Examining antibiotic prescribing and urine culture testing for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a primary care spinal cord injury (SCI) cohort.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To describe antibiotic prescribing and urine culture testing patterns for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a primary care Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) cohort. SETTING: A primary care electronic medical records (EMR) database in Ontario. METHODS: Using linked EMR health administrative databases to identify urine culture and antibiotic prescriptions ordered in primary care for 432 individuals with SCI from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Descriptive statistics were conducted to describe the SCI cohort, and physicians. Regression analyses were conducted to determine patient and physician factors associated with conducting a urine culture and class of antibiotic prescription. RESULTS: The average annual number of antibiotic prescriptions for UTI for the SCI cohort during study period was 1.9. Urine cultures were conducted for 58.1% of antibiotic prescriptions. Fluroquinolones and nitrofurantoin were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics. Male physicians and international medical graduates were more likely to prescribe fluroquinolones than nitrofurantoin for UTIs. Early-career physicians were more likely to order a urine culture when prescribing an antibiotic. No patient characteristics were associated with obtaining a urine culture or antibiotic class prescription. CONCLUSION: Nearly 60% of antibiotic prescriptions for UTIs in the SCI population were associated with a urine culture. Only physician characteristics, not patient characteristics, were associated with whether or not a urine culture was conducted, and the class of antibiotic prescribed. Future research should aim to further understand physician factors with antibiotic prescribing and urine culture testing for UTIs in the SCI population.

Using Clinical Vignettes and a Modified Expert Delphi Panel to Determine Parameters for Identifying Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Health Administrative and Electronic Medical Record Databases.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain expert consensus on the parameters and etiologic conditions required to retrospectively identify cases of non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) in health administrative and electronic medical record (EMR) databases based on the rating of clinical vignettes. DESIGN: A modified Delphi process included 2 survey rounds and 1 remote consensus panel. The surveys required the rating of clinical vignettes, developed after chart reviews and expert consultation. Experts who participated in survey rounds were invited to participate in the Delphi Consensus Panel. SETTING: An international collaboration using an online meeting platform. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one expert physicians and/or clinical researchers in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Agreement on clinical vignettes as NTSCI. Parameters to classify cases of NTSCI in health administrative and EMR databases. RESULTS: In health administrative and EMR databases, cauda equina syndromes should be considered SCI and classified as a NTSCI or TSCI based on the mechanism of injury. A traumatic event needs to be listed for injury to be considered TSCI. To be classified as NTSCI, neurologic sufficient impairments (motor, sensory, bowel, and bladder) are required, in addition to an etiology. It is possible to have both a NTSCI and a TSCI, as well as a recovered NTSCI. If information is unavailable or missing in health administrative and EMR databases, the case may be listed as "unclassifiable" depending on the purpose of the research study. CONCLUSION: The Delphi panel provided guidelines to appropriately classify cases of NTSCI in health administrative and EMR databases.

Perspectives of individuals with sub-acute spinal cord injury after personalized adapted locomotor training.

PURPOSE: Locomotor training after incomplete spinal cord injury can improve walking function, and cardiovascular and muscle health. Participants' perspectives about locomotor training, however, have not been extensively studied. This study describes the experiences of individuals with sub-acute incomplete spinal cord injury who completed personalized adapted locomotor training; a locomotor-focused rehabilitation tailored to individual goals. Specifically, we examined how participation in this training impacted their lives and what challenges they encountered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following inpatient rehabilitation, seven participants completed 74-197 h of personalized adapted locomotor training. Using conventional content analysis, themes were identified from post-training interviews. Trustworthiness was enhanced through analysis trials, verbatim quotes, and triangulation. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: motives for participating, perceived benefits, and perceived challenges. Beliefs that higher intensity leads to quicker recovery of prior function motivated participation. Physical and psychological health improvements, favorable training structure, and empowerment to self-manage their rehabilitation were perceived benefits. Neglect of other commitments, acquiring extra services to participate (e.g. accessible transportation), limited transferability to daily walking, and a rigid training structure were perceived challenges. Program recommendations were formed from the perceived challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Personalized adapted locomotor training was positively regarded by participants. Addressing the perceived challenges may improve the training experience. Implications for Rehabilitation Personalized adapted locomotor training (PALT) is a high-intensity locomotor therapy tailored to an individual's goals. The experiences of individuals with iSCI highlight the impact of PALT on physical and psychological well-being. PALT has the potential to improve physical functioning and facilitate transitions from inpatient rehabilitation to community living. Findings suggest the need for adaptation of PALT to suit the unique needs of each individual.

Variability of vibrations produced by commercial whole-body vibration platforms.

OBJECTIVE: Whole body vibration has been studied in populations experiencing neuromuscular degradation, including the elderly and individuals with neurological disorders, but methodological standardization is required to clarify its therapeutic effects. The characteristics of the vibrations actually delivered by commercial platforms are rarely measured or reported. Our objective was to quantify the vibrations (frequency, amplitude and peak acceleration) produced by several commercial platforms across different settings. METHODS: Laser and accelerometer recordings were used to measure the vibrations of 7 vibration platforms. Four loads (0 kg, 45 kg, 68 kg, 91 kg) and 3 vibration frequencies were used (30 Hz, 40 Hz, 50 Hz), totaling 12 combinations. RESULTS: In all platforms, vibration amplitude and peak acceleration varied as a function of the load used (p < 0.001 in all cases). In most platforms, the actual frequency of vibration differed from the intended frequency (actual/intended ratio ranging from 0.83 to 1.19), as a function of load and frequency. These results imply that subjects of different weights could be receiving different vibrations. CONCLUSION: Investigators should characterize and report the vibrations actually delivered in their studies, in order to increase the quality of evidence in whole body vibration studies.

Traumatic brain injury in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury: clinical and economic consequences.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and economic burden of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Prospective, case-matched control study. SETTING: Inpatient spinal cord rehabilitation program. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n=10) diagnosed with traumatic SCI and concomitant TBI matched to an SCI only control group. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inpatient rehabilitation length of stay, health care costs (patient care hours), clinician resource allocation, behavioral and critical incidents, FIM, Personality Assessment Inventory, and neuropsychological assessment findings. RESULTS: Prolonged loss of consciousness, increased rehabilitation costs, and greater demands on clinician recourses (trend) were found in the SCI with TBI group relative to the SCI-only group. Neuropsychological test performance was significantly worse in the SCI with TBI group, while the FIM cognition score did not discriminate because of ceiling effects. Greater evidence of psychopathology was observed in the SCI with TBI group. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of TBI in SCI has a range of clinical and economic consequences. This dual diagnosis has the potential to affect SCI rehabilitation negatively, as well as quality of life and reintegration in the community. Specialized care appears to be needed to improve outcomes and to minimize clinical and economic burden, but further research is required.

Can body weight supported treadmill training increase bone mass and reverse muscle atrophy in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury?

This study evaluates the impact of 12 months of body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on muscle and bone in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Fourteen individuals who sustained an incomplete SCI at least 12 months before the study were recruited to participate in BWSTT 3 times/week for a total of 144 sessions. Thirteen individuals completed the study. The average age of subjects was 29 y, average time post-injury was 7.70 y (range: 1-24 y). Areal bone densities of the proximal and distal femur, proximal tibia, spine, and whole body were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), volumetric bone density, and bone geometry at mid-femur and proximal tibia were measured using computed tomography. Serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of training. All other measures were made before and after training. Participants experienced significant increases in whole-body lean mass, from 45.9 +/- 8.7 kg to 47.8 +/- 8.9 kg (mean +/- SD; p < 0.003). Muscle CSAs increased by an average of 4.9% and 8.2% at the thigh and lower leg sites, respectively. No significant changes occurred in bone density or bone geometry at any site, or in bone biochemical markers. Whole-body bone density exhibited a small but statistically significant decrease (p < 0.006). BWSTT may therefore be a promising intervention for increasing muscle mass. Although 12 months of BWSTT did not increase bone density in individuals with chronic incomplete SCI, it did not appear to decrease bone density at fracture-prone sites.

Erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injury: a cost-utility analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is a high incidence of erectile dysfunction after spinal cord injury. This can have a profound effect on quality of life. Treatment options for erectile dysfunction include sildenafil, intracavernous injections of papaverine/alprostadil (Caverject), alprostadil/papaverine/phentolamine ("Triple Mix"), transurethral suppository (MUSE), surgically implanted prosthetic device and vacuum erection devices. However, physical impairments and accessibility may preclude patient self-utilization of non-oral treatments. METHODS: The costs and utilities of oral and non-oral erectile dysfunction treatments in a spinal cord injury population were examined in a cost-utility analysis conducted from a government payer perspective. Subjects with spinal cord injury (n=59) reported health preferences using the standard gamble technique. RESULTS: There was a higher health preference for oral therapy. The cost-effectiveness results indicated that sildenafil was the dominant economic strategy when compared with surgically implanted prosthetic devices, MUSE(R) and Caverject. The incremental cost-utility ratios comparing sildenafil with triple mix and vacuum erection devices favoured sildenafil, with ratios less than CAN$20,000 per quality adjusted life year gained. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, we conclude that sildenafil is a cost-effective treatment for erectile dysfunction in the spinal cord injury population.