Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2016
Responses of the Acutely Injured Spinal Cord to Vibration that Simulates Transport in Helicopters or Mine-Resistant-Ambush-Protected Vehicles.
In the military environment, injured soldiers undergoing medical evacuation via helicopter or mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) are subjected to vibration and shock inherent to the transport vehicle. We conducted the present study to assess the consequences of such vibration on the acutely injured spinal cord. We used a porcine model of spinal cord injury (SCI). ⋯ Although there was a relationship between the extent of sparing and the extent of locomotor recovery, no significant differences were found in PTIBS scores between the groups. In summary, exposures to vibration in the context of ground (MRAP) or aeromedical (helicopter) transportation did not significantly impair functional outcome in our large animal model of SCI. However, MRAP vibration was associated with increased tissue damage around the injury site, warranting caution around exposure to vehicle vibration acutely after SCI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2016
Natural Progression of Spinal Cord Transection Injury and Reorganization of Neural Pathways.
The spinal cord injury (SCI) transection model accurately represents traumatic laceration and has been widely used to study the natural history and reorganization of neuropathways and plasticity in the central nervous system (CNS). This model is highly reproducible, which makes it ideal for studying the progression of injury as well as endogenous recovery and plasticity in the CNS. Five experimental groups of transection injury were designed: left hemitransection; right hemitransection; double hemitransection; complete transection injuries; and laminectomy-only control. ⋯ SSEPs are a reliable tool to assess the functionality of neural pathways and their projections to higher CNS structures such as the cortices. They enable us to determine residual function and the changes within the CNS post-injury and consistently track these events over time. The results from our study provide supporting evidence for the presence of neuronal network reorganization and plasticity in the CNS after transection SCI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2016
ReviewCardiovascular Responses to Sexual Activity in Able-Bodied Individuals and Those Living with Spinal Cord Injury.
Sexuality is an integral part of the human experience and persists in health and disability. The cardiovascular system is crucial to sexual function and can be affected profoundly by spinal cord injury (SCI). The effects of sexual activity on the cardiovascular system in SCI have not been summarized and compared with sexual activity in able-bodied individuals. ⋯ In able-bodied persons, sexual activity results in modest increases in blood pressure. In those with SCI, intense stimulation and higher injury levels result in a higher likelihood of autonomic dysreflexia and elevated blood pressure. Because of rapid changes in blood pressure, continuous monitoring is more advantageous than intermittent measurement, because the latter may miss peak values.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2016
Multicenter StudyAssessment of functional improvement without compensation for human spinal cord injury: extending the Neuromuscular Recovery Scale to the upper extremities.
The Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (NRS) is a tool for measuring functional recovery in spinal cord injured (SCI) persons based on tasks that test pre-injury functional capability. The NRS has been shown to be a valid, reliable, and responsive instrument for measuring functional recovery. The NRS has been updated to include three items measuring upper extremity function, and a new scoring mechanism has been defined. ⋯ The NRS score was more strongly correlated with other SCI functional measures than ISNCSCI motor scores were. The new NRS score was most responsive to change brought on by locomotor training. The expanded NRS appears to be a valuable tool in measuring functional recovery from SCI; further evaluation of its psychometric properties is warranted.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2016
Influence of previous comorbidities and common complications on motor function after early surgical treatment of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.
The influence of complications and comorbidities on the outcome of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury after early surgery is unclear. The aim of the current study was to analyze the influence of previous comorbidities and common complications on motor function outcome of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury if early surgery was performed. All patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury who were initially surgically treated in our hospital in the period from January 2008 to December 2013 were included in this study. ⋯ The current study shows that motor function was able to be improved in patients who were given early surgery after a traumatic spinal cord injury. Common complications as well as previous cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic comorbidities do not impair motor function outcome. The final motor function score is reduced if patients have previous spinal comorbidities.