The role of comprehensive rehabilitation in the care of degenerative cervical myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To find out if comprehensive rehabilitation itself can improve daily performance in persons with DCM. SETTING: The spinal department of a rehabilitation hospital. METHODS: Data from 116 DCM inpatients who underwent comprehensive rehabilitation after spinal surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The definitions of the calculated outcome variables made possible analyses that distinguished the effect of rehabilitation from that of spinal surgery. Paired t-tests were used to compare admission with discharge outcomes and functional gains. Spearman's correlations were used to assess relationships between performance gain during rehabilitation and between time from surgery to rehabilitation. RESULTS: The Spinal Cord Injury Ability Realization Measurement Index (SCI-ARMI) increased during rehabilitation from 57 (24) to 78 (19) (p < 0.001). The Spinal Cord Independence Measure 3rd version (SCIM III) gain attributed to neurological improvement (dSCIM-IIIn) was 6.3 (9.2), and that attributed to rehabilitation (dSCIM-IIIr) 16 (18.5) (p < 0.001). dSCIM-IIIr showed a rather weak negative correlation with time from spinal surgery to rehabilitation (r = -0.42, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed, for the first time, that comprehensive rehabilitation can achieve considerable functional improvement for persons with DCM of any degree, beyond that of spinal surgery. Combined with previously published evidence, this indicates that comprehensive rehabilitation can be considered for persons with DCM of any functional degree, before surgery.

The net contribution of rehabilitation to improvement in performance in patients with spinal cord lesions in five countries.

CONTEXT: Change in ability realization reflects the main contribution of rehabilitation to improvement in the performance of daily activities in patients with spinal cord lesions (SCL). OBJECTIVE: To assess the net effect of rehabilitation of patients with SCL and compare it between countries. METHODS: We calculated the Spinal Cord Ability Realization Measurement Index (SCI-ARMI) and its change from admission to rehabilitation to discharge, for inpatients admitted to SCL units in five countries, between 2016 and 2019. We used chi-square tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), McNemar's test, Pearson's correlations, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare countries and patient groups and assess the relationships of various factors with SCI-ARMI gain during rehabilitation. RESULTS: The study included 218 inpatients (67% males, age 52 ± 17). In Brazil, Israel, Italy, Portugal, and Turkiye, respectively, SCI-ARMI gain was 2 (SD = 15), 19 (SD = 17), 31 (SD = 23), 13 (SD = 15), and 16 (SD = 12). Yet, after controlling for admission SCI-ARMI and the time from SCL onset to the examination, the effect of the country on ability realization gain was found non-significant (P = 0.086). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that rehabilitation makes a net contribution to improvement in performance in patients with SCL, beyond the contribution of neurological recovery. After controlling for affecting factors, this contribution was quite similar in the participating units from different countries.

Venous thromboembolism and anticoagulation in spinal cord lesion rehabilitation inpatients: A 10-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a concern following the onset of spinal cord lesions (SCL). OBJECTIVES: To assess the current efficacy and risks of anticoagulation after SCL and consider changes in thromboprophylaxis. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included individuals admitted to inpatient rehabilitation within 3 months of SCL onset. Main outcome measures were the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), bleeding, thrombocytopenia, or death, which occurred within 1 year of the SCL onset. RESULTS: VTE occurred in 37 of the 685 patients included in the study (5.4%, 95% CI 3.7-7.1%, 2.8% PE), and in 16 of 526 patients who received prophylactic anticoagulation at rehabilitation (3%, 95% CI 1.6-4.5%, 1.1% PE, with at least 1 fatality). Of these 526, 1.3% developed clinically significant bleeding and 0.8% thrombocytopenia. Prophylactic anticoagulation, most commonly 40 mg/day, continued until a median period of 6.4 weeks after SCL onset (25% -75% percentiles 5.8-9.7), but in 29.7%, VTE occurred more than 3 months after SCL onset. CONCLUSION: The VTE prophylaxis used for the present cohort contributed to a considerable but limited reduction of VTE incidence. The authors recommend conducting a prospective study to assess the efficacy and safety of an updated preventive anticoagulation regimen.

A multi-center international study on the spinal cord independence measure, version IV: Rasch psychometric validation.

CONTEXT: The Spinal Cord Independence Measure is a comprehensive functional rating scale for individuals with spinal cord lesion (SCL). OBJECTIVE: To validate the scores of the three subscales of SCIM IV, the fourth version of SCIM, using advanced statistical methods. STUDY DESIGN: Multi-center cohort study. SETTING: Nineteen SCL units in 11 countries. METHODS: SCIM developers created SCIM IV following comments by experts, included more accurate definitions of scoring criteria in the SCIM IV form, and adjusted it to assess specific conditions or situations that the third version, SCIM III, does not address. Professional staff members assessed 648 SCL inpatients, using SCIM IV and SCIM III, at admission to rehabilitation, and at discharge. The authors examined the validity and reliability of SCIM IV subscale scores using Rasch analysis. RESULTS: The study included inpatients aged 16-87 years old. SCIM IV subscale scores fit the Rasch model. All item infit and most item outfit mean-square indices were below 1.4; statistically distinct strata of abilities were 2.6-6; most categories were properly ordered; item hierarchy was stable across most clinical subgroups and countries. In a few items, however, we found misfit or category threshold disordering. We found SCIM III and SCIM IV Rasch properties to be comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Rasch analysis suggests that the scores of each SCIM IV subscale are reliable and valid. This reinforces the justification for using SCIM IV in clinical practice and research.

Responses to stimuli in the 'snoezelen' room in unresponsive wakefulness or in minimally responsive state.

BACKGROUND: Sensory stimulation in Snoezelen room increased responsiveness after brain injury and dementia. OBJECTIVE: To explore the physiological and clinical effects of Snoezelen stimulation in persons with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or minimally conscious state (UWS or MCS). DESIGN: A comparative prospective observational cohort study. METHODS: Ten patients with UWS and 25 in MCS were exposed to consecutive stimuli involving the 5 senses in a Snoezelen room. Heart rate (HR) and cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), and scores of the Loewenstein communication scale (LCS) were obtained before and during or after the stimuli. RESULTS: The stimuli increased HR values and decreased left hemisphere CBFV values in patients with MCS (p < 0.05). Stimulation increased LCS scores (from 28.48 ± 6.55 to 31.13 ± 7.14; p < 0.001) in patients with MCS, but not in the UWS group. LCS gain correlated with HR and right hemisphere CBFV gains in patients with MCS (r = 0.439 and 0.636 respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Snoezelen stimulation induced immediate improvement in communication and physiological changes in patients with MSC, and had a minor physiological effect in patients with UWS. If additional studies support these findings, it will be possible to suggest that Snoezelen stimulation can affect arousal, and possibly improve functioning.

Determinants of Quality of Life in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury Using Structural Equation Modeling.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to examine the interdependent associations between International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains and their relationship with environmental factors with regard to quality of life (QoL) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Survey, cross-sectional study, and model testing using structural equation modeling. SETTING: Two inpatient and outpatient SCI rehabilitation units, Sheba Medical Center and Loewenstein Hospital, Israel. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 156 individuals with SCI (N=156). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: QoL assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF. Neurological impairment after SCI reflected by lesion completeness and neurologic level of injury as measured by the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. The Spinal Cord Independence Measure to assess SCI-related task performance. ICF Brief Core Sets composition scores to assess impairment in body structure and function domains, limitations in activities, restriction in participation constructs, and the effect of environmental factors within the ICF model. RESULTS: Level of spinal cord injury and ICF Brief Core Sets composite score relating to activities and participation construct demonstrated a direct significant association with QoL. Moreover, a significant indirect association with QoL was found between the composite scores in ICF body structure and function and environmental factors, level of spinal cord injury, time since injury onset, and sex. Because the Spinal Cord Independence Measure was not related to QoL, we inferred that the categories related to instrumental activities of daily living and participation exert the most significant influence on QoL. CONCLUSIONS: In order to optimize improvements in quality of life, current rehabilitation programs should target limitations specifically related to instrumental activities of daily living and participation restrictions. It may serve as a focal point for further development of current therapeutic models and analytical methods that optimize rehabilitation planning and decision making among both health care professionals and patients.

Satisfaction scores can be used to assess the quality of care and service in spinal rehabilitation.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort comparative study. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the suitability of satisfaction scores for the assessment of quality of care and service in spinal rehabilitation. SETTING: Spinal rehabilitation department. METHODS: Fifty-two inpatients participated anonymously in a large satisfaction survey, in 2017. A questionnaire containing the same questions was completed by 96 other inpatients, whose personal details were known, admitted to the same department between 2017 and 2019. Differences in satisfaction scores were compared between the two groups, between years, and between identified patients with differences in perceived progress and satisfaction with progress, using Mann-Whitney tests. In the identified patients, the association between satisfaction and patient demographic, neurological, and functional characteristics was evaluated using Pearson correlations. Analysis of variance and t test assessed the effect of comorbidities on satisfaction. T test assessed gender differences between groups. The effect of associated factors on satisfaction was examined using a stepwise linear regression. RESULTS: The total satisfaction score was 86.05 ± 16.99 for the anonymous group and 88.75 ± 12.45 for the identified patients (p > 0.05). The only patient characteristics that were associated with satisfaction were years of education, the perception of progress during rehabilitation, and the satisfaction with progress (p < 0.02). Their contribution to the total satisfaction variance, however, was relatively small (R2 = 0.211). CONCLUSIONS: The small effect of patient characteristics on total satisfaction indicates that satisfaction scores can be used to assess the quality of care and service in spinal rehabilitation. This and the similarity in findings between the groups supports the validity of the questionnaires.

Conceptual changes needed to improve outcomes in rehabilitation medicine: A clinical commentary.

Rehabilitation medicine has expanded the horizon of all medicine and brought about new human achievements. To facilitate continued advances in achievement, several changes are suggested in customary rehabilitation strategic goals, concepts, and practices. The main rehabilitation goals should focus on prolonged survival, contrary to the opinions of most authors on rehabilitation, and on achievement of maximum ability realization, rather than of independence or any given (including previous) level of functioning. Setting rehabilitation goals should benefit the patient, rather than the caregiver or the insurer. Training should focus on tasks that contribute to the patients' interests and desires, rather than on any task that reduces the burden of care. The main criterion for admission to a rehabilitation ward should be based on expected advantage in prolonging patient survival and maximizing ability realization.

Assessment of the unmediated relationship between neurological impairment and health-related quality of life following spinal cord injury.

Objective: To assess the unmediated association between neurological impairment and quality of life (QoL) among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), in the context of both early post-acute and long-term rehabilitation settings.Design: An observational prospective cross-sectional study.Setting: Two neurological rehabilitation centers, specializing in spinal cord injury, within a university hospital.Methods: 156 adults with spinal cord injury in the early post-acute and chronic stages of rehabilitation.Outcome Measures: Participants were categorized into tetraplegia or paraplegia groups based on neurological level of injury, and into complete or incomplete groups based on American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) score. QoL was assessed by means of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LISAT-9), and Personal Well-Being Index (PWI).Results: WHOQOL-BREF and PWI predicted Level of Injury group classification and WHOQOL-BREF predicted Setting group classification. None of the questionnaires differentiated between the Type of Injury groups. At the early post-acute stage of rehabilitation, the QoL scores of participants with tetraplegia and paraplegia did not differ significantly, while significantly higher QoL scores were revealed in paraplegics in the long-term setting group.Conclusions: A direct, unmediated effect of severity of neurological impairment was revealed with the WHOQOL-BREF, which distinguished between the tetraplegia and paraplegia groups, but not between the complete and incomplete injuries. QoL was significantly higher in paraplegia than in tetraplegia following the early post-acute stage of rehabilitation.

Ability Realization Improves During Inpatient Rehabilitation for Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate improvement in ability realization and additional long-term outcomes, during and after inpatient rehabilitation for Guillain-Barré syndrome. DESIGN: This is a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study, in which outcomes were examined using validated scales, for 47 inpatients with Guillain-Barré syndrome. RESULTS: Scores improved from 65 on the American Spinal Injury Association Motor Score and 50 on the Spinal Cord Independence Measure, at admission to inpatient rehabilitation, to 81 and 80 at discharge, and to 92 and 95 at the end of 7.5 yrs, on average, at the follow-up ( P = 0.001). The mean Spinal Cord Independence Measure/American Spinal Injury Association Motor Score ratio, which reflects the ability realization, increased during rehabilitation from 50/65 to 80/81 ( P = 0.001), and tended to increase further at follow-up to 95/92 ( P = 0.228). At follow-up, pain did not correlate, and fatigue showed a weak correlation with the American Spinal Injury Association Motor Score, Spinal Cord Independence Measure, and the Adult Subjective Assessment of Participation ( r = -0.363, P = 0.012; r = -0.362, P = 0.012; r = -0.392, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Ability realization improved during inpatient rehabilitation for Guillain-Barré syndrome and remained high after discharge, suggesting a likely contribution of rehabilitation to the functional outcome, beyond the contribution of neurological recovery. Despite residual fatigue and pain, there was only minor or no effect on daily function or participation.

Reliability Validity and Responsiveness of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure 4th Version in a Multicultural Setup.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the fourth version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure for reliability and validity. DESIGN: Partly blinded comparison with the criterion standard Spinal Cord Independence Measure III, and between examiners and examinations. SETTING: A multicultural cohort from 19 spinal cord injury units in 11 countries. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 648 patients with spinal cord injury. INTERVENTION: Assessment with Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM IV) and Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III) on admission to inpatient rehabilitation and before discharge. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SCIM IV interrater reliability, internal consistency, correlation with and difference from SCIM III, and responsiveness. RESULTS: Total agreement between examiners was above 80% on most SCIM IV tasks. All Kappa coefficients were above 0.70 and statistically significant (P<.001). Pearson's coefficients of the correlation between the examiners were above 0.90, and intraclass correlation coefficients were above 0.90. Cronbach's alpha was above 0.96 for the entire SCIM IV, above 0.66 for the subscales, and usually decreased when an item was eliminated. Reliability values were lower for the subscale of respiration and sphincter management, and on admission than at discharge. SCIM IV and SCIM III mean values were very close, and the coefficients of Pearson correlation between them were 0.91-0.96 (P<.001). The responsiveness of SCIM IV was not significantly different from that of SCIM III in most of the comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The validity, reliability, and responsiveness of SCIM IV, which was adjusted to assess specific patient conditions or situations that SCIM III does not address, and which includes more accurate definitions of certain scoring criteria, are very good and quite similar to those of SCIM III. SCIM IV can be used for clinical and research trials, including international multi-center studies, and its group scores can be compared with those of SCIM III.

Consciousness recovery after various periods in vegetative state.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that late recovery from vegetative state (VS) is more prevalent today than previously thought. This study examined the decline in the rate of recovery from VS with time after admission to rehabilitation, and established a new time frame, in which the odds of recovery from VS remain substantial. METHODS: Data of 206 patients with VS after traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries (TBI and NTBI), who were treated at the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital (LRH), in Raanana, Israel, between 2003 and 2015, and described in a previous publication, were further analysed. Rate of recovery from VS was monitored at several time points after admission to intensive care and consciousness rehabilitation (ICCR). RESULTS: The odds of consciousness recovery were at least 54% at admission to ICCR, and 48%, 33%, 19%, and 7% at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after admission, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of recovery from VS decreases significantly with time, but contrary to previous consensus, 6-12 months after admission to ICCR, the odds of recovery from VS after TBI and NTBI remain substantial.

Vegetative state outcomes improved over the last two decades.

OBJECTIVE: To describe late outcomes in patients with prolonged unawareness, and factors affecting them. DESIGN: A retrospective study of 154 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 52 with non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI), admitted for intensive care and consciousness rehabilitation (ICCR), in a vegetative state (VS) lasting over 1 month. RESULTS: Survival rate (67% total) was higher than in past studies carried out at the same facility (p < 0.01). Consciousness recovery rate (54% total) was higher in NTBI VS patients (p < 0.01) than in earlier cohorts, and similar in TBI VS patients, despite their older age than that of earlier cohorts. No meaningful differences were found in characteristics or in outcomes between the TBI and NTBI groups. Age, length of stay in ICCR, and hydrocephalus were found to affect survival (p < 0.001). Younger age, absence of hydrocephalus, and anti-Parkinsonian medication contributed to consciousness recovery after VS (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated an improvement in survival and recovery of consciousness in VS patients over the last two decades, and similar outcomes for both TBI and NTBI VS. Outcomes suggest that acute medical care and ICCR have contributed to advances in VS care.

Using a Sniff Controller to Self-Trigger Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation for Assisted Coughing Following Cervical Spinal Cord Lesions.

Individuals with cervical spinal cord lesions (SCLs) typically depend on caregivers to manually assist in coughing by pressing against their abdominal wall. Coughing can also be assisted by functional electric stimulation (FES) applied to abdominal muscles via surface electrodes. Efficacy of FES, however, depends on precise temporal synchronization. The sniff controller is a trigger that enables paralyzed individuals to precisely control external devices through alterations in nasal airflow. We hypothesized that FES self-triggering by sniff controller may allow for effective cough timing. After optimizing parameters in 16 able-bodied subjects, we measured peak expiratory flow (PEF) in 14 subjects with SCL who coughed with or without assistance. Assistance was either manual assistance of a caregiver, caregiver activated FES, button self-activated FES (for SCL participants who could press a button), or sniff-controlled self-activated FES. We found that all assisted methods provided equally effective improvements, increasing PEF on average by 25 ± 27% (F[4,52] = 7.99, p = 0.00004 ). There was no difference in efficacy between methods of assistance ( F[3,39] = 0.41, p = 0.75 ). Notably, sniff-controlled FES was the only method of those tested that can be activated by all paralyzed patients alone. This provides for added independence that is a critical factor in quality of life following SCL.

An international age- and gender-controlled model for the Spinal Cord Injury Ability Realization Measurement Index (SCI-ARMI).

Background. A quadratic formula of the Spinal Cord Injury Ability Realization Measurement Index (SCI-ARMI) has previously been published. This formula was based on a model of Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM95), the 95th percentile of the SCIM III values, which correspond with the American Spinal Injury Association Motor Scores (AMS) of SCI patients. Objective. To further develop the original formula. Setting. Spinal cord injury centers from 6 countries and the Statistical Laboratory, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Methods. SCIM95 of 661 SCI patients was modeled, using a quantile regression with or without adjustment for age and gender, to calculate SCI-ARMI values. SCI-ARMI gain during rehabilitation and its correlations were examined. Results. A new quadratic SCIM95 model was created. This resembled the previously published model, which yielded similar SCIM95 values in all the countries, after adjustment for age and gender. Without this adjustment, however, only 86% of the non-Israeli SCIM III observations were lower than those SCIM95 values (P < .0001). Adding the variables age and gender to the new model affected the SCIM95 value significantly (P < .04). Adding country information did not add a significant effect (P > .1). SCI-ARMI gain was positive (38.8 ± 22 points, P < .0001) and correlated weakly with admission age and AMS. Conclusions. The original quadratic SCI-ARMI formula is valid for an international population after adjustment for age and gender. The new formula considers more factors that affect functional ability following SCI.

Post irradiation myelopathy: from the physiatrists' point of view.

We describe two patients who developed a severe spinal cord damage long time after cessation of irradiation therapy. The various and unique rehabilitation medicine aspects are discussed and the literature is surveyed.

Occurrence of fatigue over 20 years after recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Reports regarding outcome of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) are usually limited to relatively short follow-up. We assessed the occurrence of fatigue and correlated it to clinical measures in patients who had suffered from GBS over 20 years previously. METHODS: We contacted 24 patients with GBS requiring in-hospital rehabilitation during the years 1970-1987. Disability was established at rehabilitation admission using the Hughes scale (HS). Disability and fatigue were assessed at time of this study by the Overall Disability Sum Score (ODSS) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). RESULTS: Mean HS at admission was 2.5 ± 0.7, and at follow-up 1.1 ± 1.3. Mean ODSS was 2.8 ± 3.6, FSS was 4.4 ± 2. Ten patients reported severe fatigue (>5). Very good correlations were found between FSS and HS at admission and follow-up and between FSS and ODSS. FSS was not influenced by patients' age, age at disease onset, gender or time from GBS to the study. CONCLUSION: Fatigue can persist after apparent recovery from GBS and remain severe for many years.

Spinal Cord Independence Measure, version III: applicability to the UK spinal cord injured population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity, reliability and usefulness of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure for the UK spinal cord injury population. DESIGN: Multi-centre cohort study. SETTING: Four UK regional spinal cord injury centres. SUBJECTS: Eighty-six people with spinal cord injury. INTERVENTIONS: Spinal Cord Independence Measure and Functional Independence Measure on admission analysed using inferential statistics, and Rasch analysis of Spinal Cord Independence Measure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, discriminant validity; Spinal Cord Independence Measure subscale match between distribution of item difficulty and patient ability measurements; reliability of patient ability measures; fit of data to Rasch model; unidimensionality of subscales; hierarchical ordering of categories within items; differential item functioning across patient groups. RESULTS: Scale reliability (kappa coefficients range 0.491-0.835; (p < 0.001)), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.770 and 0.780 for raters), and validity (Pearson correlation; p < 0.01) were all significant. Spinal Cord Independence Measure subscales compatible with stringent Rasch requirements; mean infit indices high; distinct strata of abilities identified; most thresholds ordered; item hierarchy stable across clinical groups and centres. Misfit and differences in item hierarchy identified. Difficulties assessing central cord injuries highlighted. CONCLUSION: Conventional statistical and Rasch analyses justify the use of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure in clinical practice and research in the UK. Cross-cultural validity may be further improved.