Paraparesis after Spinal Anesthesia During Delivery.

Traumatic injury to the spinal cord during spinal or epidural anesthesia is usually secondary to either direct needle penetration or intra-neural injection of local anesthetics. Two women were admitted to a rehabilitation department with paraparesis and hypoesthesia after delivery. One had undergone a lower segment cesarean section under spinal anesthesia and the other, a spontaneous delivery under epidural anesthesia. After discharge from the rehabilitation treatment, they both experienced some weakness in the lower limbs. The patho-physiological basis of this complication seems to be either direct damage to the spinal cord by intra-neural injection of local anesthetics, or local ischemia.

[PARAPARESIS DUE TO RHABDOMYOLYSIS AND A COMPARTMENT SYNDROME IN FIVE PATIENTS WHO HAD BEEN IN A PROLONGED SLEEP IN A SITTING POSITION].

INTRODUCTION: Five patients developed symmetrical paraparesis due to a combination of: compartment syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, and demyelinative sensory-motor polyneuropathy, after prolonged sleep in a sitting position. The long deep sleep was induced by consumption of alcohol or drugs. Long-term follow-up showed that these patients remained paraparetic. No damage to the autonomic nervous system was found. Although some suspected that these patients developed "intensive care neuropathy", we suggest that this syndrome is different, and should be regarded as a "new syndrome".

A novel technique for conduction studies of the infrapatellar nerve.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a noninvasive method for electrodiagnostic evaluation of the infrapatellar nerve (IPN). DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Electrodiagnostic laboratory, rehabilitation department, Hadassah University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 38 healthy adults; 57 asymptomatic limbs were studied. METHODS: Sensory nerve action potential of the IPN was recorded with surface electrodes placed 2.5 cm below the distal pole of the patella and 2 cm medially from the medial border of the patellar tendon. Transcutaneous antidromic electrical stimulation of IPN was applied above the medial femoral condyle and 8-10 cm proximally from the active surface electrode. RESULTS: The sensory nerve action potential mean (n = 38) onset latency was 1.69 ± 0.32 ms. Peak latency was 2.36 ± 0.47 ms, and amplitude was 6.96 ± 3.68 µV. CONCLUSIONS: This article describes a novel and simple technique for IPN conduction electrodiagnostic examination. The method used provides a new tool to evaluate IPN injury in reference to anterior or inferior knee pain with associated sensory deficit.

A new syndrome sheds light on old medical & rehabilitative dilemmas: paraparesis due to rhabdomyolysis and bilaterally symmetric compartment syndrome in four patients. Cases study.

Via our description of a seemingly heterogeneous group of four patients who presented to our rehabilitation facility with a rather unusual clinical presentation of compartment syndrome with development of a flaccid paraparesis and rhabdomyolysis immediately after awakening from a prolonged sleep episode in an unusual posture - which might, in fact, be a 'new syndrome' - we have also come to address an important issue linking our group of patients - specifically, the complexities which present to a rehabilitative facility in the cases of unusual and unclear diagnoses. Eventually, all four of our patients remained severely disabled. All had suffered sensorimotor axonal demyelinative polyneuropathies and two patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. Prior to the prolonged sleep episode, they had all consumed alcohol and drugs. Using these four rather demanding diagnostic rehabilitative cases we address the ever-important issue of timely mutual communication and patience. For when a rehabilitative facility is confronted with patients whose diagnoses are not clear, the scope of the long-term comprehensive rehabilitation management faces some major obstacles with respect to how the rehabilitative team can succeed in designing a 'tailor-made' rehabilitation program for these patients, which often-times proves to be a rather tricky task requiring innovative and creative efforts on the parts of all those involved in the care of the patient. Quite a challenging task, indeed, yet one genuinely necessary to attempt to achieve so that the patient, family and, of course, the 'payer agency/provider' can all prepare themselves, realistically so as to obtain the best overall rehabilitative outcome for these patients. We conclude that what is most necessary for these unique patients is patience.

Outcomes in patients admitted for rehabilitation with spinal cord or cauda equina lesions following degenerative spinal stenosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcome measures and the factors affecting them in patients treated between 1962 and 2000 at Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Israel. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included 262 patients with spinal neurological lesions (spinal cord or cauda equina lesions) following degenerative spinal stenosis. Data were collected retrospectively. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the relative mortality risk by the Cox model. Neurological recovery was evaluated by the change in Frankel grades, and factors that affect it were assessed by logistic regression. Associations of length of stay in rehabilitation were analyzed with ANOVA. RESULTS: Median age at lesion onset was 61 years and median survival 17.6 years. Age at spinal neurological lesion onset was found to be the only factor with a significant effect on survival. Of the 148 patients who had Frankel grades A, B, or C on admission, 58% achieved recovery to grades D and E. Frankel grade at admission, age, and spinal neurological level had a significant effect on recovery. The mean length of stay was 99.7 days, and only Frankel grade had a significant effect on length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with spinal stenosis and disabling spinal neurological lesions can achieve significant neurological recovery and survive for many years. They require adequate care in a specialist rehabilitation system.

Outcomes in patients admitted for rehabilitation with spinal cord or cauda equina lesions following degenerative spinal stenosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcome measures and the factors affecting them in patients treated between 1,962 and 2,000 at Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Israel. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included 262 patients with spinal neurological lesions (spinal cord or cauda equina lesions) following degenerative spinal stenosis. Data were collected retrospectively. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the relative mortality risk by the Cox model. Neurological recovery was evaluated by the change in Frankel grades, and factors that affect it were assessed by logistic regression. Associations of length of stay in rehabilitation were analyzed with ANOVA. RESULTS: Median age at lesion onset was 61 years and median survival 17.6 years. Age at spinal neurological lesion onset was found to be the only factor with a significant effect on survival. Of the 148 patients who had Frankel grades A, B, or C on admission, 58% achieved recovery to grades D and E. Frankel grade at admission, age, and spinal neurological level had a significant effect on recovery. The mean length of stay was 99.7 days, and only Frankel grade had a significant effect on length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with spinal stenosis and disabling spinal neurological lesions can achieve significant neurological recovery and survive for many years. They require adequate care in a specialist rehabilitation system.

Recovery of neurologic function following nontraumatic spinal cord lesions in Israel.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To assess neurologic recovery and the manner in which it is affected by various factors following nontraumatic spinal cord lesions (NTSCLs). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: NTSCLs comprise a considerable portion of spinal cord lesions. However, information about neurologic recovery in these lesions is scarce. METHOD: The study sample included 1,085 patients with NTSCL treated between 1962 and 2000 at the premier referral hospital for rehabilitation in Israel. Demographic and clinical data were collected from hospital charts. The degree of neurologic recovery was determined by comparing each patient's Frankel grades of neurologic deficit at first admission to rehabilitation and at discharge from the same hospitalization. The study population was also compared with previously studied 250 patients with traumatic spinal cord lesions (TSCLs). RESULTS: Complete or substantial neurologic recovery (upgrade to Frankel Grade D or E) occurred during rehabilitation in 51% of patients who were Grade A, B, or C on admission, and in 57% of those who were Grade C. Neurologic recovery in NTSCL during rehabilitation was significantly affected by initial Frankel grade and by NTSCL etiology. Age had a borderline effect. Gender, lesion level, and the decade of rehabilitation did not affect recovery. Recovery rate was usually higher in NTSCLs than in TSCLs. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis for neurologic recovery is affected mainly by SCL severity and etiology, and is usually better in NTSCLs than in TSCLs.

Survival after nontraumatic spinal cord lesions in Israel.

OBJECTIVE: To assess survival in patients with nontraumatic spinal cord lesions (SCL). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Spinal department at a rehabilitation hospital in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with nontraumatic SCL (N=1085) admitted between 1962 and 2000. INTERVENTIONS: Demographic, clinical, and mortality data were collected from hospital charts and from the Population Registry of the Israel Ministry of Internal Affairs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival rates and mortality risk factors. Measures were estimated by using the product limit (Kaplan-Meier) method and the Cox model. RESULTS: Maximal survival time was 57 years. Median accumulated survival time was 24 years. Survival was significantly affected by lesion etiology, age, gender, severity of lesion, and recent decade of lesion onset; survival tended to be shorter in patients with higher level SCL. We found no significant difference between the effects of risk factors on mortality in nontraumatic SCL and traumatic SCL, other than the effect of age at lesion onset, which was a greater risk factor in the latter group. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate of patients with nontraumatic SCL has improved significantly in Israel in the last decade. The survival rates of a mixed nontraumatic SCL population are similar to those of traumatic SCL but may differ in specific etiologic age groups.

[Our experience with rehabilitation of patients with Pott's tuberculous paraplegia].

Spinal tuberculosis with paraplegia is rarely seen in Israel. All the 10 patients that were hospitalized in our rehabilitation departments had contracted the disease abroad prior to their immigration to Israel. The comprehensive rehabilitation process must include close cooperation between pulmonary physicians, orthopedic surgeons and rehabilitation medicine specialists. An updated review of the relevant literature is presented.