[Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-cannabidiol in the treatment of spasticity in chronic spinal cord injury: a clinical experience]. / Delta-9-tetrahidrocannabinol-cannabidiol en el tratamiento de la espasticidad en la lesion medular cronica: una experiencia clinica.

INTRODUCTION: Spasticity in chronic spinal cord injury is a condition that can have negative repercussions on the patient's quality of life. Its treatment is complex and sometimes the outcome is insufficient. Cannabinoids have recently been used in multiple sclerosis to successfully treat spasticity that is refractory to other therapies. AIM: To quantify the clinical response of a group of patients with spastic chronic spinal cord injury to the orally administered drug delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-cannabidiol (Sativex ®) as medication for use in special situations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The research consists of a six-month observational study in patients with chronic spinal cord injuries with refractory spasticity. The variables collected were: modified Ashworth scale, Penn spasm frequency scale, Numeric Rating Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale for pain. Additionally, clinical variables and side effects of the treatment were also collected. RESULTS: Fifteen patients took part in this study. A significant improvement was observed on three of the scales recorded: modified Ashworth scale (z = -2.97; p = 0.003), Penn spasm frequency scale (z = -2.76; p = 0.006) and Numeric Rating Scale (z = -3.21; p = 0.001). The use of the drug was withdrawn in two patients due to side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Sativex can be considered an alternative in patients with spasticity associated with chronic spinal cord injury for whom other therapeutic measures have been insufficient. Further studies need to be conducted before the use of this drug can be recommended and so as to define a complete profile of its long-term side effects.

TITLE: Delta-9-tetrahidrocannabinol-cannabidiol en el tratamiento de la espasticidad en la lesion medular cronica: una experiencia clinica.Introduccion. La espasticidad en la lesion medular cronica es una condicion que puede repercutir negativamente en la calidad de vida del paciente. Su tratamiento es complejo y, en ocasiones, el resultado es insuficiente. Recientemente, en la esclerosis multiple los cannabinoides se han empleado con exito en el tratamiento de la espasticidad refractaria a otras terapias. Objetivo. Cuantificar la respuesta clinica de un grupo de pacientes con lesion medular cronica espastica al farmaco delta-9-tetrahidrocannabinol-cannabidiol (Sativex ®), de administracion oral, como medicamento de uso en situaciones especiales. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio observacional durante seis meses en lesionados medulares cronicos con espasticidad refractaria. Las variables recogidas fueron: escala modificada de Ashworth, escala de frecuencia de espasmos de Penn, Numeric Rating Scale y escala visual analogica del dolor. De forma adicional se recogieron variables clinicas y efectos secundarios del tratamiento. Resultados. Quince pacientes tomaron parte en el estudio. Se observo mejoria significativa en tres de las escalas registradas: escala de Ashworth modificada (z = -2,97; p = 0,003), escala de frecuencia de espasmos de Penn (z = -2,76; p = 0,006) y Numeric Rating Scale (z = -3,21; p = 0,001). Se suspendio el uso del farmaco en dos pacientes por efectos secundarios. Conclusiones. Sativex se muestra como una alternativa en pacientes con espasticidad asociada a lesion medular cronica, en las que otras medidas terapeuticas resultan insuficientes. Son necesarios mas estudios para recomendar el uso de este farmaco y definir un perfil completo de sus efectos adversos a largo plazo.

Risk factors in iatrogenic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: In the last years, there has been a change in the aetiology of spinal cord injury. There has been an increase in the number of elderly patients with spinal cord injuries caused by diseases or medical procedures. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of the occurrence of iatrogenic spinal cord injury in our unit. The secondary aim is to study what variables can be associated with a higher risk of iatrogenesis. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive, observational study of patients with acute spinal cord injury admitted from June 2009 to May 2014 was conducted. The information collected included the patient age, aetiology, neurological level and grade of injury when admitted and when discharged, cardiovascular risk factors, a previous history of depression and any prior treatment with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. We applied a logistic regression. The grade of statistical significance was established as P<0.05. RESULTS: In total, 265 patients were included. In 48 of the cases, the cause was iatrogenic (18.18%±4.6% IC). The most frequent level of injury was the thoracic level (48%). The main aetiology of spinal cord injury caused by iatrogenesis was surgery for degenerative spine disease, in patients under the age of 30 were treated with intrathecal chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic spinal cord injury is a frequent complication. A statistically significant association between a patient history of depression and iatrogenic spinal cord injury was found as well as with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drug use prior to iatrogenic spinal cord injury.

Mujer con dolor cervical súbito y deterioro neurológico / Woman with sudden neck pain and neurological impairment

No disponible

Adaptation and validation of the Spanish self-report version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III).

STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional validation study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to adapt and validate a self-report version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III) for the Spanish population. METHODS: A cross-cultural adaptation of the self-report version of the SCIM III for the Spanish population was performed on the basis of international guidelines. A total of 100 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) were recruited. A team of healthcare professionals administered the SCIM III by observation. In addition, the patients completed the Spanish self-report version (eSCIM-SR). Data from both questionnaires were analysed jointly. RESULTS: A high correlation was observed between SCIM III and eSCIM-SR. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient for the global score was 0.998 (95% confidence interval: 0.997, 0.998), and the subscale scores were 0.988 (0.982, 0.992) for self-care, 0.992 (0.988, 0.995) for respiration and sphincter management and 0.997 (0.995, 0.998) for Mobility. Bland-Altman plots showed a small bias of -0.32 (95% limits of agreement: -3.01, 2.37). The estimated bias was low in all three domains, with values of -0.22 (-2.12, 1.68), -0.1 (-2.02, 1.82) and -0.03 (-1.69, 1.63) for the self-care, respiration and sphincter management and mobility subscales, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study validates the eSCIM-SR as a tool for the functional assessment of patients with SCI, principally in the outpatient setting.

Interés del uso clínico del tensor de difusión en la planificación del tratamiento rehabilitador en pacientes tras el primer ictus / Importance of the clinical use of the diffusion tensor in planning rehabilitation treatment in patients after the first stroke

Objetivo. Contrastar la utilidad predictiva de la RM en la modalidad del tensor de difusión (TD) en una muestra de pacientes que han presentado un ictus. Material y método. Estudio prospectivo sobre 7 pacientes de ambos sexos, ingresados para tratamiento rehabilitador intensivo tras primer episodio de ictus isquémico. Protocolo: 1) Valoración habilidades motoras: índice motor, prueba de control de tronco; 2) Capacidad de la marcha: functional assessment categories y capacidad funcional: índice de Barthel y Functional Independence Measure (FIM); 3) Estudio tractográfico: media y desviación estándar de fracción de anisotropía (FA) y coeficiente de difusión (CDA) aparente en cápsula interna, corona radiata y tracto protuberancial derecho e izquierdo; y 4) Estudio estadístico: representación de las relaciones 2 a 2 entre todas las variables en estudio, y comprobación de cada posible relación con modelo de regresión simple (lineal o logístico). Se han incluido resultados con un valor de p menor de 0,2. Resultados. Las relaciones con significatividad 2 a 2 son: 1) índice motor de la extremidad superior y FA en el tracto protuberancial; 2) índice motor de la extremidad inferior y la FA a nivel de la corona radiata; 3) FIM motor y cognitivo con el CDA aparente a nivel de la corona radiata; 4) FIM motor y cognitivo con la FA en el tracto protuberancial; 5) FIM cognitivo y la FA a nivel de la corona radiata; 6) FIM total con la FA en la cápsula interna; y 7) tracto protuberancial, así como con el CDA en el tracto protuberancial. Los resultados representan las conclusiones preliminares del empleo del TD en una muestra reducida de pacientes atendidos en una unidad de neurorrehabilitación en los que consideramos de utilidad el uso del TD en la predicción evolutiva del ictus (AU)

Objective. To compare the predictive value of the MR diffusion tensor (DT) imaging modality in a sample of stroke patients. Material and method. A prospective study was conducted on 7 inpatient subjects of both genders who were undergoing intensive rehabilitation after a first ischemic stroke. The protocol included: 1) motor skills evaluation by Motor Index, Trunk Control Test; 2) Walking capacity: functional assessment categories and functional capacity: Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure (FIM); 3) Tractography study: mean and standard deviation for fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in internal capsule, corona radiata and right and left pontine tract; 4) Statistical analysis: projection of the data into a two-dimensional scatterplot matrix; verification of every possible link with a simple regression model (linear or logistic). Results with P-value <0.2 are included. Results. The relations with two pairs of variables that are significant are: 1) upper extremity motor skill and FA values in the pontine tract; 2) lower extremity motor skill and FA values at the corona radiate; 3) motor and cognitive FIM with ADC at the corona radiate; 4) motor and cognitive FIM with FA in the pontine tract; 5) Cognitive FIM and FA at the corona radiate; 6) FIM total and FA at the internal capsule and pontine tract and, 7) total FIM and ADC in the pontine tract. The results represent the preliminary findings of the use of DT in a small sample of stroke patients in a neurorehabilitation unit. We consider DT to be useful in the evolutive prediction of stroke (AU)

Linfedema crónico de miembros inferiores en gigantismo por tumor hipofisario / Chronic lymphedema of the lower limbs in gigantism due to hypophysial tumor

Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 44 años con linfedema-elefantiasis en miembros inferiores grado IV, de 20 años de evolución, con múltiples complicaciones cutáneas, en el contexto de gigantismo que apareció en la infancia como consecuencia de un tumor hipofisario productor de hormona de crecimiento. La producción excesiva de hormona de crecimiento ocasiona el crecimiento excesivo de tejidos óseos, cartilaginosos, vísceras, partes blandas, así como alteraciones endocrinas y cardiovasculares. Los resultados del tratamiento descongestivo de linfedema, con drenaje linfático manual, presoterapia multicompartimental, vendajes compresivos y cinesiterapia, seguido de una terapia de mantenimiento, fueron satisfactorios, permaneciendo estable en la actualidad. (AU)