Clinical Practice Guideline for Postoperative Rehabilitation in Older Patients With Hip Fractures

Objective@#The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. Recommendations are required to assist healthcare providers in making decisions on rehabilitation post-surgery. Clinical practice guidelines regarding rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapies) and management of comorbidities/complications in the postoperative phase of hip fractures have not been developed. This guideline aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for various treatment items required for proper recovery after hip fracture surgeries. Methods Reflecting the complex perspectives associated with rehabilitation post-hip surgeries, 15 key questions (KQs) reflecting the complex perspectives associated with post-hip surgery rehabilitation were categorized into four areas: multidisciplinary, rehabilitation, community-care, and comorbidities/complications. Relevant literature from four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed) was searched for articles published up to February 2020. The evidence level and recommended grade were determined according to the grade of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation method. Results A multidisciplinary approach, progressive resistance exercises, and balance training are strongly recommended. Early ambulation, weigh-bearing exercises, activities of daily living training, community-level rehabilitation, management of comorbidities/complication prevention, and nutritional support were also suggested. This multidisciplinary approach reduced the total healthcare cost. @*Conclusion@#This guideline presents comprehensive recommendations for the rehabilitation of adult patients after hip fracture surgery.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Postoperative Rehabilitation in Older Patients With Hip Fractures

Objective@#The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. Recommendations are required to assist healthcare providers in making decisions on rehabilitation post-surgery. Clinical practice guidelines regarding rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapies) and management of comorbidities/complications in the postoperative phase of hip fractures have not been developed. This guideline aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for various treatment items required for proper recovery after hip fracture surgeries. Methods Reflecting the complex perspectives associated with rehabilitation post-hip surgeries, 15 key questions (KQs) reflecting the complex perspectives associated with post-hip surgery rehabilitation were categorized into four areas: multidisciplinary, rehabilitation, community-care, and comorbidities/complications. Relevant literature from four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed) was searched for articles published up to February 2020. The evidence level and recommended grade were determined according to the grade of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation method. Results A multidisciplinary approach, progressive resistance exercises, and balance training are strongly recommended. Early ambulation, weigh-bearing exercises, activities of daily living training, community-level rehabilitation, management of comorbidities/complication prevention, and nutritional support were also suggested. This multidisciplinary approach reduced the total healthcare cost. @*Conclusion@#This guideline presents comprehensive recommendations for the rehabilitation of adult patients after hip fracture surgery.

Computed tomography-based quantitative assessment of lower extremity lymphedema following treatment for gynecologic cancer / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: To develop an algorithmic quantitative skin and subcutaneous tissue volume measurement protocol for lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) patients using computed tomography (CT), to verify the usefulness of the measurement techniques in LEL patients, and to observe the structural characteristics of subcutaneous tissue according to the progression of LEL in gynecologic cancer. METHODS: A program for algorithmic quantitative analysis of lower extremity CT scans has been developed to measure the skin and subcutaneous volume, muscle compartment volume, and the extent of the peculiar trabecular area with a honeycombed pattern. The CT venographies of 50 lower extremities from 25 subjects were reviewed in two groups (acute and chronic lymphedema). RESULTS: A significant increase in the total volume, subcutaneous volume, and extent of peculiar trabecular area with a honeycombed pattern except quantitative muscle volume was identified in the more-affected limb. The correlation of CT-based total volume and subcutaneous volume measurements with volumetry measurement was strong (correlation coefficient: 0.747 and 0.749, respectively). The larger extent of peculiar trabecular area with a honeycombed pattern in the subcutaneous tissue was identified in the more-affected limb of chronic lymphedema group. CONCLUSION: CT-based quantitative assessments could provide objective volume measurements and information about the structural characteristics of subcutaneous tissue in women with LEL following treatment for gynecologic cancer.

Changes of Cortical Excitability by Prefrontal tDCS in Patients with Stroke: A case report

In this case study with 2 chronic stroke patients, we investigated the nature of modulation of neural activities during the working memory (WM) task by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using functional MRI (fMRI). Two patients with chronic right hemispheric stroke participated. Patients performed the 2-back WM task within the fMRI scanner before and after tDCS application while the response data were recorded. An anodal tDCS of 1 mA over the left DLPFC was applied for 20 min within fMRI scanner. The accuracy and the recognition accuracy of WM task were improved after applying tDCS. In fMRI images, activation was decreased in the left superior temporal areas in both cases which represent increased efficiency of neural resources after applying the tDCS. The results of this study showed that the effective modulation of cortical activity by tDCS might be a determinant for behavioral changes of enhancing WM function in patients with stroke.

Subacute Progressive Ascending Myelopathy: A case report

Subacute progressive ascending myelopathy is a rare condition complicating spinal cord injury, unrelated to mechanical compression, instability, hemorrhage or syrinx formation. Clinically, ascending neurological deficit may extend at least two segments above the level established at the initial insult within the first 3 weeks of the initial spinal cord insult. MR imaging characteristically demonstrates cord changes ascending at least four vertebral levels above the initial injury site. The development of progressive myelopathy is a dreaded complication of spinal cord injury and is not misunderstood for post-op complication. We describe a case of a 29-year-old male patient who suffered a falling down accident. He initially presented with a T12 vertebral fracture with associated cord compression and signal changes in the spinal cord. During the subsequent 3 weeks, he developed progressive sensory changes with cord signal abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging extending above from the injury site.

Clinical Characteristics, Electrodiagnostic, and Imaging Findings of Atypical Forms of Motor Neuron Disease

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics, electrodiagnostic, and imaging findings of Hirayama disease (HD), late onset monomelic amyotrophy (LMA), and brachial amyotrophic diplegia (BAD). METHOD: A retrospective analysis of the medical records, electrodiagnostic, and imaging findings of 12 patients (4 HD, 2 LMA, 6 BAD) was done. For patients whose last clinic follow-up exceeded 6 months a telephone survey was done to see if there were any symptom changes. RESULTS: The clinical, electrodiagnostic, and imaging findings of the HD and BAD patients were similar to previous studies. Except for a later onset, age disease duration was too short to distinguish LMA from HD or other motor neuron diseases. One patient in the BAD group progressed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and another died due to undetermined respiratory failure. These two patients showed abnormalities in their lower extremities, thoracic paraspinal, and craniocervical muscles on needle electromyography. Except for another patient, none of the other three patients showed abnormalities in their lower extremities, thoracic paraspinals, or craniocervical muscles on needle electromyography. CONCLUSION: HD and BAD can be considered as separate disease entities. However, a longer follow-up period than previously recommended is necessary to differentiate BAD from ALS. Follow-up period was too short to determine whether LMA can also be considered as a separate disease entity.

Neuroplasticity Induced by Robot-assisted Gait Training in a Stroke Patient: A case report

In this case study, we investigated the effects of robot-assisted gait training on the plasticity of motor system in a stroke patient using functional MRI. A patient who suffered from the left hemiparesis following the right MCA infarction performed gait training with a robot-assisted gait orthosis. Before and after gait training, motor performances were assessed and functional MRIs were acquired with motor activation task of affected lower limb. After gait training with a robot-assisted orthosis, the patient's motor performances were improved and cortical activities were changed. Activation in the ipsilesional primary sensorimotor cortex was increased and cortical reorganization was induced in a way that nearby regions were recruited for the movement of affected lower limb. The results of this study showed that gait training with a robot-assisted orthosis induced cortical reorganization of the motor network that resulted in enhancement of motor performance of the lower limb.