Quadriplegia

New spinal cord disease data have been reported by A. Srivastava and co-authors

"Neurologic rehabilitation unit of a tertiary care center. Patients with spinal cord diseases who had stage III/IV pressure ulcers underwent surgical reconstruction and inpatient rehabilitation in 2005 with a minimum follow-up duration of 1 year. Ulcer healing rate, postoperative complications, ulcers recurrence rate, and neurologic (ASIA grade), and functional recovery (Barthel Index). Statistical Analysis: Frequency analysis and paired t test on SPSS 13.0. Surgical intervention was carried out in 25 participants (119 men, 6 women), having a total of 39 ulcers (13 Stage III, 23 Stage IV, 3 unstaged). Surgeries performed were debridement (3), split skin grafting (13), and flap mobilization and closure (23). Only 4 participants (16.6%) had initial complications: wound dehiscence (2) and delayed graft healing (2). Follow-up rate was 92.0% (23/25 patients), with a duration of 12 to 21 months (mean, 15.4 +/- 7.45 months), and only 4 participants (17.3%) had ulcer recurrence. The majority of participants (13 of 25; 56.5%) improved neurologically on ASIA grade and functional evaluation on Barthel Index, Suggesting statistically significant improvement (P < 0.005). All outcome variables showed significant improvement at follow-up with good ulcer healing rate (87.0%), low initial complication (16.6%) and recurrence rates (17.3%), and good neurologic (56.51%) and functional (P < 0.005) recovery," wrote A. Srivastava and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Timely surgical interventions are necessary for Stage III to IV pressure ulcers, and simultaneous inpatient rehabilitation significantly improves outcome of patients with spinal cord disease."

Srivastava and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine (Surgical Management of Pressure Ulcers During Inpatient Neurologic Rehabilitation: Outcomes for Patients With Spinal Cord Disease. Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2009;32(2):125-131).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting A. Srivastava, National Institute Mental Health & Neuroscience, Dept. of Psychiatry & Neurology Rehabilitation, Hosur Rd., Bangalore 560029, Karnataka, India.

The publisher of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine can be contacted at: American Paraplegia Society, 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Jackson Hwights, NY 11370-1177, USA.

Keywords: India, Bangalore, Medical Device, Neurologic Rehabilitation, Paralysis, Paraplegia, Postoperative Complications, Pressure Ulcer, Quadriplegia, Rehabilitation Research, Skin Graft, Skin Grafting, Spinal Cord Disease, Spinal Cord Injury, Surgery, Tissue Engineering.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.