Here, we introduce the Berlin Bimanual Test for Tetraplegia (BeBiTT) and demonstrate its psychometric properties and sensitivity to assistive hand exoskeleton-related improvements in bimanual task performance.

METHODS

Fourteen study participants with subacute cervical SCI performed the BeBiTT unassisted (baseline). Thereafter, participants repeated the BeBiTT while wearing a brain/neural hand exoskeleton (B/NHE) (intervention). Online control of the B/NHE was established via a hybrid sensorimotor rhythm-based brain-computer interface (BCI) translating electroencephalographic (EEG) and electrooculographic (EOG) signals into open/close commands. For reliability assessment, BeBiTT scores were obtained by four independent observers. Besides internal consistency analysis, construct validity was assessed by correlating baseline BeBiTT scores with the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III) and Quadriplegia Index of Function (QIF). Sensitivity to differences in bimanual task performance was assessed with a bootstrapped paired t-test.

RESULTS

The BeBiTT showed excellent interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.9) and internal consistency (α = 0.91). Validity of the BeBiTT was evidenced by strong correlations between BeBiTT scores and SCIM III as well as QIF. Wearing a B/NHE (intervention) improved the BeBiTT score significantly (p < 0.05) with high effect size (d = 1.063), documenting high sensitivity to intervention-related differences in bimanual task performance.

CONCLUSION

The BeBiTT is a reliable and valid test for evaluating bimanual task performance in persons with tetraplegia, suitable to assess the impact of assistive hand exoskeletons on bimanual function.

Exoskeleton use in acute rehabilitation post spinal cord injury: A qualitative study exploring patients' experiences

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is intensely life altering, affecting multiple body systems and functions, including the ability to walk. Exoskeleton assisted walking (EAW) is a rehabilitation tool that aims to support locomotor training, yet little is known about the patient experience. The purpose of this qualitative study, part of a prospective observational case series, was to increase our understanding of SCI patient experience using a robotic exoskeleton in this acute post-injury period.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive approach was implemented in this study, with the aim to explore and understand participants' experience with EAW training.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

Nine of the 11 participants enrolled in the observational study agreed to participate in an interview. All participants had suffered a SCI, and had received their trauma care and inpatient rehabilitation at a tertiary center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

RESULTS

The benefits to EAW use described by participants were primarily psychological and included the joy of eye level contact, excitement at being able to walk with assistance, improvement in mood, and hope for the future. Potential physiological benefits include increased strength, decreased spasticity and reduced pain. Challenges to EAW use include weakness and fatigue, and a fear of incontinence.

CONCLUSION

Qualitative research will continue to be an important component in future research on the use of EAW training as part of the rehabilitation process. Increasing understanding of the participants experience with this novel therapeutic modality and technology will be fundamental to improve its implementation in clinical practice.

The Efficacy of Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion and Posterior Total Laminectomy on Cervical Spinal Cord Injury and Quality of Life

This study is aimed at investigating the efficacy of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion and posterior total laminectomy in the treatment of cervical spinal cord injury and assessing the impact of the two approaches on cervical spine function and patient quality of life. Retrospectively analyze the clinical data from 180 patients with cervical spinal cord injury who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from June 2019 to June 2021. The patients were divided into an anterior approach group (n = 89, treated with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion) and a posterior approach group (n = 91, treated with posterior total laminectomy). The amount of blood loss in the posterior approach group was larger compared to the anterior approach group. Patients in the posterior approach group had higher wound diameters and operation times compared to the anterior approach group, as well as the operation cost. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of patients in the posterior approach group were significantly higher than in the anterior approach group one month after operation. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), neck disability index (NDI), and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores of patients in both groups at 1, 6, and 9 months after surgery were higher compared to those before surgery, yet no significant differences were observed between the two groups. Also, no significant difference was observed in the incidence of complication and the quality of life between the two groups before and after treatment. Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion and posterior total laminectomy can effectively restore the cervical nerve function in the treatment of cervical spinal cord injury. However, anterior subtotal vertebral resection is associated with improved perioperative indicators compared to posterior total laminectomy. Clinically, surgical methods can be selected according to imaging findings, the general condition of patients, and individual economic status.

Early expansive single sided laminoplasty decompression treatment severe traumatic cervical spinal cord injury

Background

Severe traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (tcSCI) is a disastrous event for patients and families. Maximizing spinal cord function recovery has become the primary therapeutic goal. This study investigated the effect of early extensive posterior decompression on spinal cord function improvement after severe tcSCI.

Methods

A retrospective review of 83 consecutive patients who underwent extensive open-door laminoplasty decompression within 24 h after severe tcSCI (American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS) grade A to C) between 2009 and 2017 at our institution was performed. The patient clinical and demographic data were collected. Neurological functional recovery was evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score system, ASIA motor score (AMS) and AIS grade.

Results

Among the 83 patients initially included, the baseline AIS grade was A in 12, B in 28, and C in 43. Twenty-three patients (27.7%) had a high cervical injury. Cervical spinal stenosis (CSS) was identified in 37 patients (44.6%). The mean intramedullary lesion length was 59.6 ± 20.4 mm preoperatively and 34.2 ± 13.3 mm postoperatively (p < 0.0001). At the final follow-up visit, an improvement of at least one and two AIS grades was found in 75 (90.4%) and 41 (49.4%) patients, respectively. 24 (64.9%) patients with an improvement of least two AIS grades had CSS. The mean AMS and JOA score were significantly improved at discharge and the final follow-up visit compared with on admission (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that early expansive laminoplasty decompression may improve neurological outcomes after severe tcSCI, especially in patients with CSS. Larger and prospective controlled studies are needed to validate these findings.

Functional recovery priorities and community rehabilitation service preferences of spinal cord injury individuals and caregivers of Chinese ethnicity and cultural background

Introduction

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes significant and permanent disability affecting motor, sensory and autonomic functions. We conducted a survey on the priorities of functional recovery and preferences for community rehabilitation services in a cohort of Chinese individuals with SCI as well as the primary caregivers. The study also investigated their views on advanced technology and research.

Methods

An online platform with a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the opinions of clients that received services from an SCI follow-up clinic, a self-help association, or a non-government organization from 1 September-31 December 2021.

Results

Eighty-seven subjects (74 individuals with SCI-48 tetraplegic, 26 paraplegic, and 13 caregivers) responded to the survey. Recovery of arm/hand function was given the highest priority among tetraplegics, followed by upper trunk/body strength and balance, and bladder/bowel function. Sexual function had a significant lower ranking than all priority areas except normal sensation (p < 0.05). Paraplegics viewed bladder/bowel function as the most important area of functional recovery, followed by walking movement, upper trunk/body strength and balance, elimination of chronic pain, and regaining normal sensation. There was no statistically significant difference among the top priority areas (p > 0.05). In contrast to previous studies done in Western populations, the study revealed that sexual function was ranked as the lowest by all 3 groups of respondents (tetraplegics, paraplegics, and caregivers). The majority of participants thought community rehabilitation services were inadequate. Most of the respondents were interested to try advanced technology which would facilitate their daily life and rehabilitation. About half of the individuals with SCI thought advance in technology and research could bring significant improvement in their quality of life in the coming 10 years.

Conclusion

This survey is the first study specifically looking into the recovery and rehabilitation priorities of a Chinese population of individuals with SCI. This is also the first study to investigate the priorities of the primary caregivers of SCI individuals. The findings are useful as a reference for planning of future research and provision of rehabilitation services for the SCI community locally and in other parts of China.

Development of inductive sensors for a robotic interface based on noninvasive tongue control

Tongue based robotic interfaces have shown the potential to control assistive robotic devices developed for individuals with severe disabilities due to spinal cord injury. However, current tongue-robotic interfaces require invasive methods such as piercing to attach an activation unit (AU) to the tongue. A noninvasive tongue interface concept, which used a frame integrated AU instead of a tongue attached AU, was previously proposed. However, there is a need for the development of compact one-piece sensor printed circuit boards (PCBs) to enable activation of all inductive sensors. In this study, we developed and tested four designs of compact one-piece sensor PCBs incorporating inductive sensors for the design of a noninvasive tongue-robotic interface. We measured electrical parameters of the developed sensors to detect activation and compared them with a sensor of the current version of the inductive tongue-computer interface (ITCI) by moving AUs with different contact surfaces at the surface of the sensors. Results showed that, the newly developed inductive sensors had higher and wider activation than the sensor of ITCI and the AU with a flat contact surface had 3.5 - 4 times higher activation than the AU with a spherical contact surface. A higher sensor activation can result in a higher signal to noise ratio and thus a higher AU tracking resolution.

Surgery to Restore Upper Extremity Function in Tetraplegia-Preferences for Early and Frequent Access to Information

INTRODUCTION

People with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) identify improving upper extremity (UE) function as a top priority. In addition to comprehensive rehabilitation, UE surgeries, including nerve and tendon transfers, enhance function. However, barriers exist to disseminating information about surgical options to enhance UE function.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the experiences and preferences of people with cervical SCI and their caregivers in accessing information about surgery to enhance UE function.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study. Participants were followed for 24 months and completed up to three interviews.

SETTING

Tertiary care at academic and affiliated Veterans Administration Health Care Centers.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults with cervical SCI (n=35) ages 18 to 80 years with mid-cervical SCI American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A, B, or C (at least six months post-injury) and their caregivers (n=23) were eligible to participate. Participants were enrolled in three groups: nerve transfer, tendon transfer, or no UE reconstructive surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Semi-structured interviews about surgical knowledge and experiences.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed and three themes were identified. First, providing information about UE surgical options early post-injury was recommended. The acute or inpatient rehabilitation phases of recovery were the preferred times to receive surgical information. Second, challenges with information dissemination were identified. Participants learned about UE surgery through independent research, medical provider interactions, or peers. Third, peers were identified as valuable resources for SCI needs and surgical information.

CONCLUSIONS

Following cervical SCI, information about UE reconstructive surgeries should be a standard component of education during rehabilitation. An increased understanding of the reconstructive options available to improve UE function is necessary to educate stakeholders. Future research is needed to support the development of strategies to effectively present surgical information to individuals with SCI and healthcare providers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Supporting rehabilitation stakeholders in making service delivery decisions: a rapid review of multi-criteria decision analysis methods

PURPOSE

This review aimed to synthesize knowledge about multi-criteria decision analysis methods for supporting rehabilitation service design and delivery decisions, including: (1) describing the use of these methods within rehabilitation, (2) identifying decision types that can be supported by these methods, (3) describing client and family involvement, and (4) identifying implementation considerations.

METHODS

We conducted a rapid review in collaboration with a knowledge partner, searching four databases for peer-reviewed articles reporting primary research. We extracted relevant data from included studies and synthesized it descriptively and with conventional content analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 717 records, of which 54 met inclusion criteria. Multi-criteria decision analysis methods were primarily used to understand the strength of clients' and clinicians' preferences (n = 44), and five focused on supporting decision making. Shared decision making with stakeholders was evident in only two studies. Clients and families were mostly engaged in data collection and sometimes in selecting the relevant criteria. Good practices for supporting external validity were inconsistently reported. Implementation considerations included managing cognitive complexity and offering authentic choices.

CONCLUSIONS

Multi-criteria decision analysis methods are promising for better understanding client and family preferences and priorities across rehabilitation professions, contexts, and caseloads. Further work is required to use these methods in shared decision making, for which increased use of qualitative methods and stakeholder engagement is recommended. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMulti-criteria decision analysis methods are promising for evidence-based, shared decision making for rehabilitation.However, most studies to date have focused on estimating stakeholder preferences, not supporting shared decision making.Cognitive complexity and modelling authentic and realistic decision choices are major barriers to implementation.Stakeholder-engagement and qualitative methods are recommended to address these barriers.

Spinal cord bioelectronic interfaces: opportunities in neural recording and clinical challenges

Bioelectronic stimulation of the spinal cord has demonstrated significant progress in restoration of motor function in spinal cord injury (SCI). The proximal, uninjured spinal cord presents a viable target for the recording and generation of control signals to drive targeted stimulation. Signals have been directly recorded from the spinal cord in behaving animals and correlated with limb kinematics. Advances in flexible materials, electrode impedance and signal analysis will allow SCR to be used in next-generation neuroprosthetics. In this review, we summarize the technological advances enabling progress in SCR and describe systematically the clinical challenges facing spinal cord bioelectronic interfaces and potential solutions, from device manufacture, surgical implantation to chronic effects of foreign body reaction and stress-strain mismatches between electrodes and neural tissue. Finally, we establish our vision of bi-directional closed-loop spinal cord bioelectronic bypass interfaces that enable the communication of disrupted sensory signals and restoration of motor function in SCI.

Epidural electrical stimulation to facilitate locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury

Tonic or phasic electrical epidural stimulation of the lumbosacral region of the spinal cord facilitates locomotion and standing in a variety of preclinical models with severe spinal cord injury. However, the mechanisms of epidural electrical stimulation that facilitate sensorimotor functions remain largely unknown. This review aims to address how epidural electrical stimulation interacts with spinal sensorimotor circuits and discusses the limitations that currently restrict the clinical implementation of this promising therapeutic approach.

Psychosocial aspects of health-related quality of life and the association with patient-reported bladder symptoms and satisfaction after spinal cord injury

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, multi-centered, observational.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the relationship between psychosocial aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient-reported bladder outcomes.

SETTING

Multi-institutional sites in the United States, cohort drawn from North America.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of the multicenter, prospective Neurogenic Bladder Research Group Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registry. Outcomes were: Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS), Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score Satisfaction (NBSS-Satisfaction), and SCI-QoL Bladder Management Difficulties (SCI-QoL Difficulties). Adjusted multiple linear regression models were used with variables including demographic, injury characteristics, and the following psychosocial HRQoL measures; SCI-QoL Pain Interference (Pain), SCI-QoL Independence, and SCI-QoL Positive Affect and Well-being (Positive Affect). Psychosocial variables were sub-divided by tertiles for the analysis.

RESULTS

There were 1479 participants, 57% had paraplegia, 60% were men, and 51% managed their bladder with clean intermittent catheterization. On multivariate analysis, higher tertiles of SCI-QoL Pain were associated with worse bladder symptoms, satisfaction, and bladder management difficulties; upper tertile SCI-QoL Pain (NBSS 3.8, p < 0.001; NBSS-satisfaction 0.6, p < 0.001; SCI-QoL Difficulties 2.4, p < 0.001). In contrast, upper tertiles of SCI-QoL Independence and SCI-QoL Positive Affect were associated with improved bladder-related outcomes; upper tertile SCI-QoL Independence (NBSS -2.3, p = 0.03; NBSS-satisfaction -0.4, p < 0.001) and upper tertile SCI-QoL Positive Affect (NBSS -2.8, p < 0.001; NBSS-satisfaction -0.7, p < 0.001; SCI-QoL Difficulties -0.7, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In individuals with SCI, there is an association between psychosocial HRQoL and bladder-related QoL outcomes. Clinician awareness of this relationship can provide insight into optimizing long-term management after SCI.

In vivo electrophysiological mechanisms underlying cervical epidural stimulation in adult rats

KEY POINTS

To electrophysiologically determine the predominant neural structures activated with cervical epidural stimulation (ES), well-established electrophysiological protocols (single-pulse, paired-pulse and multiple frequency stimulation) were delivered at rest, during motor activity and under anaesthesia in adult rats. Cervical ES resulted in spinal evoked motor responses with three different waveforms - early response (ER), middle response (MR) and late response (LR). ERs remained unmodulated by repeated stimulation protocols. In contrast, MRs and LRs were modulated by repeated stimulation protocols and volitional motor activity. ERs are consequential to the direct activation of motor efferents; MRs are secondary to type-I sensory afferent activation and LRs result from the engagement of wider spinal interneuronal circuitry with potential influence from supraspinal pathways. Evidence from this work is fundamental in enhancing our understanding of cervical ES, and critical in refining the design of neuromodulation-based rehabilitative strategies and in the construction of neuroprosthetics.

ABSTRACT

Epidural stimulation (ES) of the lumbar spinal cord has demonstrated significant improvements in various physiological functions after a traumatic spinal cord injury in humans. Electrophysiological evidence from rodent, human and computational studies collectively suggest that the functional recovery following lumbar ES is mediated via direct activation of sensory afferent fibres. However, the mechanisms underlying cervical ES have not been comprehensively studied, which greatly limits our understanding of its effectiveness in restoring upper limb function. In this work, we determined the predominant neural structures that are activated with cervical ES using in vivo cervical spinal evoked motor responses (SEMRs). Standard electrophysiological protocols (single-pulse, paired-pulse and multiple frequency stimulation) were implemented in 11 awake and anaesthetized rats in four experimental stages. Three distinct types of cervical SEMRs were identified based on latency of their appearance: early response (ER), middle response (MR) and late response (LR). ERs remained unmodulated by repeated stimulation protocols. MRs and LRs were modulated by repeated stimulation protocols and volitional motor activity. Except for LRs being completely abolished under urethane, ketamine or urethane anaesthesia did not affect the appearance of cervical SEMRs. Our data, backed by literature, suggest that ERs are secondary to the direct activation of motor efferents, MRs are elicited by activation of type-I sensory afferents and LRs result from the engagement of interneuronal circuitry with potential influence from supraspinal pathways. The gathered information paves the way to designing motor rehabilitation strategies that can utilize cervical ES to recover upper limb function following neurological deficits.

Identifying Community Pharmacist Preferences For Prescribing Services in Primary Care in New Zealand: A Discrete Choice Experiment

OBJECTIVE

Given increasing patient populations, general practitioner (GP) workforce constraints and increasing demand for health services in New Zealand (NZ), the development and provision of pharmacist prescribing services may need to increase to improve people's access to medicines. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was utilised to determine community pharmacist preferences for prescribing services in primary care in NZ, and to understand how these factors could improve the provision of pharmacist prescribing services.

METHODS

A D-efficient design generated 30 labelled choice questions in three blocks of ten, and three alternatives per choice question. The online DCE was emailed to practising community pharmacists in NZ. The DCE included two attributes with five levels (prescribing model, educational requirements) and three attributes with three levels (location, professional fee, change in income). A mixed multinomial logit model was used to estimate preferences.

RESULTS

A total of 264 respondents completed the survey with 2640 observations for analyses. This DCE found pharmacists preferred pharmacy services with the following characteristics: ability to prescribe using minor ailments and independent prescribing models relative to the pharmacist-only medicines prescribing model; prescribing education by accredited learning modules relative to PGDipClinPharm + PGCertPharmPres; remuneration via a professional fee; and pharmacist prescribing services located in community pharmacies rather than in GP practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescribing policy could incorporate these pharmacist preferences to help develop accessible and effective pharmacist prescribing services that not only improve access to medicines, but also address inequity of access to medicines in NZ. These DCE results are encouraging as they signal that the community pharmacists also see themselves and their pharmacies as part of the prescribing team in primary care in NZ.

Incidence of Pressure Injury in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review and quantitative analysis of pooled data was to assess the global incidence of pressure injury (PI), across time frames and countries, in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SEARCH STRATEGY

PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched for studies published from database inception to January 2019, with only English language studies that reported the incidence of PIs in individuals with SCI were included. Study quality was assessed by a 14-item standardized checklist. We calculated the incidence of PIs as the number of new PIs in individuals with SCI and the total number of individuals with SCI during the study period. Findings are presented as incidence rate with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The search yielded 1652 studies; after studies were reviewed for inclusion criteria, 29 studies representing N = 82,722 patients were retained for data extraction. The global incidence of PIs was 0.23 (95% CI, 0.20-0.26). Data for regional distribution by country showed a pooled incidence of 0.43 (95% CI, 0.28-0.57) in individuals with SCI in South American countries, 0.36 (95% CI, 0.16-0.56) in African countries, 0.25 (95% CI, 0.14-0.37) in European countries, 0.23 (95% CI, 0.19-0.27) in North American countries, and 0.16 (95% CI, 0.06-0.25) in Asian countries. The incidence was 0.22 (95% CI, 0.19-0.26) in developing countries versus 0.27 (95% CI, 0.17-0.37) in developed countries. From 2000 to 2009, the incidence of PIs in individuals with SCI was 0.28 (95% CI, 0.09-0.47). The incidence rate of PIs before 2000 and after 2009 was 0.23. The hospital- and community-acquired PI incidence was 0.22 (95% CI, 0.19-0.26) and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.20-0.32), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings indicate that more than 1 in 5 individuals with SCI will develop a PI. Individuals with SCI are at high risk of developing PI, especially in community settings or low- and middle-income developing countries. The findings highlight the importance of further investigation of risk factors and prevention and management strategies for PIs in individuals with SCI.

Feasibility and Safety of Bilateral Hybrid EEG/EOG Brain/Neural-Machine Interaction

Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often lead to loss of motor function in both hands and legs, limiting autonomy and quality of life. While it was shown that unilateral hand function can be restored after SCI using a hybrid electroencephalography/electrooculography (EEG/EOG) brain/neural hand exoskeleton (B/NHE), it remained unclear whether such hybrid paradigm also could be used for operating two hand exoskeletons, e.g., in the context of bimanual tasks such as eating with fork and knife. To test whether EEG/EOG signals allow for fluent and reliable as well as safe and user-friendly bilateral B/NHE control, eight healthy participants (six females, mean age 24.1 ± 3.2 years) as well as four chronic tetraplegics (four males, mean age 51.8 ± 15.2 years) performed a complex sequence of EEG-controlled bilateral grasping and EOG-controlled releasing motions of two exoskeletons visually presented on a screen. A novel EOG command performed by prolonged horizontal eye movements (>1 s) to the left or right was introduced as a reliable switch to activate either the left or right exoskeleton. Fluent EEG control was defined as average “time to initialize” (TTI) grasping motions below 3 s. Reliable EEG control was assumed when classification accuracy exceeded 80%. Safety was defined as “time to stop” (TTS) all unintended grasping motions within 2 s. After the experiment, tetraplegics were asked to rate the user-friendliness of bilateral B/NHE control using Likert scales. Average TTI and accuracy of EEG-controlled operations ranged at 2.14 ± 0.66 s and 85.89 ± 15.81% across healthy participants and at 1.90 ± 0.97 s and 81.25 ± 16.99% across tetraplegics. Except for one tetraplegic, all participants met the safety requirements. With 88 ± 11% of the maximum achievable score, tetraplegics rated the control paradigm as user-friendly and reliable. These results suggest that hybrid EEG/EOG B/NHE control of two assistive devices is feasible and safe, paving the way to test this paradigm in larger clinical trials performing bimanual tasks in everyday life environments.

How individuals with spinal cord injury in the United States access and assess information about experimental therapies and clinical trials: results of a clinical survey

STUDY DESIGN

An internet-based survey.

OBJECTIVES

To determine how individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) access information about experimental therapies and clinical trials. To understand which factors influence receipt of and perceived trustworthiness of that information.

SETTING

Two academic medical centers and an SCI organization.

METHODS

Demographic information frequencies and percentages were calculated then analyzed using chi-square tests for independence. Fisher's exact test of independence was used to assess significance for contingency tables with categories containing expected counts below five.

RESULTS

Three hundred sixty four persons with SCI participated in the survey. Most felt confident in their ability to evaluate SCI-specific information from a variety of sources, though SCI organizations and the medical literature were deemed the most reliable. Information from SCI specialists was deemed more credible than that from non-SCI specialists, but only 53.6% of participants had access to them. Nearly all (89.0%) respondents who had sought information about experimental therapies had found it online, while 51.4% of those who had participated in a clinical trial had been contacted by a research team. Only 8.4% of participants felt their medical teams offered them sufficient information about experimental therapies and clinical trials. Wealthier and more educated respondents were more knowledgeable about health-related resources on the internet. Nearly all participants (96.9%) expressed interest in learning more about trials related to SCI.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an information deficit among people with SCI pertaining to experimental therapies and clinical trials. It is exacerbated by lack of income, education, and access to SCI specialists.

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).

Setting

University/hospital.

Methods

Axial T₂-weighted MRIs were used. Axial damage ratios and non-damaged lateral cord volumes were calculated. Each participant answered at 1 year after SCI, “Are you able to walk for 150 feet? (45.72 meters)” For the secondary aim, right and left LEMS were used.

Results

In total, 145 participants were selected. Individuals that could walk had smaller ratios than those that were unable. Walking and axial damage ratios were negatively correlated. A 0.374 ratio cut-off showed optimal sensitivity/specificity. When initial neurological grades were used, axial damage ratios did not add predictive value. Forty-two participants had LEMS available and were included for the secondary aim. Right cord regions and right LEMS were positively correlated and left regions and left LEMS, but these variables were also correlated with each other.

Conclusions

Axial damage ratios were significant predictors of walking ability 1 year after SCI. However, this measure did not add predictive value over initial neurological grades. Lateral cord regions correlated with same-side LEMS, but the opposite was also found, calling this biomarker’s specificity into question. Axial damage ratios may be useful in predicting walking after SCI if initial neurological grades are unavailable.

Sponsorship

This research was funded by a National Institutes of Health award, National Institute of Child Health and Development—NIH R03HD094577.

TASCI-transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in patients with acute spinal cord injury to prevent neurogenic detrusor overactivity: protocol for a nationwide, randomised, sham-controlled, double-blind clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), including neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, is one of the most frequent and devastating sequelae of spinal cord injury (SCI), as it can lead to urinary incontinence and secondary damage such as renal failure. Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) is a promising, non-invasive neuromodulatory intervention that may prevent the emergence of the C-fibre evoked bladder reflexes that are thought to cause NDO. This paper presents the protocol for TTNS in acute SCI (TASCI), which will evaluate the efficacy of TTNS in preventing NDO. Furthermore, TASCI will provide insight into the mechanisms underlying TTNS, and the course of NLUTD development after SCI.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

TASCI is a nationwide, randomised, sham-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, conducted at all four SCI centres in Switzerland. The longitudinal design includes a baseline assessment period 5-39 days after acute SCI and follow-up assessments occurring 3, 6 and 12 months after SCI. A planned 114 participants will be randomised into verum or sham TTNS groups (1:1 ratio), stratified on study centre and lower extremity motor score. TTNS is performed for 30 min/day, 5 days/week, for 6-9 weeks starting within 40 days after SCI. The primary outcome is the occurrence of NDO jeopardising the upper urinary tract at 1 year after SCI, assessed by urodynamic investigation. Secondary outcome measures assess bladder and bowel function and symptoms, sexual function, neurological structure and function, functional independence, quality of life, as well as changes in biomarkers in the urine, blood, stool and bladder tissue. Safety of TTNS is the tertiary outcome.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

TASCI is approved by the Swiss Ethics Committee for Northwest/Central Switzerland, the Swiss Ethics Committee Vaud and the Swiss Ethics Committee Zürich (#2019-00074). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03965299.

An unusual mechanism of spinal cord injury due to active neck stretching and its functional implications

Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality is a rare entity and has not been reported to occur secondary to active neck stretching. The case report highlights the possible mechanisms of injury and functional outcomes of multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Mobility with Spinal Cord Injury Related Upper Motor Neuron Syndromes

Mobility is essential for quality of life and social participation. Some individuals with spinal cord injury have sufficient residual lower extremity motor control to walk. Improving walking function incorporates practice and training, and assistive devices or stimulation to augment function and balance. Overground robotic exoskeletons may have the potential to transform upright mobility in the future. Most individuals with spinal cord injury use a wheelchair for at least some of their mobility needs. Wheelchair skills training can open up new possibilities for participation. Regardless of the means of mobility, developing habits that protect joint health are essential for optimal lifelong mobility.