[Efficacy of virtual reality on balance and gait in multiple sclerosis. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials]. / Eficacia de la realidad virtual sobre el equilibrio y la marcha en esclerosis multiple. Revision sistematica de ensayos controlados aleatorizados.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes gait abnormalities and a deficit in balance control in the vast majority of people affected by it. Virtual reality has been proposed as a complementary approach to conventional physiotherapeutic treatment as a way of improving these variables. AIM: To assess the real efficacy of this approach compared to other neurorehabilitation therapies, or no intervention, in MS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. Studies of the last five years that compare virtual reality with conventional treatment or no intervention, on balance and/or gait, in adults with MS, were included. PEDro scale was used to assess methodological quality and the Oxford scale to determine the level of evidence and grades of recommendations. RESULTS: Eight studies met the eligibility criteria. For balance, the efficacy of virtual reality is, at least, comparable as conventional training. For gait, virtual reality seems not to be superior in improving the speed, compared with the other types of interventions assessed. Methodological quality of studies was low-moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual reality is as effective as conventional training for improving balance in people with MS. No data suggests that virtual reality is superior to other interventions in improving gait speed. For other gait parameters, virtual reality's efficacy remains unknown.

TITLE: Eficacia de la realidad virtual sobre el equilibrio y la marcha en esclerosis multiple. Revision sistematica de ensayos controlados aleatorizados.Introduccion. La esclerosis multiple (EM) es una enfermedad neurodegenerativa que produce alteraciones en el equilibrio y la marcha en la mayoria de los pacientes. La realidad virtual se ha propuesto como un abordaje complementario al tratamiento rehabilitador convencional como medio para mejorar dichas alteraciones. Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia del abordaje mediante realidad virtual, en comparacion con otras intervenciones de neurorrehabilitacion o la no intervencion, en la EM. Pacientes y metodos. Se realiza una revision sistematica de ensayos controlados aleatorizados. Se incluyeron estudios de los ultimos cinco años que comparasen la intervencion de realidad virtual frente al tratamiento convencional o la no intervencion sobre el equilibrio y la marcha en personas adultas con EM. Se utilizo la escala PEDro para evaluar la calidad metodologica de los estudios incluidos y la escala de Oxford para evaluar el nivel de evidencia y el grado de recomendacion. Resultados. Ocho estudios cumplieron los criterios de elegibilidad. Para el equilibrio, la eficacia de la realidad virtual es, al menos, comparable a la del entrenamiento convencional. Para la marcha, la realidad virtual parece no ser superior en el parametro velocidad, en comparacion con el resto de intervenciones evaluadas. La calidad metodologica de los estudios fue moderada-baja. Conclusiones. La realidad virtual es igual de eficaz que el entrenamiento rehabilitador convencional para mejorar el equilibrio en personas con EM. No se han hallado datos que sugieran que la realidad virtual sea superior a otras intervenciones en la mejora de la velocidad de la marcha, y su eficacia sobre otros parametros de la marcha es aun incierta.

[Obstetric brachial palsy, a historical review]. / Paralisis braquial obstetrica, una revision historica.

INTRODUCTION: Lesions of the peripheral nerves have been known since ancient times, but there are few references to the treatments that were used in the past. AIM. To analyse obstetric brachial palsy and its treatments throughout history. DEVELOPMENT: There are a number of different references to the peripheral nerves and their lesions, although little is known about the treatments that were applied in the past. William Smellie first reported obstetric brachial palsy in 1764 and the term was coined by Duchenne de Boulogne in 1872. In 1877, Erb analysed four cases of obstetric brachial palsy and conducted studies on the excitation of the brachial plexus with electric currents. In 1885, Klumpke described palsy of the lower roots of the brachial plexus. In the late 19th century pathophysiology studies were carried out and at the beginning of the 20th century the first surgical interventions were performed. Today, microsurgery techniques, protocols on how to proceed, and rehabilitation treatment of this lesion are all available and offer good outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Since the first clinical description of obstetric brachial palsy by Smellie and the reports of the different types of brachial palsy by Duchenne, Erb and Klumpke, many pathophysiological studies have been conducted. Notable developments have been made in conservative and surgical treatments, with very favourable recoveries being observed in children with obstetric brachial palsy.

Parálisis braquial obstétrica, una revisión histórica / Obstetric brachial palsy, a historical review

Introducción. Las lesiones de los nervios periféricos se conocen desde antiguo, pero existen escasas referencias acerca de los tratamientos utilizados en el pasado. Objetivo. Analizar la parálisis braquial obstétrica y sus tratamientos a lo largo de la historia. Desarrollo. Existen diversas referencias sobre los nervios periféricos y sus lesiones, aunque se conoce poco sobre los tratamientos practicados en el pasado. William Smellie realizó la primera descripción de la parálisis braquial obstétrica en 1764 y Duchenne de Boulogne acuñó el término en 1872. En 1877, Erb analizó cuatro casos de parálisis braquial obstétrica y realizó estudios acerca de la excitación del plexo braquial con corrientes eléctricas. Klumpke describió, en 1885, la parálisis de las raíces inferiores del plexo braquial. A finales del siglo xix se realizaron estudios sobre la fisiopatología, y a principiosdel siglo xx se empezaron a practicar intervenciones quirúrgicas. En la actualidad se cuenta con técnicas de microcirugía, protocolos de actuación y tratamiento rehabilitador de esta lesión, con buenos resultados. Conclusiones. Desde la primera descripción clínica de la parálisis braquial obstétrica por Smellie y la descripción de los distintos tipos de parálisis braquial por Duchenne, Erb y Klumpke, se han llevado a cabo múltiples estudios fisiopatológicos y se han desarrollado de manera notable los tratamientos conservador y quirúrgico, observándose recuperaciones muy favorables en los niños con parálisis braquial obstétrica (AU)

Introduction. Lesions of the peripheral nerves have been known since ancient times, but there are few references to the treatments that were used in the past. Aim. To analyse obstetric brachial palsy and its treatments throughout history. Development. There are a number of different references to the peripheral nerves and their lesions, although little is known about the treatments that were applied in the past. William Smellie first reported obstetric brachial palsy in 1764 and the term was coined by Duchenne de Boulogne in 1872. In 1877, Erb analysed four cases of obstetric brachial palsy and conducted studies on the excitation of the brachial plexus with electric currents. In 1885, Klumpke described palsy of the lower roots of the brachial plexus. In the late 19th century pathophysiology studies were carried out and at the beginning of the 20th century the first surgical interventions were performed. Today, microsurgery techniques, protocols on how to proceed, and rehabilitation treatment of this lesion are all available and offer good outcomes. Conclusions. Since the first clinical description of obstetric brachial palsy by Smellie and the reports of the different types of brachial palsy by Duchenne, Erb and Klumpke, many pathophysiological studies have been conducted. Notable developments have been made in conservative and surgical treatments, with very favourable recoveries being observed in children with obstetric brachial palsy (AU)