Can J Neurol Sci
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This systematic review examines the incidence and prevalence of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in different countries worldwide and their trends over time. The literature search of the studies published between 1950 and 2012 captured 1,871 articles of which 64 articles on incidence and 13 articles on prevalence fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The global incidence of SCI varied from 8.0 to 246.0 cases per million inhabitants per year. ⋯ In addition to regional differences regarding the prevalence rates of SCI across the globe, there has been a trend towards increasing prevalence rates over the last decades. Our results suggest a relatively broad variation of incidence and prevalence rates of SCI among distinctive geographic regions. These results emphasize the need for further studies on incidence and prevalence of SCI, and for international standards and guidelines for reporting on SCI.
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Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently the main surgical procedure for medically refractory Parkinson's disease. The benefit of intra-operative microelectrode recording (MER) for the purpose of neurophysiological localization and mapping of the STN continues to be debated. ⋯ MER in STN DBS surgery demonstrated measurable difference between stereotactic atlas/MRI STN target and neurophysiologic STN localization.
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Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) show poorer balance and greater incidence of falls while turning. We investigated whether a disturbance in timing and sequence of reorientation of body segments is a potential cause of turning difficulty in PD and is altered by levodopa. ⋯ This study further characterized the turning performance of individuals with PD. Our findings have clinical applications and therapeutic value for PD patients with difficulty turning. Understanding the specific deficiencies of turning performance of PD patients allows the therapists to opt for the most effective rehabilitation techniques.