Dynamic Flexion-Extension Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Cervical Spine: An Evolutionary Tool for Diagnosis and Management of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Dynamic problems need dynamic solutions. High motility of the cervical spine causes a common age-related degenerative condition called cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), manifested by neurological impairments. An accurate and reliable diagnosis of CSM is crucial for determining appropriate management strategies. Traditional static magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the gold standard for imaging CSM; however, it may not fully capture dynamic changes during neck movement. Dynamic flexion-extension (DFE) MRI is an innovative imaging technique that allows for real-time visualization of cervical spine motion. This review article aims to scrutinize the role of DFE MRI in assessing CSM, its added value to clinical implementations, and its limitations. Finally, by addressing the knowledge gaps, this survey sheds light on the road ahead to incorporate DFE MRI into a standard version of the practice.

Early surgery compared to nonoperative management for mild degenerative cervical myelopathy: a cost-utility analysis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a form of acquired spinal cord compression and contributes to reduced quality of life secondary to neurological dysfunction and pain. There remains uncertainty regarding optimal management for individuals with mild myelopathy. Specifically, owing to lacking long-term natural history studies in this population, we do not know whether these individuals should be treated with initial surgery or observation.

PURPOSE

We sought to perform a cost-utility analysis to examine early surgery for mild degenerative cervical myelopathy from the healthcare payer perspective.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

We utilized data from the prospective observational cohorts included in the Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy AO Spine International and North America studies to determine health related quality of life estimates and clinical myelopathy outcomes.

PATIENT SAMPLE

We recruited all patients that underwent surgery for DCM enrolled in the Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy AO Spine International and North America studies between December 2005 and January 2011.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical assessment measures were obtained using the Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale and health-related quality of life measures were obtained using the Short Form-6D utility score at baseline (preoperative), 6 months, 12 months and 24 months postsurgery. Cost measures inflated to January 2015 values were obtained using pooled estimates from the hospital payer perspective for surgical patients.

METHODS

We employed a Markov state transition model with Monte Carlo microsimulation using a lifetime horizon to obtain an incremental cost utility ratio associated with early surgery for mild myelopathy. Parameter uncertainty was assessed through deterministic means using one-way and two-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistically using parameter estimate distributions with microsimulation (10,000 trials). Costs and utilities were discounted at 3% per annum.

RESULTS

Initial surgery for mild degenerative cervical myelopathy was associated with an incremental lifetime increase of 1.26 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) compared to observation. The associated cost incurred to the healthcare payer over a lifetime horizon was $12,894.56, resulting in a lifetime incremental cost-utility ratio of $10,250.71/QALY. Utilizing a willingness to pay threshold in keeping with the World Health Organization definition of "very cost-effective" ($54,000 CDN), the probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that 100% of cases were cost-effective.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery compared to initial observation for mild degenerative cervical myelopathy was cost-effective from the Canadian healthcare payer perspective and was associated with lifetime gains in health-related quality of life.

The molecular landscape of neurological disorders: insights from single-cell RNA sequencing in neurology and neurosurgery

Single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a transformative technology in neurological and neurosurgical research, revolutionising our comprehension of complex neurological disorders. In brain tumours, scRNA-seq has provided valuable insights into cancer heterogeneity, the tumour microenvironment, treatment resistance, and invasion patterns. It has also elucidated the brain tri-lineage cancer hierarchy and addressed limitations of current models. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have been molecularly subtyped, dysregulated pathways have been identified, and potential therapeutic targets have been revealed using scRNA-seq. In epilepsy, scRNA-seq has explored the cellular and molecular heterogeneity underlying the condition, uncovering unique glial subpopulations and dysregulation of the immune system. ScRNA-seq has characterised distinct cellular constituents and responses to spinal cord injury in spinal cord diseases, as well as provided molecular signatures of various cell types and identified interactions involved in vascular remodelling. Furthermore, scRNA-seq has shed light on the molecular complexities of cerebrovascular diseases, such as stroke, providing insights into specific genes, cell-specific expression patterns, and potential therapeutic interventions. This review highlights the potential of scRNA-seq in guiding precision medicine approaches, identifying clinical biomarkers, and facilitating therapeutic discovery. However, challenges related to data analysis, standardisation, sample acquisition, scalability, and cost-effectiveness need to be addressed. Despite these challenges, scRNA-seq has the potential to transform clinical practice in neurological and neurosurgical research by providing personalised insights and improving patient outcomes.

Incidence and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism after spinal cord disease at a rehabilitation unit: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) are major complications of spinal cord disease. However, studies of their incidence in Korean patients are limited. Thus, this study investigated the incidence and risk factors of DVT and PTE in Korean patients with spinal cord disease.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 271 patients with spinal cord disease who were admitted to a rehabilitation unit within 3 months of disease onset at a tertiary hospital. The presence of DVT and PTE was mainly determined using Doppler ultrasonography and chest embolism computed tomography. Risk factor analysis included variables such as sex, age, obesity, completeness of motor paralysis, neurological level of injury, cause of injury, lower extremity fracture, active cancer, and functional ambulation category (FAC) score.

RESULTS

The incidences of DVT and PTE in the patients with spinal cord disease were both 6.3%. Risk factor analysis revealed that age of ≥65 years (p=0.031) and FAC score of ≤1 (p=0.023) were significantly associated with DVT development. Traumatic cause of injury (p=0.028) and DVT (p<0.001) were significant risk factors of PTE.

CONCLUSION

Patients with spinal cord disease developed DVT and PTE within 3 months of disease onset with incidence rates of 6.3% and 6.3%, respectively. Age of ≥65 years and an FAC of score ≤1 were risk factors for DVT. Traumatic cause of injury and DVT were risk factors for PTE. However, given the inconsistent results of previous studies, the risk factors for DVT and PTE remain inconclusive. Therefore, early screening for DVT and PTE should be performed in patients with acute-to-subacute spinal cord disease regardless of the presence or absence of these risk factors.

[Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury : Current trends and principles]

Traumatic and non traumatic spinal cord injury are rare and an orphan disease in comparison to common diseases. Those affected represent a very special patient population in the treatment even at the site of the accident and in emergency medicine and require a high level of professional expertise. The rehabilitation with the complexity of a spinal cord injury can only succeed with a multiprofessional team that is less focused on the often similar diagnoses according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) but on functional disorders and associated activity impairments. Only then the best possible integration and participation/inclusion in sociocultural and professional life can be achieved. In addition to the importance of classical physiotherapy and occupational therapy, this article highlights important but often missing team players, such as neurourology and electrical stimulation. In addition, the problems of frequent and some less recognized complications, such as autonomic dysfunction and the benefits of airway management are highlighted. For a comprehensive overview of rehabilitation in spinal cord injury, reference textbooks and guidelines are recommended that are cited in the text.

Myelopathy due to copper deficiency: A case series and review of the literature

Copper deficiency can present as myelopathy by the manifestation of sensory ataxia, secondary to demyelination of the posterior cords of the spinal cord, accompanied by cytopenia, mainly anemia, and leukopenia. Case series study of three patients with myelopathy due to copper deficiency, diagnosed and managed from 2020 to 2022 in a highly complex university hospital in Colombia. Regarding gender, two cases were female patients. The age range was between 57 and 68 years. In all three cases serum copper levels were decreased, and in two of these, different causes of myelopathy affecting the posterior cords of the spinal cord were ruled out, such as vitamin B12, vitamin E and folic acid deficiency, tabes dorsalis, myelopathy due to human immunodeficiency virus, multiple sclerosis and infection by the human lymphotropic virus type I and II, among others. However, at the moment of the myelopathy diagnosis, one patient had vitamin B12 deficiency associated with copper insufficiency. All three cases presented sensory ataxia, and in two, paraparesis was the initial motor deficit. The diagnostic approach must include copper levels assessment in every case of patients with chronic gastrointestinal pathology, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or significant reduction in dietary intake; and the development of neurological symptoms that may suggest cord involvement. It has been reported that a delay in diagnosis can lead to poor neurological outcomes.

A real-world analysis of hybrid CDA and ACDF compared to multilevel ACDF

BACKGROUND

Multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (mACDF) is the gold standard for multilevel spinal disease; although safe and effective, mACDF can limit regular spinal motion and contribute to adjacent segment disease (ASD). Hybrid surgery, composed of ACDF and cervical disc arthroplasty, has the potential to reduce ASD by retaining spinal mobility. This study examined the safety of hybrid surgery by utilizing administrative claims data to compare real-world rates of subsequent surgery and post-procedural hospitalization within populations of patients undergoing hybrid surgery versus mACDF for multilevel spinal disease.

METHODS

This observational, retrospective analysis used the MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Database from July 2013 through June 2020. Propensity score matched cohorts of patients who received hybrid surgery or mACDF were established based on the presence of spinal surgery procedure codes in the claims data and followed over a variable post-period. Rates of subsequent surgery and post-procedural hospitalization (30- and 90-day) were compared between hybrid surgery and mACDF cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 430 hybrid surgery patients and 2,136 mACDF patients qualified for the study; average follow-up was approximately 2 years. Similar rates of subsequent surgery (Hybrid: 1.9 surgeries/100 patient-years; mACDF: 1.8 surgeries/100 patient-years) were observed for the two cohorts. Hospitalization rates were also similar across cohorts at 30 days post-procedure (Hybrid: 0.67% hospitalized/patient-year; mACDF: 0.87% hospitalized/patient-year). At 90 days post-procedure, hybrid surgery patients had slightly lower rates of hospitalization compared to mACDF patients (0.23% versus 0.42% hospitalized/patient-year; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of this real-world, retrospective cohort study confirm prior reports indicating that hybrid surgery is a safe and effective intervention for multilevel spinal disease which demonstrates non-inferiority in relation to the current gold standard mACDF. The use of administrative claims data in this analysis provides a unique perspective allowing the inclusion of a larger, more generalizable population has historically been reported on in small cohort studies.

Using Clinical Vignettes and a Modified Expert Delphi Panel to Determine Parameters for Identifying Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Health Administrative and Electronic Medical Record Databases

OBJECTIVE

To obtain expert consensus on the parameters and etiologic conditions required to retrospectively identify cases of non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) in health administrative and electronic medical record (EMR) databases based on the rating of clinical vignettes.

DESIGN

A modified Delphi process included 2 survey rounds and 1 remote consensus panel. The surveys required the rating of clinical vignettes, developed after chart reviews and expert consultation. Experts who participated in survey rounds were invited to participate in the Delphi Consensus Panel.

SETTING

An international collaboration using an online meeting platform.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-one expert physicians and/or clinical researchers in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Agreement on clinical vignettes as NTSCI. Parameters to classify cases of NTSCI in health administrative and EMR databases.

RESULTS

In health administrative and EMR databases, cauda equina syndromes should be considered SCI and classified as a NTSCI or TSCI based on the mechanism of injury. A traumatic event needs to be listed for injury to be considered TSCI. To be classified as NTSCI, neurologic sufficient impairments (motor, sensory, bowel, and bladder) are required, in addition to an etiology. It is possible to have both a NTSCI and a TSCI, as well as a recovered NTSCI. If information is unavailable or missing in health administrative and EMR databases, the case may be listed as "unclassifiable" depending on the purpose of the research study.

CONCLUSION

The Delphi panel provided guidelines to appropriately classify cases of NTSCI in health administrative and EMR databases.

Neck pain and absence of cranial nerve symptom are clues of cervical myelopathy mimicking stroke: Two case reports

BACKGROUND

Cervical myelopathy is a potential stroke imitator, for which intravenous thrombolysis would be catastrophic.

CASE SUMMARY

We herein present two cases of cervical myelopathy. The first patient presented with acute onset of right hemiparesis and urinary incontinence, and the second patient presented with sudden-onset right leg monoplegia. The initial diagnoses for both of them were ischemic stroke. However, both of them lacked cranial nerve symptom and suffered neck pain at the beginning of onset. Their cervical spinal cord lesions were finally confirmed by cervical computed tomography. A literature review showed that neck pain and absence of cranial nerve symptom are clues of cervical myelopathy.

CONCLUSION

The current report and the review remind us to pay more attention to these two clues in suspected stroke patients, especially those within the thrombolytic time window.

Distal renal tubular acidosis presenting with an acute hypokalemic paralysis in an older child with severe vesicoureteral reflux and syringomyelia: a case report

Background

Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is the most common type of renal tubular acidosis (RTA) in children. Pediatric dRTA is usually genetic and rarely occurs due to acquired issues such as obstructive uropathies, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although persistent hypokalemia frequently occurs with dRTA, acute hypokalemic paralysis is not frequently reported, especially in older children.

Case presentation

An eight-year-old girl presented with an acute first episode of paralysis. A physical examination revealed normal vital signs, short stature consistent with her genetic potential, and decreased muscle strength of her upper and lower extremities. Preexisting conditions included stage 4 CKD due to recurrent UTIs, severe vesicoureteral reflux and bilateral hydronephrosis, neurogenic bladder, and multisegment thoracic syringomyelia. Her laboratory work-up revealed hypokalemic, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap. She also had a urine osmolal gap of 1.9 mOsmol/kg with a high urine pH. Intravenous potassium replacement resulted in a complete resolution of her paralysis. She was diagnosed with dRTA and discharged with oral bicarbonate and slow-release potassium supplementation.

Conclusions

This case report highlights the importance of considering dRTA in the differential diagnosis of hypokalemic acute paralysis in children. Additionally, in children with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction and recurrent UTIs, early diagnosis of spinal cord etiology is crucial to treat promptly, slow the progression of CKD, and prevent long-term complications such as RTA.

Tremor as a symptom of degenerative cervical myelopathy: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

AO Spine RECODE-DCM (Research objectives and common data elements for degenerative cervical myelopathy) has highlighted that the subjective disability reported by people living with DCM is much broader than routinely considered today by most professionals. This includes a description of tremor. The objective of this review was to study the incidence and possible aetiology of tremor in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

METHODS

A systematic review registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020176905) was conducted in Embase and MEDLINE for papers studying tremor and DCM published on or before the 20^th of July 2020. All manuscripts describing an association between tremor and DCM in humans were included. Articles relating to non-human animals, and those not available in English were excluded. An analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA and SWiM guidelines for systematic reviews.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 4402 screened abstracts, we identified 7 case reports and series describing tremor in 9 DCM patients. Papers were divided into three groups for the discussion. The first group includes DCM correctly identified on presentation, with tremor as a described symptom. The second group includes cases where DCM was misdiagnosed, often as Parkinson's disease. The third group includes a single case with a previous history of DCM, presenting with an otherwise unexplained tremor. This grouping allows for the clustering of cases supporting various arguments for the association between tremor and DCM.

CONCLUSION

DCM can be associated with tremor. The current evidence is restricted to case series. Further study is warranted to establish tremor prevalence, and its significance to assessment and management.

Immediate effects of hybrid assistive limb gait training on lower limb function in a chronic myelopathy patient with postoperative late neurological deterioration

Objective

The Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) has recently been used to treat movement disorders. Although studies have shown its effectiveness for chronic myelopathy, the immediate effects of HAL gait training on lower limb function have not been clarified. We conducted HAL gait training and examined its immediate effects on a 69-year-old man with re-deterioration of myelopathy in the chronic phase after surgery for compression myelopathy. The HAL intervention was performed every 4 weeks for 10 total sessions. Immediately before and after each session, we analyzed the patient’s walking ability using the 10-m walk test. In the 4th HAL session, the gastrocnemius muscle activity was measured bilaterally using a synchronized motion capture-electromyogram system.

Results

The training effects became steady after the 2nd session. In sessions 2–10, the step length increased from 0.56 to 0.63 m (mean: 0.031 m) immediately after HAL training. The motion capture-electromyogram analyses showed that considerable amounts of gastrocnemius muscle activity were detected during the stance and swing phases before HAL training. During and immediately after HAL training, gastrocnemius activity during the swing phase was diminished. HAL gait training has an immediate effect for inducing a normal gait pattern with less spasticity in those with chronic myelopathy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-022-05979-4.

Bladder cancer in patients with neurogenic bladder disorder: a comparative study of different etiologies

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative study of different etiologies of neurogenic bladder disorders (NBDs) in patients with bladder cancer (BC) regarding patient- and tumor-related parameters and their oncological outcome.

METHODS

Out of 98 patients with bladder tumors and neurogenic disease, 23 patients with BC and NBDs from Jan 1, 2010, to Dec 31, 2020, were included. The different etiologies of NBDs were merged in three groups based on the level of the nervous system (NS)-lesion: (i) central (n = 6), (ii) spinal cord (n = 10), and (iii) peripheral lesions (n = 7).

RESULTS

Patients with lesions at the spinal cord level were younger at the time of BC diagnosis compared to patients with central or peripheral NS lesions (54 vs. 68 vs. 78 years, p = 0.0219). However, the latency to malignant transformation was more than twice as long (33 vs. 15 years, p = 0.0108). Most tumors were muscle-invasive or locally advanced BCs (62%) and presented lymph node metastases (55%), resulting in a poor mean overall survival of 30.9 ± 3.6 months. No significant differences regarding histopathology, tumor stage, and oncological outcome could be observed between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Patients with NBDs have a poor prognosis regardless of their etiology or the level of NS lesion. Patients with spinal cord lesions, including congenital NBDs, appear to develop BC at a young age, but compared to other etiologies latency from NBD to BC is longer.

Functional MRI evidence for primary motor cortex plasticity contributes to the disease's severity and prognosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the brain mechanism of non-correspondence between diseases severity and compression degree of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients and to test the utility of brain imaging biomarkers for predicting prognosis of CSM.

METHODS

We calculated voxel-wise zALFF from 54 CSM patients and 50 healthy controls using resting-state fMRI data. In analysis 1, we identified the brain regions exhibited significant differences of zALFF between CSM patients and healthy controls. In analyses 2 through 3, we investigated the zALFF differences between light-symptom CSM patients and severe-symptom CSM patients while carefully matching the degree of compression between these two groups. In analysis 4, we tested the utility of zALFF within the primary motor cortex (M1) for predicting the prognosis of CSM.

RESULTS

We found that (1) compared with the healthy controls, CSM patients exhibited higher ALFF within left M1, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, and lower zALFF within right precuneus and calcarine, suggesting altered brain neural activity in CSM patients; (2) after matching the compression degree, the CSM patients with more severe clinical symptoms exhibited higher zALFF within M1, indicating cortical function contributes to disease's severity of CSM; (3) taking the M1 zALFF as features in the prognosis prediction model improves the prediction accuracy, indicating that the M1 zALFF provide additional value for predicting the prognosis of CSM patients following decompression surgery.

CONCLUSION

The functional state of M1 contributes to the disease's severity of CSM and can provide complementary information for predicting the prognosis of CSM following decompression surgery.

KEY POINTS

• Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients exhibited increased zALFF within the primary motor cortex (M1), bilateral superior frontal gyrus, and decreased zALFF within the right precuneus and calcarine. • After matching the compression degree, the CSM patients with more severe clinical symptoms exhibited higher zALFF within M1, indicating cortical function contributes to disease severity of CSM. • zALFF within M1 provided additional value for predicting the prognosis of CSM patients.

Predicting postoperative recovery in cervical spondylotic myelopathy: construction and interpretation of T2*-weighted radiomic-based extra trees models

OBJECTIVES

Conventional MRI may not be ideal for predicting cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) prognosis. In this study, we used radiomics in predicting postoperative recovery in CSM. We aimed to develop and validate radiomic feature-based extra trees models.

METHODS

There were 151 patients with CSM who underwent preoperative T₂-/ T₂^*-weighted imaging (WI) and surgery. They were divided into good/poor outcome groups based on the recovery rate. Datasets from multiple scanners were randomised into training and internal validation sets, while the dataset from an independent scanner was used for external validation. Radiomic features were extracted from the transverse spinal cord at the maximum compressed level. Threshold selection algorithm, collinearity removal, and tree-based feature selection were applied sequentially in the training set to obtain the optimal radiomic features. The classification of intramedullary increased signal on T₂/T₂^*WI and compression ratio of the spinal cord on T₂^*WI were selected as the conventional MRI features. Clinical features were age, preoperative mJOA, and symptom duration. Four models were constructed: radiological, radiomic, clinical-radiological, and clinical-radiomic. An AUC significantly > 0.5 was considered meaningful predictive performance based on the DeLong test. The mean decrease in impurity was used to measure feature importance. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

On internal and external validations, AUCs of the radiomic and clinical-radiomic models, and radiological and clinical-radiological models ranged from 0.71 to 0.81 (significantly > 0.5) and 0.40 to 0.55, respectively. Wavelet-LL first-order variance was the most important feature in the radiomic model.

CONCLUSION

Radiomic features, especially wavelet-LL first-order variance, contribute to meaningful predictive models for CSM prognosis.

KEY POINTS

• Conventional MRI features may not be ideal in predicting prognosis. • Radiomics provides greater predictive efficiency in the recovery from cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of spinal cord lesions: what can we find? - Part 2. Inflammatory and infectious injuries

Diseases involving the spinal cord include a heterogeneous group of abnormalities, including those of inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, vascular, metabolic, and traumatic origin. Making the clinical differentiation between different entities is often difficult, magnetic resonance imaging being the diagnostic method of choice. Although the neuroimaging findings are not pathognomonic, many are quite suggestive, and the radiologist can assist in the diagnosis and, consequently, in the therapeutic guidance. In this second part of our article, the objective is to review the magnetic resonance imaging findings of the main inflammatory and infectious spinal cord injuries.

Periodontoid pseudotumoral lesions

Background:

Periodontoid pseudotumoral lesions (PPL) are an uncommon cause of cervical pain and myelopathy. In addition, they may be associated with atlantoaxial instability (AAI).

Case Description:

Two patients over 60 years of age presented with neck pain alone. Their MR scans showed expansive lesions involving the odontoid process. One patient with AAI required an occipitocervical arthrodesis, while the other patient without instability was managed with an external orthosis (Philadelphia collar). Both of them experienced full resolution of pain and remained neurologically intact an average 36 months later (range 24–48).

Conclusion:

Here, we discussed the clinical, MR, and non-surgical (without AAI) versus surgical management (with AAI) for different types of PPL.

Clinical-Radiologic Dissociation in Post-traumatic Syringomyelia

Post-traumatic syringomyelia develops years to decades after spinal trauma in up to 28% of patients. We report a case of a man who developed extensive syringomyelia 14 years after spinal trauma, but had only minimal symptoms. Presumed pathophysiology of this condition and options for surgical management are briefly reviewed.

Effectiveness of a Web-Based Direct-to-User Transfer Training Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of a web-based, direct-to-user transfer training program in improving transfer quality and maintaining improvements for up to 1 month after training as compared with a control group.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial with participants randomized to an immediate intervention group (IIG) or waitlist control group (WLCG) that received the training after a 6-month delay.

SETTING

Wherever the participants accessed the web-based training, likely the home environment.

PARTICIPANTS

Convenience sample of full-time wheelchair users (N=72; IIG, n=34; WLCG, n=38 for between-group analysis, n=48 for combined within-group analysis) with spinal cord injury or disorder who were able to independently perform a lateral scoot transfer.

INTERVENTIONS

Self-paced, web-based transfer training module.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Transfer Assessment Instrument Questionnaire (TAI-Q) score at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months postbaseline (WLCG only), immediately posttraining, and 1 month posttraining. The TAI-Q is an 18-item self-assessment that covers several aspects of a quality transfer.

RESULTS

The IIG significantly increased particpants' baseline TAI-Q score from 6.91±0.98 to 7.79±1.12 (P<.001) by 1 month posttraining. The WLCG also increased from baseline to the 1-month postbaseline assessment (from 6.52±1.13 to 7.00±1.09; P=.014), potentially from learning effects secondary to self-assessment with the TAI-Q. The extent of change over time did not differ significantly between the IIG and WLCG from baseline to 1 month (P=.169). However, significant improvements in TAI-Q scores were still evident after the training for the WLCG (P<.001). Those with a lower pretraining TAI-Q score and more shoulder pain were most likely to benefit from the training.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated TAI-Q self-assessments likely contributed to improved transfer quality, with web-based training having an additive effect. Wheelchair users are likely to benefit from transfer training and self-assessment of transfer quality in their home environments. This has the potential to decrease injury risk while avoiding barriers to in-person training.

Therapeutic repetitive Transcranial Magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for neurological dysfunction in Degenerative cervical Myelopathy: An unexplored opportunity? Findings from a systematic review

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is one of the commonest causes of non-traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) leading to significant neurological impairments and reduced health-related quality of life. Guidelines recommend surgical intervention to halt disease progression in moderate-to-severe cases, and whilst many do experience neurological recovery, this is incomplete leading to lifelong disability. A James Lind Alliance (JLA) research priority setting partnership for DCM highlighted novel therapies and rehabilitation as top 10 research priority in DCM. Neurological recovery following decompressive surgery in DCM has been attributed neuroplasticity, and therapies influencing neuroplasticity are of interest. Electrical neuromodulation interventions such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), are being increasingly explored in related fields such as spinal cord injury to improve recovery and symptoms. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the role and efficacy of rTMS as a therapeutic tool in managing neurological dysfunction in DCM. We searched the databases of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHIL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). No studies were identified that had investigated the therapeutic use of rTMS in DCM. A significant number of studies had explored TMS based neurophysiological assessments indicating its role as a screening and prognostication tool in DCM. Post-operative rehabilitation interventions including TMS and non-operative management of DCM is a field which requires further investigation, as required in the AO Spine JLA DCM research priorities. rTMS is a safe neuromodulatory intervention and may have a role in enhancing recovery in DCM. Further research in these fields are required.

Getting Down to the Bare Bones: Does laminoplasty or laminectomy With Fusion Provide Better Outcomes for Patients With Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy?

Objective

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a degenerative disorder leading to progressive decline in spinal cord function. Cervical laminoplasty (CLP) and cervical laminectomy with fusion (CLF) are standard treatments for multilevel CSM. However, it is still unclear whether one procedure over the other provides better outcomes. Here, we performed a comprehensive review of published articles that compare the clinical outcomes and costs between CLP and CLF for CSM.

Methods

A literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Strict exclusion criteria were applied, and included articles were then assessed for publication year, study design, and significant differences in outcome variables.

Results

From 519 studies identified with search terms, 38 studies were included for the qualitative analysis. Statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes and costs were found in 18 studies. Eleven studies were prospective or retrospective, and 8 studies were meta-analyses. For the outcome variables of interest, results were reported by classifying into prospective studies, retrospective studies, and meta-analyses.

Conclusion

CLP and CLF are 2 of the most commonly performed surgical procedures for the treatment of CSM. Although CLP and CLF each provide satisfactory clinical outcomes for patients with CMS, CLP may result in better cervical range of motion and less cost, length of stay, operation time, blood loss, paraspinal muscular atrophy, and rate of nerve palsies as compared to CLF. The major limitation of CLP versus CLF comparison studies includes the heterogeneity in techniques and preoperative criteria. Thus, further validation and investigations in larger cohorts will be required.

[Nonneoplastic lesions of the spinal canal]

Numerous vascular, inflammatory, degenerative and tumorous lesions of the spinal canal can cause paraplegic symptoms. In addition to the neurological examination and the leading symptoms, the first topographical classification of the (suspected) disease is essential for further diagnostics. Hence, high-resolution magnet resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for the majority of questions. To avoid diagnostic and therapeutic mistakes, differentiation of intraspinal tumors from tumor-like (nonneoplastic) lesions is indispensable, which is often only possible after follow-up imaging or surgical exploration.

Spinal cord tumor leading to urinary retention resulting from Schistosoma mansoni infection in a child

Schistosomose mansoni is an endemic disease in Brazil. It rarely affects the central nervous system, particularly in children. We report the case of a child that presented with an acute spinal cord compression condition, resulting from a mass that proved to be a granuloma caused by a Schistosoma mansoni infection. Proper treatment had no effect on the regression of urological symptoms and the child had to undergo a Mitrofanoff principle.

A review and evaluation of patient-reported outcome measures for spasticity in persons with spinal cord damage: Recommendations from the Ability Network - an international initiative

Context: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable for capturing the impact of spasticity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with spinal cord damage (SCD) and evaluating the efficacy of interventions. Objective: To provide practical guidance for measuring HRQoL in persons with spasticity following SCD. Methods: Literature reviews identified measures of HRQoL and caregiver burden, utilized in studies addressing spasticity in SCD. Identified measures were evaluated for clinical relevance and practicality for use in clinical practice and research. The PRISM, SCI-SET, EQ-5D and SF-36 instruments were mapped to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The PRISM and SCI-SET were evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Results: Two spasticity-specific, five generic, and four preference-based measures were identified. ICF mapping and the COSMIN checklist supported the use of the PRISM and SCI-SET in SCD. The SF-36 is considered the most useful generic measure; disability-adapted versions may be more acceptable but further studies on psychometric properties are required. The SF-36 can be converted to a preference-based measure (SF-6D), or alternatively the EQ-5D can be used. While no measures specific to caregivers of people with SCD were identified, the Caregiver Burden Scale and the Zarit Burden Interview are considered suitable. Conclusion: Recommended measures include the PRISM and SCI-SET (condition-specific), SF-36 (generic), and Caregiver Burden Scale and Zarit Burden Interview (caregiver burden). Consideration should be given to using condition-specific and generic measures in combination; the PRISM or SCI-SET combined with SF-36 is recommended.

Composite Grip Strength as a Marker of Outcome in Patients Surgically Treated for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the efficacy of composite grip strength as a marker of surgical outcome in patients with moderate to severe degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Overview of Literature

Degenerative cervical myelopathy causes loss of dexterity, muscle strength, and sensations in the hand. The impact of surgical management on improvement in composite grip strength has received scant attention.

Methods

This retrospective study was performed on degenerative cervical myelopathy patients with a complete composite grip strength assessment between January 2013 to January 2019. The Biometrics E-link hand kit was used for the assessment. The following parameters were measured: maximum grip strength, sustained grip strength, three-jaw pinch, maximum key pinch, and sustained key pinch. The pre- and postoperative functional status was assessed using the Nurick grade and the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score.

Results

A total of 40 patients were included in the study. The mean patient age was 51.9 years. The mean preoperative Nurick grade was 3.5 and the mJOA score was 10.9. The anterior approach was used in 25 patients, and the posterior approach was used in 15 patients. Four patients developed complications. Degenerative cervical myelopathy resulted in decreased handgrip and pinch strength as compared to normative Indian data. There was a significant improvement in the postoperative composite grip strength for all five parameters. There was no differential improvement between the anterior and posterior surgical groups. The improvement in the composite grip strength correlated with the improvement in functional scores.

Conclusions

Composite grip strength analysis is an objective method for assessing the impact of degenerative cervical myelopathy on grip strength and monitoring the postoperative improvement. Decompressive surgery resulted in global improvement in all the parameters of composite grip strength.

Parthenolide promotes the repair of spinal cord injury by modulating M1/M2 polarization via the NF-κB and STAT 1/3 signaling pathway

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disease; however, there is no effective treatment for spinal cord injury. Neuroinflammation involves the activation of resident microglia and the infiltration of macrophages is the major pathogenesis of SCI secondary injury and considered to be the therapeutic target of SCI. Parthenolide (PN) has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects in fever, migraines, arthritis, and superficial inflammation; however, the role of PN in SCI therapeutics has not been clarified. In this study, we showed that PN could improve the functional recovery of spinal cord in mice as revealed by increased BMS scores and decreased cavity of spinal cord injury in vivo. Immunofluorescence staining experiments confirmed that PN could promote axonal regeneration, increase myelin reconstitution, reduce chondroitin sulfate formation, inhibit scar hyperplasia, suppress the activation of A1 neurotoxic reactive astrocytes and facilitate shift from M1 to M2 polarization of microglia/macrophages. To verify how PN exerts its effects on microglia/macrophages polarization, we performed the mechanism study in vitro in microglia cell line BV-2. PN could significantly reduce M1 polarization in BV2 cells and partially rescue the decrease in the expression of M2 phenotype markers of microglia/macrophage induced by LPS, but no significant effect on M2 polarization stimulated with IL-4 was observed. Further study demonstrated PN inhibited NF-κB signal pathway directly or indirectly, and suppressed activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 or 3 (STAT1/3) via reducing the expression of HDAC1 and subsequently increasing the levels of STAT1/3 acetylation. Overall, our study illustrated that PN may be a promising strategy for traumatic SCI.

Delayed quadriparesis after posterior spinal fusion for scoliosis: a case series

STUDY DESIGN

A multicenter retrospective IRB exempt case series analyzing clinical and radiographical data of patients treated by three surgeons over the past two decades was conducted.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the factors involved in the development of quadriparesis in patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion for scoliosis. Delayed spinal cord infarcts usually present at the region of instrumentation according to reports from the Scoliosis Research Society. Nonetheless, there is a lack of data regarding factors associated with delayed quadriparesis following posterior spinal fusion METHODS: Evaluated variables were age, Cobb angle, blood loss, and curve correction percentage. Postoperative imaging was also evaluated to determine factors indicative of the etiology of the quadriparesis.

RESULTS

Eight patients presented delayed postoperative quadriparesis. All patients had a postoperative examination equal to that of baseline. The first patient deteriorated at 6 h postoperatively and the most delayed patient presented 4 days postoperatively. Six patients had neuromuscular disorders and 2 had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Mean age was 13.7, mean curve magnitude was 78.7°, mean percent curve correction was 71% and the mean estimated blood loss was 1185 cc. Seven of eight patients had documented peri- or postoperative hypotension.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical infarction is the likely cause of delayed quadriparesis after posterior spinal fusion. Even though the underlying etiology continues to be unclear, postoperative hypotension, curve magnitude, percent curve correction, and the presence of cervical kyphosis/stenosis may be contributory and need to be closely evaluated.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, Case Series.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in a COVID-19 pediatric patient

The authors present a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in a COVID-19 pediatric patient with positive SARS-CoV2 markers from a nasopharyngeal swab. A previously healthy 12-year-old-girl presented with a skin rash, headache, and fever. Five days after that, she had an acute, progressive, bilateral, and symmetrical motor weakness. She evolved to respiratory failure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cervical spine showed extensive bilateral and symmetric restricted diffusion involving the subcortical and deep white matter, a focal hyperintense T2/FLAIR lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum with restricted diffusion, and extensive cervical myelopathy involving both white and gray matter. Follow-up examinations of the brain and spine were performed 30 days after the first MRI examination. The images of the brain demonstrated mild dilatation of the lateral ventricles and widespread widening of the cerebral sulci, complete resolution of the extensive white matter restricted diffusion, and complete resolution of the restricted diffusion in the lesion of the splenium of the corpus callosum, leaving behind a small gliotic focus. The follow-up examination of the spine demonstrated nearly complete resolution of the extensive signal changes in the spinal cord, leaving behind scattered signal changes in keeping with gliosis. She evolved with partial clinical and neurological improvement and was subsequently discharged.

Incidence of Acquired Nontraumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Finland: A 4-Year Prospective Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the incidence and epidemiologic characteristics of acquired nontraumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) in Finland.

DESIGN

Prospective 4-year epidemiologic multicenter study.

SETTING

Two of the 3 spinal cord injury (SCI) centers in Finland responsible for acute care, immediate rehabilitation, and lifelong follow-up for all SCI patients in a population of 3,073,052 (as of 2013).

PARTICIPANTS

All newly diagnosed NTSCI patients (N=430) admitted to Tampere University Hospital between 2012 and 2015 and Oulu University Hospital between 2013 and 2016 based on the evaluation of the designated rehabilitation teams. Patients with NTSCI resulting from congenital etiologies or progressive neurologic diseases were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence and variables, according to the International SCI Core Data Set and the International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI, including etiology and the severity of injury.

RESULTS

The incidence of NTSCI was 54.1 per million per year. NTSCI was more common in men (n=260, 60.5%) than women (n=170, 39.5%). The mean age was 62.0±14.6 years old. Degenerative causes were the most common etiology (n=219, 50.9%), followed by malignant (n=88, 20.5%) and benign (n=41, 9.5%) neoplasms. The injury resulted in tetraplegia in 177 patients (41.1%) and paraplegia in 249 patients (57.9%). American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade D injuries were common, with an incidence of 71% (n=304). Specialized inpatient rehabilitation was needed in 44% (n=189) of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no previous studies on the epidemiology of NTSCI in Finland, and international reporting has been limited. The incidence of NTSCI in our study was substantially higher than in most previous studies, which was likely owing to our study including individuals with less severe lesions who did not require inpatient rehabilitation.

Sexual abuse in people with spinal cord damage

Objectives: There are few studies of sexual abuse in people with spinal cord damage (SCD). Objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and impact of sexual abuse in SCD. Design: Survey (web and paper-based). Setting: Australia (August 2013-June 2014). Participants: People with SCD (n = 136); able-bodied controls (n = 220). Interventions: None. Outcome measures: Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Conditions Scale, International SCI Quality of Life Basic Dataset, and the Physical Disability Sexual and Body Esteem scale. Questions regarding demographic and clinical characteristics, sex, sexual orientation, relationship status, disability, sexual interest and satisfaction, and sexual abuse. Results: Most SCD participants were male (n = 92, 67%), the average age was 46 years (SD = 14) and they were median of 11 years (IQR 4-21) after SCD. Of these, 19% (n = 26) reported sexual abuse. Females were much more likely to report being abused (odds ratio 3.3, 95%CI 1.5-7.4; χ²=10.9, P = 0.001). Participants reporting sexual abuse were younger (P = 0.01) and more likely to have been abused before their SCD (69%). There was no significant difference between those with SCD who reported sexual abuse and those who did not regarding their quality of life as a whole (P > 0.1). There was no difference regarding the reporting of sexual abuse between able-bodied and those with SCD (P = 0.1). Conclusion: Sexual abuse was relatively common and was not associated with an adverse relationship with the covariates assessed. Further research is needed to better determine the prevalence of sexual abuse in people with SCD and its impact.

Syringomyelia and hydromyelia: Current understanding and neurosurgical management

Syringomyelia is a rare disorder in which a fluid-filled cyst forms within the spinal cord, resulting in myelopathy. Meanwhile, the abnormal dilatation of the central canal is referred to as hydromyelia or slit-like syrinx. The most prevailing classification is based on anatomical features and pathogeny rather than pathophysiological mechanisms. It is usual to distinguish foraminal syringomyelia related mainly to abnormalities at the craniocervical junction, non-foraminal syringomyelia dealing with any cause of arachnoiditis (infection, inflammation, trauma…) and more rarely syringomyelia associated with intramedullary tumors. Although many pathophysiological theories have been argued over time, the prevailing one is that disturbances in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the sub-arachnoid spaces disrupt flow velocity leading to the syrinx. Symptoms of paralysis, sensory loss and chronic pain commonly develop during the third/fourth decades of life. The natural history of syringomyelia is typically one of gradual, stepwise neurological deterioration extending over many years. Diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including excellent morphological sequences (T1-, T2-, FLAIR-, T2*-, enhanced T1-) and dynamic MRI with careful study of CSF velocity (CISS, cine-MR sequences). Surgical management is at first dedicated to treat the cause of the syringomyelia, mainly to re-establish a physiological CSF pathway in the subarachnoid spaces. Mostly, the surgical goal is to enlarge the craniocervical junction with duraplasty. Other surgical strategies such as arachnoidolysis or shunt procedures are performed based on the pathogenic mechanisms or as second-line treatment. Medical treatments are also necessary as chronic pain is the main long-lasting symptom. As evolutive syringomyelia is a severe disease with a high impact on quality of life, it is recommended to treat without delay. There is no evidence for surgery for incidental asymptomatic syringomyelia or hydromyelia. Finally, syringomyelia associated with intramedullary tumors resolves spontaneously after tumor resection. Syringomyelia is a rare disease, which requires a dedicated multidisciplinary approach, emphasizing the need for a nationwide scientific organization so as to offer optimal care to the patient.

Effect of posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty on cervical sagittal balance

PURPOSE

Posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty (LAMP) is a mature surgical procedure for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), but there are few studies on the changes in cervical sagittal balance. This study aimed to analyze the imaging and clinical data of patients who underwent LAMP and to explore the effect of this procedure on the cervical sagittal balance.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of the patients who underwent LAMP between 01/2014 and 12/2017. The C0-C2 Cobb angle, sagittal vertical angle (SVA), C2-C7 Cobb angle, and T1-slope were measured. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, neck disability index (NDI), and visual analog scale (VAS) were used.

RESULTS

There were 69 males and 39 females. The mean age was 61.3 ± 5.3 years. The C0-C2 Cobb angle increased from 11.3 ± 5.5° to 26.8 ± 4.8° (P = 0.186). The C2-C7 Cobb angle decreased from 13.9 ± 8.6° to 10.65 ± 10.7° P = 0.016). SVA increased from 21.0 ± 5.8 mm to 25.4 ± 11.5 mm (P = 0.001). The preoperative average JOA score was 11.1 ± 2.2 points, and the postoperative score was 14.0 ± 2.1 points, with an average improvement rate of JOA of 46.5 ± 3.8%. The NDI score decreased from preoperative 15.6 ± 5.4 points to 11.3 ± 7.9 points, and the VAS score was decreased from 4.6 ± 1.8 points to 3.3 ± 1.6 points (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

LAMP improved the neurological function and quality of life of patients with CSM. The cervical vertebrae show a tendency of tilting forward, suggesting that overextension of the upper cervical vertebra might be used to maintain the center of gravity of the skull and horizontal vision.

Introduction of the Purdue Pegboard Test for fine assessment of severity of cervical myelopathy before and after surgery

[Purpose] To evaluate the severity of symptoms before and after cervical myelopathy surgery using the Simple Test for Evaluating hand Function. Because a test ceiling effect was observed in patients with less severe forms of myelopathy, we investigated the correlation between and accuracy of several different tests in order to clarify the usefulness of the Purdue Pegboard Test for evaluation of one or both hands. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-four patients (6 females and 28 males; mean age, 64.5 years) were examined, and scores were determined for each of the following tests: Purdue Pegboard Test; Simple Test for Evaluating hand Function; Japanese Orthopedic Association assessment; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand assessment. Correlations between scores of different tests were then determined. The cut-off values used for the Purdue Pegboard Test and the Simple Test for Evaluating hand Function were determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to assess the use of chopsticks. [Results] The Purdue Pegboard Test assembly task correlated moderately with the Japanese Orthopedic Association and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, the Purdue Pegboard Test cut-off value was 11 and the Simple Test for Evaluating hand Function cut-off value was 90. [Conclusion] The Purdue Pegboard Test is useful for evaluating manual dexterity and coordination in both hands in patients with cervical myelopathy.

Anal reflex versus bulbocavernosus reflex in evaluation of patients with spinal cord injury

The examination of sacral reflexes provides an important method to differentiate an upper motor neuron vs lower motor neuron spinal cord injury (SCI). Two common sacral mediated reflexes used as part of the neurological assessment include the bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) and anal reflex. As the clinical information from these tests are similar, we suggest that the anal reflex provides a better first option as a non-invasive clinical assessment of sacral reflex status in clinical practice in SCI as the testing for the anal reflex is less intrusive and already being performed as part of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) by pinprick stimulation of the S4-5 dermatome.

The robotic Trunk-Support-Trainer (TruST) to measure and increase postural workspace during sitting in people with spinal cord injury

Study design

Cross-sectional study.

Objectives

To measure and expand the sitting workspace of participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) with the Trunk-Support-Trainer (TruST).

Setting

Columbia University.

Methods

TruST is a motorized-cable belt placed around the torso. Participants performed maximal trunk excursions along eight directions, radiating in a star-shape, to define their seated postural limits and workspace area (cm2). TruST was configured to apply "assist-as-needed" forces when the trunk moved beyond these postural limits. Kinematics were collected to examine trunk control. The clinical features of the sample (n = 5) were documented by neurological injury, dynamometry, the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale, and Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III.

Results

Statistical significance was examined with paired t-tests. TruST successfully recreated the postural limits of participants and expanded their active sitting workspace (Mean: 123.3 ± SE: 42.8 cm2, p < 0.05). Furthermore, participants improved their trunk excursions to posterior (Mean: 5.1 ± SE: 0.8 cm, p < 0.01), right (Mean: 3.1 ± SE: 1.1 cm, p < 0.05), and left (Mean: 5.0 ± SE: 1.7 cm, p = 0.05) directions with TruST-force field.

Conclusions

TruST can accurately define and expand the active seated workspace of people with SCI during volitional trunk movements. The capacity of TruST to deliver continuous force-feedback at the user's postural limits opens new frontiers to implement motor learning-based paradigms to retrain functional sitting in people with SCI.

Guideline for the identification and management of cardiometabolic risk after spinal cord injury: a case of unsubstantiated recommendations

The 2018 Guideline for the Identification and Management of Cardiometabolic Risk after Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) represented the first concerted effort to address a cluster of derangements and diseases that are claiming the lives of individuals living with injuries. Its contributors and authors scoured the literature, weighed the validity, importance, and clinical relevance of what data they found, and collaborated in an effort to meaningfully improve the health and lives of people with SCI. However, we are concerned that several of the guideline's central recommendations-particularly around screening for and detection of glycemic dysregulation and dyslipidemia-have been offered prematurely. In several instances, the authors cite data from studies of people without SCI and, in our opinion, inappropriately apply those findings to support their SCI-specific suggestions. In other instances, they recommend that we employ tests whose usefulness and clinical relevance have yet to be demonstrated among people living with injuries. In short, we fear that the authors have developed clinical guidelines that are inadequately supported by data. This guideline is an extraordinary show of collaboration, and is an important first step toward understanding and treating a number of secondary cardiometabolic effects of SCI. The lack of data underpinning several of its central recommendations-making them, in our opinion, unadoptable-underscores the inadequacy of research in this area and provides a roadmap for future investigative efforts.

Addressing cardiometabolic risk in adults with spinal cord injury: acting now despite knowledge gaps

This perspective advocates for the adoption of recently published clinical practice guidelines on identifying and managing cardiometabolic risk after spinal cord injury (SCI). It makes the case for acting now, with the knowledge that we currently have, while continuing to address knowledge gaps with high-quality research studies in this area. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in people with SCI. Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) and risks are more likely to be overlooked after SCI. Unique SCI-related considerations impact both assessment and management of cardiometabolic risk. Risk factors and components of CMD including obesity, impaired glucose tolerance/insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension should be evaluated and managed to optimize the cardiometabolic health of this population. While it would be optimal to base all care on high-quality evidence-based research, its absence should not be an excuse for inaction. Applying what is currently known and filling the research gaps with empirical recommendations based on clinical rationale and expert consensus is both appropriate and necessary till more definitive SCI-specific evidence becomes available.

Supporting the need for community exercise programs: a case study

Introduction

Participation in exercise activities post spinal cord injury (SCI) can positively impact physical functioning and quality of life. Physically active individuals have improved functional performance compared with sedentary individuals with SCI. Consistent exercise interventions following SCI not only prompt neural recovery and offer myriad health benefits but they may also have persisting effects on functional abilities.

Case presentation

A 29-year-old male subject had a 15-year history of a C5-C6 AIS B SCI. The subject demonstrated improvements in the outcome measures and he reported enhanced ability to cough and to clear secretions, as well as an enhanced overall quality of life, after undergoing a 14-week course of Spinal Mobility training in combination with inspiratory muscle training (IMT). In addition to the Spinal Mobility training and IMT, he continued to partake in his normal exercise routine, which consisted of aerobic and strength training 3 days per week.

Discussion

This case reaffirms the benefits of consistent exercise training, in combination with IMT, for individuals with SCI. Community programs specifically targeted to individuals with SCI are needed. The subject's functional improvements demonstrate that incorporating Spinal Mobility training into a regular exercise routine may assist with functional gains in the chronic stage of SCI.

Myelopathy secondary to human T-lymphotropic virus and Treponema pallidum infection: case report

Introduction

The human T-lymphotropic virus has been associated with human disease, affecting CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and B lymphocytes. It can cause T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-associated myelopathy.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old woman was admitted after 2 months of cramps, paraparesis, and fecal/urinary incontinence. She was diagnosed with neurosyphilis according to the cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Despite treatment with crystalline penicillin there was no recovery, and anti-HTLV-1/2 tests were positive; therefore, the diagnosis of HTLV-associated myelopathy was made. The patient rejected glucocorticoid treatment; baclofen and carbamazepine were used to treat spasticity and cramps, respectively. The patient has not had progression.

Discussion

HTLV-associated myelopathy is generated by an exaggerated inflammatory response in the central nervous system with clonal expansion of CD4+ T and CD8+ T lymphocytes. There is not a specific and useful treatment; glucocorticoids can reduce inflammation, but do not improve clinical functional outcomes. There is a high prevalence of syphilis and human T-lymphotropic virus co-infection in tropical countries; however, myelopathy as the first clinical manifestation is unusual. The treatment of neurosyphilis could reduce the inflammation into the central nervous system and could decrease the progression of sequelae. This is the first case of myelopathy secondary to viral and treponemal co-infection confirmed in Colombia.

Assessing the ability of the Sacral Autonomic Standards to document bladder and bowel function based upon the Asia Impairment Scale

Study design

Retrospective review of data.

Objective

To determine if there is a relationship between the Asia Impairment Scale (AIS) and the bladder and bowel components of the International Standards to Document Remaining Autonomic Function after SCI (ISAFSCI).

Setting

University-Based Academic Rehabilitation Program.

Methods

Retrospective cross-sectional study assessing International Standards for Neurologic Classification After SCI (ISNCSCI) examination along with bladder and bowel components of the ISAFSCI.

Results

Subjects with AIS A injuries were statistically less likely to have history of bladder control and bowel control per investigator determination and bladder sensation via self-report versus patients categorized with AIS B injuries. Self-reported history of bowel sensation and control of voiding were more likely in subjects with C, D, or E injuries than with B injuries. Bowel and bladder control as determined by investigator and bladder and bowel sensation and control as self-reported were all statistically less likely in persons with AIS A injuries versus CDE.

Conclusions

This retrospective study provides initial data regarding components of the bladder and bowel sections of the sacral ISAFSCI and AIS. Further prospective research is needed to further characterize the relationship between retention of bladder and bowel sensation and function and the AIS. We suggest that incorporation of the sacral components of the ISAFSCI into the ISNCSCI may be beneficial to obtain further information about retention of sacral function with specific patterns of injury.

Effects of water immersion on gait initiation: part II of a case series after incomplete spinal cord injury

Study design

Case series.

Objectives

This case series describes how the aquatic environment influences gait initiation in terms of the center of pressure (COP) excursion, impulses, trunk acceleration, and perceptions of participants with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).

Setting

Tertiary Rehabilitation Hospital, Ontario, Canada.

Methods

Five individuals with iSCI (four cervical injuries/one thoracic injury, AIS D) participated in the study. Baseline clinical balance was evaluated by Berg Balance Scale and Mini-Balance Evaluation System Test. Participants initiated gait on a waterproof force plate and walked ~4 steps, in water and on land. COP trajectories during anticipatory and execution phases, impulses, and trunk acceleration parameters were investigated. Perceptions of walking in both environments were obtained using an interview.

Results

COP trajectory was prominently longer when individuals stepped forward. A decrease in velocity of COP was observed predominantly in the AP direction during stepping. Non-normalized vertical impulses decreased as the AP impulses increased, in water compared to land. Upper to lower trunk acceleration ratios showed how water resistance influenced the lower trunk acceleration. Most of participants reported that walking in water was challenging, but safer than on land.

Conclusions

Participants with higher balance function seemed to have more pronounced changes in anticipatory and execution phases' duration, length and velocity of COP. A faster anticipatory phase and a slower execution phase were observed in water than on land. Participants walked in water using a different trunk control strategy than on land and reported no fear of falling when walking in water versus land.

Utilizing three dimensional clinical gait analysis to optimize mobility outcomes in incomplete spinal cord damage

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) has not previously been considered by consensus panels of spinal cord experts for use in studies of patients with spinal cord damage (SCD), yet it is frequently used in other neurological populations, such as stroke and cerebral palsy.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How does 3DGA impairment based reporting guide individualised clinical decision-making in people with incomplete SCD?

METHODS

Retrospective open cohort case series recruited 48 adults with incomplete SCD (traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction) referred to the Clinical Gait Analysis Service (CGAS), Melbourne, Australia. Three-dimensional gait data were used to identify gait impairments by the multidisciplinary clinical team. Gait patterns were classified using the plantarflexor-knee extension couple index and the Gait Profile Score (GPS). The reason for referral and the recommendations made post-3DGA were collated in decision trees to extrapolate the potential value of 3DGA in decision making for targeted intervention in this population.

RESULTS

Participants with SCD generally walked at a reduced gait speed. When grouped by neurological level, the tetraplegia group had a significantly lower GPS, but no specific gait patterns emerged. Participants were primarily referred to the CGAS to direct clinical intervention decisions. The most frequent recommendation following 3DGA was the prescription of an ankle foot orthosis and in some cases, the recommendation was incongruent with the referrer's proposed intervention.

SIGNIFICANCE

3DGA can provide specific guidance in management plans for gait of patients with incomplete SCD and may help to avoid inappropriate or unnecessary interventions. This sample of patients referred to the CGAS demonstrates its clinical utility in guiding clinicians in their decision making to target individualised intervention.

Urtication (flogging with stinging nettles) and flagellation (beating with rods) in the treatment of paralysis

Urtication and flagellation were used as a last resort in the treatment of paralysis when all other means were exhausted, and very few cases are reported in the literature. Two cases were identified and reviewed, one of urtication (flogging with nettles) and one of flagellation (beating with rods). In both cases the symptoms were alleviated, but there was insufficient detail to evaluate the therapeutic value of each treatment.

Effect of overground locomotor training on ventilatory kinetics and rate of perceived exertion in persons with cervical motor-incomplete spinal cord injury

Study design

Pre-post, pilot study.

Objectives

To characterize ventilatory (VE) responses to exercise following warm-up walking in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) during constant work rate (CWR) exercise. Secondarily, to investigate VE and tidal volume (VT) variability, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) before and after overground locomotor training (OLT).

Setting

Research laboratory.

Methods

A 6-min CWR walking bout at preferred pace was used as a warm-up followed by 6 min of rest and a second 6-min CWR bout at above preferred walking pace. The second CWR bout was analyzed. Breath-by-breath ventilatory data were examined using a curvilinear least squares fitting procedure with a mono-exponential model. VE and VT variability was calculated as the difference between the observed and predicted values and RPE was taken every 2 min.

Results

Participants (n = 3, C4-C5) achieved a hyperpneic response to exercise in VE and VT. OLT resulted in faster ventilatory kinetics and reductions of 24 and 29% for VE and VT variability, respectively. A 30% reduction in RPE was concurrent with the reductions in ventilatory variability.

Conclusions

OLT may improve ventilatory control during CWR in patients with cervical motor-iSCI. These data suggest that in some participants with iSCI, ventilation may influence RPE during walking. Future research should investigate mechanisms of ventilatory variability and its implications in walking performance in patients with iSCI.

Treatment of at-level spinal cord injury pain with botulinum toxin A

Study design

Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

Objective

To explore whether botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) could be effective for treating at-level spinal cord injury (SCI) pain.

Setting

Outpatient SCI clinic, New York, USA.

Methods

Participants were randomized to receive subcutaneous injections of either placebo or BoNTA with follow-up (office visit, telephone, or e-mail) at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks to assess the magnitude of pain relief post injection. Crossover of participants was then performed. Those who received placebo received BoNTA, and vice versa, with follow-up at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks.

Results

Eight participants completed at least one of the two crossover study arms. Four completed both arms. The median age of the eight participants was 45 years (range 32-61 years) and 75% were male. All had traumatic, T1-L3 level, complete SCI. Although our data did not meet statistical significance, we noted a higher proportion of participants reporting a marked change in average pain intensity from baseline to 8 and 12 weeks post-BoNTA vs. post-placebo (33% vs. 0%). At 2 and 4 weeks post-BoNTA, almost all participants reported some degree of reduced pain, while the same was not seen post-placebo (83% vs. 0%).

Conclusion

The subcutaneous injection of BoNTA may be a feasible approach for the control of at-level SCI pain and is worthy of further study.

Sponsorship

The onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX) used in this study was provided by Allergan (Irvine, CA).

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Hirayama Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review

Hirayama disease, a juvenile muscular atrophy of the distal upper extremity, is a rare form of cervical flexion myelopathy characterized by insidiously progressive weakness of the hands and forearm muscles (i.e., painless amyotrophy). The pathognomonic finding is a markedly forward-shifted spinal cord during neck flexion, demonstrated by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as in a young man with muscle atrophy in the bilateral distal upper extremities. In this report, the authors describe a 31-year-old man who had the classic radiological and clinical presentations of Hirayama disease. Since prior medical treatment had been ineffective for years, he underwent multilevel instrumented anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to keep his subaxial cervical spine slightly-lordotic (nonflexion). His motor evoked potential amplitude improved immediately during the operation, and there were improvements of myelopathy and a modest reversal of muscle wasting at 1 year postoperatively. Postoperative dynamic cervical spine MRI also demonstrated minimal cord compression and elimination of the venous plexus engorgement dorsal to the thecal sac. Although Hirayama disease is benign in nature and frequently self-limiting, multilevel instrumented ACDF could be a reasonable management option.

A case of postprandial hypotension in an individual with cervical spinal cord injury: treatment with acarbose

Introduction

Postprandial hypotension (PPH) is a postmeal drop in systolic blood pressure that may or may not be symptomatic. While the etiologies of PPH are incompletely understood, it is thought to occur when glucose absorption causes increased splanchnic blood flow or "pooling" in people who lack sufficient compensatory responses to support their systemic blood pressure. Postprandial hypotension is well described in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, yet only rarely in people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that treats PPH by slowing gastric transit time and reducing glucose uptake in the small intestine, hence decreasing superior mesenteric artery blood flow.

Case presentation

A 62-year-old woman with long-standing cervical SCI presented with 5 years of worsening postprandial lightheadedness, visual "flashes", and neck pain. She had had multiple episodes of near and frank syncope and her prior medical team had initiated midodrine three times daily. We began treatment with acarbose, starting at 50 mg with each meal and rapidly titrating to 100 mg at mealtime. She noticed an immediate improvement in her symptoms and an attenuation of postmeal drops in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is one of the first described cases of PPH among people living with SCI. Given the autonomic dysfunction that frequently accompanies higher-level of injuries, it is possible that many more people with SCI have this condition, whether or not it is symptomatic. Acarbose is one of the several established treatments for PPH, and proved effective and tolerable for our patient.

Surgical management of a complex case of Charcot arthropathy of the spine: a case report

Introduction

The authors present a case of a 55-year-old male with T10 complete paraplegia diagnosed with Charcot arthropathy of the spine (CAS).

Case presentation

He presented to an outside institution with vomiting and productive cough with subsequent computed tomography (CT) and MRI imaging revealing L5 osteomyelitis and a paraspinal abscess. Given the patient's inability to remain in good posture in his wheelchair he underwent a multilevel vertebrectomy and thoracolumbar fusion. Due to multiple co-morbidities, surgical recovery was complex, ultimately requiring revision circumferential fixation.

Discussion

CAS is an uncommon, long-term complication of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Surgical management is often complex and associated with significant complications. Currently, a consensus on CAS prevention, specific surgical fixation techniques and post-surgical nursing care management is lacking. In this case report we provide our experience in the management of a complex case of CAS to aid in decision making for future neurosurgeons who encounter this sequela of traumatic SCI.

Risk-benefit value of upper extremity function by an implanted electrical stimulation device targeting chronic cervical spinal cord injury

Study design

A cross-sectional stated-preference survey using direct-assessment questions.

Objective

To determine the relative value placed on different outcomes to be used in a pivotal trial for the upper extremity configuration of the Networked Neuroprosthesis (NNP) as well as the tolerance of the expected adverse event profile.

Setting

Academic medical center in the United States.

Methods

Distribution of an online survey to adults living with tetraplegia; extent of agreement with each question/statement was obtaining using a 1-7 Likert scale.

Results

There were 8 statements about potential benefits in arm/hand function; for all statements, more than 70% of participants rated the functions as "1-very important" to regain. There were variable degrees of concern related to risks that could occur during the 30-day post-surgical period and increasing degrees of concern related to risks that could occur in the first 5 years, potentially due to the device, based on the increasing degree of invasiveness of the intervention required to address the event. When analysing the results based on all degrees of interest, more than 64% of responders were interested in getting the NNP with a success rate threshold as low as 50% regardless of time post-injury. Chi-squared analyses revealed some associations between responses and sex, injury level, and injury duration; however, none of these were statistically significant upon post-hoc analysis.

Conclusion

Data here indicate that people with tetraplegia are highly interested in a range of arm/hand functions and are tolerant of expected risks that may be associated with implanted neuroprosthetics.

Sponsorship

The Institute for Functional Restoration funded this project through a sub-contract to K.D. Anderson from a larger Special Projects Award (grant number FP0020773) from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.