COVID-19 pandemic. What should Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine specialists do? A clinician's perspective.

COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading all over the world, creating the risk for a healthcare collapse. While acute care and intensive care units are the main pillars of the early response to the disease, rehabilitative medicine should play an important part in allowing COVID-19 survivors to reduce disability and optimize the function of acute hospital setting. The aim of this study was to share the experience and the international perspective of different rehabilitation centers, treating COVID-19 survivors. A group of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists from eleven different countries in Europe and North America have shared their clinical experience in dealing with COVID-19 survivors and how they have managed the re-organization of rehabilitation services. In our experience the most important sequelae of severe and critical forms of COVID-19 are: 1) respiratory; 2) cognitive, central and peripheral nervous system; 3) deconditioning; 4) critical illness related myopathy and neuropathy; 5) dysphagia; 6) joint stiffness and pain; 7) psychiatric. We analyze all these consequences and propose some practical treatment options, based on current evidence and clinical experience, as well as several suggestions for management of rehabilitation services and patients with suspected or confirmed infection by SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 survivors have some specific rehabilitation needs. Experience from other centers may help colleagues in organizing their services and providing better care to their patients.

Tratamiento farmacológico temprano de la espasticidad postictus con toxina botulínica tipo A: recomendaciones de consenso basadas en la evidencia / Early pharmacologic treatment with botulinum toxin A in post-stroke spasticity: consensus evidence-based recommendations

Resumen. La espasticidad es una secuela común en los pacientes que han sufrido un ictus. La identificación de pacientes con alto riesgo de presentar espasticidad postictus e iniciar el tratamiento en fases tempranas probablemente beneficiaría al paciente. Se revisaron las áreas clave en el manejo temprano de la espasticidad postictus, y se consideraron las implicaciones clínicas y la solidez de las evidencias. El documento elaborado por los coordinadores fue sometido a revisión y se elaboró un texto, que finalmente se validó. El grupo de expertos recomienda definir el tratamiento temprano de la espasticidad como el que comienza antes de los tres primeros meses tras el ictus. El panel considera muy importante identificar los factores de riesgo asociados con la aparición de la espasticidad, ya que esto podría reducir su impacto. Se definen las situaciones más frecuentes subsidiarias de tratamiento precoz tanto del miembro superior como del miembro inferior. El panel recomienda que el tratamiento con toxina botulínica tipo A sea administrado por especialistas que posean una amplia experiencia en el diagnóstico y manejo clínico de la espasticidad. En conclusión, el tratamiento de la espasticidad focal en los primeros tres meses tras un ictus está indicado en determinadas situaciones. Estas recomendaciones ayudan a estandarizar el manejo temprano de la espasticidad postictus, con la consiguiente ayuda para el clínico y los pacientes (AU)

Summary. Spasticity is a common complication that occurs in those patients that have suffered a stroke. To identify those patients at high risk of having post-stroke spasticity and to start treatment at early stages would probably benefit the patient. The key aspects in the early management of post-stroke spasticity were review and the clinical implications and strength of evidences were also considered. The document drafted by the study coordinators was subsequently reviewed and then a validated document was developed. The experts recommend defining early treatment of spasticity as one that begins before the first three months after stroke. The panel considers very important to identify the risk factors associated with the onset of spasticity, since this might reduce its impact. Additionally, the most common conditions subsidiaries of early treatment of both upper and lower limb are defined. The panel recommends that the treatment with botulinum toxin A must only be given by specialists with experience in diagnosis and management of spasticity. In conclusion, the treatment of focal spasticity in the first three months after stroke is indicated in certain situations. These recommendations help to standardize the early management of post-stroke spasticity, with the consequent support to clinicians and patients (AU)

A randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of urinary catheters with silver alloy coating in spinal cord injured patients: trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Patients with non-acute spinal cord injury that carry indwelling urinary catheters have an increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTIs). Antiseptic Silver Alloy-Coated Silicone Urinary Catheters seems to be a promising intervention to reduce UTIs; however, actual evidence cannot be extrapolated to spinal cord injured patients. The aim of this trial is to make a comparison between the use of antiseptic silver alloy-coated silicone urinary catheters and the use of standard urinary catheters in spinal cord injured patients to prevent UTIs. METHODS/DESIGN: The study will consist in an open, randomized, multicentre, and parallel clinical trial with blinded assessment. The study will include 742 spinal cord injured patients who require at least seven days of urethral catheterization as a method of bladder voiding. Participants will be online centrally randomized and allocated to one of the two study arms (silver alloy-coated or standard catheters). Catheters will be used for a maximum period of 30 days or removed earlier if the clinician considers it necessary. The main outcome will be the incidence of UTIs by the time of catheter removal or at day 30 after catheterization, the event that occurs first. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed, as well as a primary analysis of all patients. DISCUSSION: The aim of this study is to assess whether silver alloy-coated silicone urinary catheters improve ITUs in spinal cord injured patients. ESCALE is intended to be the first study to evaluate the efficacy of the silver alloy-coated catheters in spinal cord injured patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01803919.