Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent heterotopic ossification after spinal cord injury: a retrospective chart review.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification (HO) in the acute phase after spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Acute rehabilitation hospital in California, USA. METHODS: This retrospective chart review (October 2013-March 2017) included individuals with motor complete SCI followed by the SCI service within 60 days of injury. Group demographics and HO diagnosis were compared in those who received and those who did not receive NSAID prophylaxis. A backward stepwise multiple regression was employed to assess the predictive association between injury characteristics and HO prophylaxis on HO diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 108 AIS A and B cases were included, and 27 received ≥ 15 days of therapy (overall range 6-44 days). Logistic regression analysis revealed those who received ≥ 15 days of NSAID prophylaxis had an odds ratio of 0.1 of being diagnosed with HO compared with those who did not (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.52). Significant predictors of HO diagnosis were tracheostomy (OR 2.8, 95% CI, 1.05 to 7.5), urinary tract infection (OR 4.3, 95% CI, 1.5 to 12.2), and pressure injury (OR 3.3, 95% CI, 1.1 to 9.5). Adverse effects of NSAID use were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: NSAID prophylaxis appears to help prevent HO development during the acute phase after SCI. Prospective study with prolonged follow up is necessary to confirm the long-term efficacy of HO prevention and to further evaluate safety following spinal fusion. SPONSORSHIP: None.

Proteomics analysis of urine and catheter-associated biofilms in spinal cord injury patients.

After spinal cord injury (SCI), use chronic urinary catheters for bladder management is common, making these patients especially vulnerable to catheter-associated complications. Chronic catheterization is associated with bacterial colonization and frequent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). One determinant of infection success and treatment resistance is production of catheter-associated biofilms, composed of microorganisms and host- and microbial-derived components. To better understand the biofilm microenvironment, we performed proteomics analysis of catheter-associated biofilms and paired urine samples from four people with SCI with chronic indwelling urinary catheters. We developed a novel method for the removal of adhered cellular components on catheters that contained both human and microbial homologous proteins. Proteins from seven microbial species were identified including: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species (spp), Enterococcus spp, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas spp, Staphylococcus spp, and Candida spp. Peptides identified from catheter biofilms were assigned to 4,820 unique proteins, with 61% of proteins assigned to the biofilm-associated microorganisms, while the remainder were human-derived. Contrastingly, in urine, only 51% were assigned to biofilm-associated microorganisms and 4,554 proteins were identified as a human-derived. Of the proteins assigned to microorganisms in the biofilm and paired urine, Enterococcus, Candida spp, and P. mirabilis had greater associations with the biofilm phase, whereas E. coli and Klebsiella had greater associations with the urine phase, thus demonstrating a significant difference between the urine and adhered microbial communities. The microbial proteins that differed significantly between the biofilm and paired urine samples mapped to pathways associated with amino acid synthesis, likely related to adaptation to high urea concentrations in the urine, and growth and protein synthesis in bacteria in the biofilm. Human proteins demonstrated enrichment for immune response in the catheter-associated biofilm. Proteomic analysis of catheter-associated biofilms and paired urine samples has the potential to provide detailed information on host and bacterial responses to chronic indwelling urinary catheters and could be useful for understanding complications of chronic indwelling catheters including CAUTIs, urinary stones, and catheter blockages.

Quantitative electrodiagnostic patterns of damage and recovery after spinal cord injury: a pilot study.

Study design: Prospective observational pilot study. Objectives: To compare quantitative electromyographic (EMG), imaging and strength data at two time points in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: SCI center, Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA. Methods: Subjects without suspected peripheral nerve injury were recruited within 3 months of injury. Needle EMG examination was performed in myotomes above, at, and below the SCI level around 11- and 12-months post injury. EMG data were decomposed using custom software into constituent motor unit trains and each distinct motor unit was analyzed for firing rate and amplitude. Strength measurements were made with dynamometry and according to the International Standard of Neurologic Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI). Cervical magnetic resonance images (MRI) were evaluated by two neuroradiologists for gray and white matter damage around the SCI. Here, we compare the EMG, strength, and imaging findings of the one of the four participants who completed both 3- and 12-month EMG evaluations. Results: There was an increase in force generation in all muscles tested at 1 year. Localized findings of very fast firing motor units helped localize spinal cord damage and revealed gray matter damage in spinal segments where MRI was normal. Meanwhile, improvement in strength over time corresponded with different electrophysiologic patterns. Conclusions: Electromyographic decomposition at two time points provides valuable information about localization of spinal cord damage, integrity of motor neuron pools and may provide a unique understanding of neural recovery mechanisms.