A Therapeutic Approach Using the Combined Application of Virtual Reality with Robotics for the Treatment of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has been associated with high mortality rates. Thanks to the multidisciplinary vision and approach of SCI, including the application of new technologies in the field of neurorehabilitation, people with SCI can survive and prosper after injury. The main aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effectiveness of the combined use of VR and robotics in the treatment of patients with SCI. The literature search was performed between May and July 2021 in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), PubMed, and Web of Science. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the SCIRE system and the PEDro scale, whereas the risk of bias was analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. A total of six studies, involving 63 participants, were included in this systematic review. Relevant changes were found in the upper limbs, with improvements of shoulder and upper arm mobility, as well as the strengthening of weaker muscles. Combined rehabilitation may be a valuable approach to improve motor function in SCI patients. Nonetheless, further research is necessary, with a larger patient sample and a longer duration.

[Return to work in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury in a medical center in Mexico]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

One of the most important outcomes regarding social reintegration after a traumatic spinal cord injury is social reinsertion; despite its huge impact, very few studies in Mexico have measured community reintegration in these patients. The objective of this study was to analyse the working situation of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury at a hospital centre in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cross-sectional descriptive study. Working patients, aged 19-55 years, diagnosed with traumatic spinal cord injury at a hospital centre in Mexico were included; a telephone survey was performed.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were included (15 men, 3 women), with a mean age of 38 years (± 10.3). The most common levels of injury were cervical and thoracic; the most common Asia Impairment Scale grades were A and E; 17 patients were included at a rehabilitation programme at discharge; the average Spinal Cord Independence Measure score was 65.22 (± 35.11). Five patients were hired after the injury in a mean period of 7 months (± 2.9). The main factors associated with occupational reintegration were young age, lower injury levels, an adequate rehabilitation programme, high Spinal Cord Independence Measure scale score, and being married or cohabiting.

CONCLUSION

This study shows the low return to work rate after a traumatic spinal cord injury, as well as the main factorsa affecting it; highlighting the importance of an adeaquate rehabilitation program with a multidisciplinary approach.

World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0: An international systematic review

PURPOSE

This systematic review examines research and practical applications of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) as a basis for establishing specific criteria for evaluating relevant international scientific literature. The aims were to establish the extent of international dissemination and use of WHODAS 2.0 and analyze psychometric research on its various translations and adaptations. In particular, we wanted to highlight which psychometric features have been investigated, focusing on the factor structure, reliability, and validity of this instrument.

METHOD

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, we conducted a search for publications focused on "whodas" using the ProQuest, PubMed, and Google Scholar electronic databases.

RESULTS

We identified 810 studies from 94 countries published between 1999 and 2015. WHODAS 2.0 has been translated into 47 languages and dialects and used in 27 areas of research (40% in psychiatry).

CONCLUSIONS

The growing number of studies indicates increasing interest in the WHODAS 2.0 for assessing individual functioning and disability in different settings and individual health conditions. The WHODAS 2.0 shows strong correlations with several other measures of activity limitations; probably due to the fact that it shares the same disability latent variable with them. Implications for Rehabilitation WHODAS 2.0 seems to be a valid, reliable self-report instrument for the assessment of disability. The increasing interest in use of the WHODAS 2.0 extends to rehabilitation and life sciences rather than being limited to psychiatry. WHODAS 2.0 is suitable for assessing health status and disability in a variety of settings and populations. A critical issue for rehabilitation is that a single "minimal clinically important .difference" score for the WHODAS 2.0 has not yet been established.

Family dynamics and psychosocial functioning in children with SCI/D from Colombia, South America

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the connections between family dynamics and the psychosocial functioning of children with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from communities in Neiva, Colombia.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty children with SCI/D and their primary caregiver participated. Children were between 8 and 17 years of age, and had sustained their injury at least six months prior to data collection.

INTERVENTIONS

NA.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Participating children completed measures assessing their own psychosocial functioning (Children's Depression Inventory, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale-2, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory), and their primary caregiver completed measures of family dynamics (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale- Fourth Edition, Family Communication Scale, Family Assessment Device- General Functioning, Family Satisfaction Scale, Relationship-Focused Coping Scale).

RESULTS

A correlation matrix showed a number of significant bivariate correlations between child and family variables, and three multiple regressions showed that family satisfaction, empathy, and flexibility significantly explained 27% of the variance in child worry; family satisfaction and communication explained 18% of the variance in child social anxiety; and family cohesion and communication explained 23% of the variance in child emotional functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the importance of rehabilitation professionals considering the association between family dynamics and the psychosocial functioning of children with SCI/D when working with this population.

[Factors associated with empowerment in people with a spinal cord injury due to traffic accidents]

OBJETIVO

Analizar la capacidad de empoderamiento de un grupo de personas con lesión medular en función de la edad, el sexo, la condición funcional y la edaden la cual adquirieron la lesión.

METHODS

Ninety-four participants with a spinal cord injury (42 tetraplegics and 52 paraplegics) completed the Spanish version of the Rogers, Chamberlin, Ellison and Crean Scale (1997), designed to measure empowerment.

RESULTS

The analyses indicated higher levels of empowerment among women. Persons with tetraplegia whose injury was more longstanding also showed greater empowerment.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the capacity to become empowered can vary and evolve and should therefore be promoted in intervention programs.

[Factors associated with empowerment in people with a spinal cord injury due to traffic accidents]

OBJETIVO

Analizar la capacidad de empoderamiento de un grupo de personas con lesión medular en función de la edad, el sexo, la condición funcional y la edaden la cual adquirieron la lesión.

METHODS

Ninety-four participants with a spinal cord injury (42 tetraplegics and 52 paraplegics) completed the Spanish version of the Rogers, Chamberlin, Ellison and Crean Scale (1997), designed to measure empowerment.

RESULTS

The analyses indicated higher levels of empowerment among women. Persons with tetraplegia whose injury was more longstanding also showed greater empowerment.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the capacity to become empowered can vary and evolve and should therefore be promoted in intervention programs.

Relationship between Clinical Complications and Disability in Colombians with Spinal Cord Injury: Results from WHO-DAS II

Introducción: las complicaciones clínicas en personas con lesión medular se asocian al aumento de la morbimortalidad, agravamiento de la condición de discapacidad y a la prolongación de los procesos de rehabilitación. Es importante su reconocimiento para el desarrollo de estrategias de prevención y atención temprana más eficaces que atenúen su impacto sobre la discapacidad y mejoren la calidad de vida de esta población. Objetivo: establecer las relaciones entre complicaciones clínicas y el grado de discapacidad en población colombiana con lesión medular. Materiales y métodos: se determinó la frecuencia de complicaciones clínicas en el último año y se estableció la relación entre estas con el grado de discapacidad, evaluado con el WHO-DAS II, a través de la prueba t de Student y de la exploración de modelos de regresión lineal simple. Participaron 363 personas mayores de 18 años con lesión medular de más de seis meses de evolución, de ocho ciudades colombianas. Resultados: el promedio de complicaciones clínicas fue de siete por paciente. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron las infecciones urinarias, espasticidad, hiperestesias, estrés psicológico y dolor crónico. Las complicaciones que mejor explican la discapacidad utilizando modelos de regresión simple son la depresión y el estrés psicológico, seguido de complicaciones respiratorias, problemas intestinales, úlceras de presión, desnutrición y espasticidad (p < 0,01). Conclusiones: las complicaciones clínicas asociadas a la lesión medular siguen siendo condiciones frecuentes en nuestro medio a pesar de los avances en los procesos de atención y rehabilitación. Muchas de estas complicaciones se asocian en gran medida a la generación de discapacidad.