A Primary Care Provider's Guide to Spasticity Management in Spinal Cord Injury

Pressure Injuries and Management after Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in motor paralysis and sensory loss that places individuals at particularly high risk of pressure injuries. Multiple comorbidities associated with autonomic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, neurological, and musculoskeletal dysfunction makes it even more likely that pressure injuries will occur. This manuscript will review the structure and function of the integumentary system, and address the multidisciplinary approach required to prevent and manage pressure injuries in this vulnerable population.

Electroacupuncture for Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Background

Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) has a positive effect on motor and sensory function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This review evaluated the effectiveness of EA for improvement in activities of daily living in patients with SCI.

Methods

We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP databases using a search strategy according to the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Review of Interventions up to 30th September 2020. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of EA in patients with SCI were included. We analyzed the data using RevMan (version 5.3) and graded the quality of evidence using GRADE profiler 3.6.1.

Results

This meta-analysis included 10 RCTs with 712 patients. Three studies revealed that the functional independence measure score for SCI patients in the EA group was higher than that in the control group (mean difference [MD] = 13.46, 95% CI: 8.00 to 18.92, P < 0.00001). Five studies showed that the modified Barthel index in the EA group was higher than that in the control group (MD = 6.92, 95% CI: 4.96 to 8.89, P < 0.00001). Five studies showed that the American Spinal Injury Association-motor score (ASIA-motor score) in the EA group was higher than that in the control group (standard MD = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.75 to 1.18, P < 0.00001). Three studies reported the ASIA-tactile and pain scores and also reported that the scores in the EA group were higher than those in the control group, with high homogeneity (tactile I² = 86%, P = 0.0008; pain I² = 54%, P = 0.11). The quality of evidence for the use of EA for improvement in motor and sensory function in SCIs was moderate according to the GRADE system.

Conclusion

This review suggested that EA improves activities of daily living and motor function in patients with SCI, with a moderate level of evidence.

Botulinum toxin application to the internal and external oblique muscles for abdominal spasms in spinal cord injury

INTRODUCTION

Abdominal spasms are involuntary contractions that can be caused by denervation due to spinal cord injury. We present a case that benefited from botulinum toxin injections.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 42-year-old male patient was followed up due to spinal cord injury that developed secondary to burst fracture in the 6th thoracic vertebra as a result of falling off the train in 1996, was classified as International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI) T8 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade-B. His complaint of contraction and spasms in his abdominal muscles has been present for 2 years but has escalated significantly in the last 3 months. His complaint of contraction and spasms in his abdominal muscles has been present for 2 years but has escalated significantly in the last 3 months. He used oral baclofen 20 mg three times a day for the complaint of contraction, but his complaints did not completely disappear. The use of a baclofen pump was recommended to the patient in his previous visits, but the patient did not accept it. Due to the lack of alternatives and considering the local nature of the complaints, we planned botulinum toxin injection for the patient's bilateral internal oblique and external oblique abdominal muscles with ultrasonography guidance. He benefited significantly from botulinum toxin injection, and his complaints decreased.

CONCLUSION

In selected patients with spinal cord injury, ultrasound guided botulinum toxin injections to external and internal oblique muscles can be a safe alternative.