Spinal cord
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Pressure ulcers are common among patients with spinal cord disorders (SCD) and occur due to unrelieved pressure on soft tissues. ⋯ Indwelling urethral catheter may unusually result in pressure ulcers over the thighs in patients with SCD. Among health professionals involved in the care of these subjects awareness is essential for preventing this complication.
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Original article. ⋯ The authors recommend this procedure as one choice for relieving craniocervical instability with neurological compromise. A programmed rehabilitation will afford better neurological improvement.
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Chronic pain is an important problem following spinal cord injury (SCI) and is a major impediment to effective rehabilitation. The reported prevalence of chronic SCI pain is variable but averages 65% with around one third of these people rating their pain as severe. The mechanisms responsible for the presence of pain are poorly understood. ⋯ Current treatments employ a variety of pharmacological, surgical, physical and psychological approaches. However, evidence for many of the treatments in use is still limited. It is hoped that future research will identify effective treatment strategies that accurately target specific mechanisms.
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A case report of xanthogranulomatous funiculitis and epididymo-orchitis. Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon, non-neoplastic process characterised by destruction of tissue, which is replaced by a striking cellular infiltrate of lipid-laden macrophages. ⋯ Repeated episodes of high-pressure urinary reflux along the vas deferens during dyssynergic voiding, and subsequent interstitial extravasation of urine together with chronic, low-grade, suppurative infection possibly led to development of xanthogranulomatous inflammation in the testis and the epididymis. Since tissue destruction is a feature of xanthogranulomatous inflammation, the definite and curative treatment is either complete (or, where applicable, partial) excision of the affected organ in most of the cases.
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To determine the inter-rater reliability in scoring sensory and motor function and in defining sensory and motor levels in incomplete spinal cord injury, using the revised 1992 International Standards for Neurological and Functional Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISCSCI-92) and to determine the effect on raters agreement of one standardising assessment. ⋯ This study indicates a weak inter-rater reliability for scoring incomplete SCI lesions using the ISCSCI-92.