Spinal cord
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Case Reports
Intradural arachnoid cyst associated with thoracic spinal compression fracture: 7-year follow up after surgery.
A case report with long-term follow after a surgical procedure. ⋯ A compression fracture of the thoracic spine can be associated with an intradural arachnoid cyst. Microscopic resection via hemilaminectomy for the cyst showed a good result in a 7-year follow up.
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Aggressive anterior debridement and fusion has been advocated for the treatment of cervical osteomyelitis/epidural abscess (COEA) for many years. In this study we review our experiences with severely neurologically impaired (tetraplegic) patients with COEA. ⋯ Aggressive debridement and fusion in patients with COEA can result in successful outcomes even in patients who are tetraplegic prior to surgery.
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This review describes the state of art in the field of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and its impact on improving grasping and walking functions in acute and chronic Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) patients. It is argued that during the early rehabilitation period the FES systems with surface stimulation electrodes should be used to assist training of hand and leg movements in SCI patients. Our clinical trials have shown that a number of acute SCI patients with impaired walking and grasping functions could improve these functions due to training with an adjustable FES system to the point that they finally did not need the FES system to carry out these tasks. ⋯ The limited acceptance of the FES technology can be in part explained by the fact that it is not completely mature and that the patients still require daily assistance to use the FES systems. Nevertheless the present FES treatments combined with conventional occupational and physical therapy still remain the most promising approach in rehabilitating SCI patients. In this review, advantages and limitations of different FES systems that are used to restore grasping and walking functions are discussed.
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Review. ⋯ Several methods of bladder management are available in the post-acute phase of SCI. The method used has to be based on urodynamic characteristics with the aim of producing a continent bladder with adequate low pressure storage capacity. Modern management of the bladder in SCI has successfully reduced renal related mortality in SCI from 95% in the first half of the 20th century to the present 3%.
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A prospective clinical analysis of headaches in whiplash injury. ⋯ Post-whiplash headache is a genuine common but short lived affair, constant headaches disappearing within 3 weeks in 85% subjects. In the minority complaining of headache after that period there was no evidence of persisting physical injury, nor of inability to work or other disability caused by headaches.