Journal of rehabilitation medicine. Clinical communications最新文献

This case presents a 35-year-old male with spinal predominant neurofibromatosis-1 who developed an incomplete spinal cord injury (C3 Asia C) which did not improve despite urgent decompressive surgery for multiple cervical neurofibromas. This report outlines a novel indication for intrathecal baclofen. The patient suffered from lower limb weakness with severe spasticity and required assistance of at least two for all activities. The aim of rehabilitation was to improve overall tone while focusing on independence, mobility and quality of life. After a successful trial of intrathecal baclofen, he underwent implantation of an intrathecal baclofen pump. The dose was gradually increased while he received a progressive programme of stretching and functional rehabilitation therapy. After 6 weeks, his MAS had improved to 1-2/4 and he had progressed to independent transfers, independence for most activities of daily living and was able to discharge to his family home with minimal support.

Objective: To assess pain outcomes, stress levels and body awareness among patients with chronic pain and explore potential associations between these variables.

Design: An explorative study.

Methods: Patients with chronic pain in primary and specialist care were assessed regarding pain intensity using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS; 0-10 point scale) and stress levels using the Stress and Crisis Inventory (SCI-93; 0-140). To assess body awareness, multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness (MAIA; 0-5), a widely used self-report measure of interoceptive bodily awareness was used.

Results: Participants (n = 42) reported an average NRS of 4.4, elevated stress levels and low body awareness. Stress levels were moderately correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.53; p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25-0.72) and number of pain sites (r = 0.58; p < 0.001; 95% CI 0.32-0.76). The regression analysis showed that pain outcomes predicted stress level scores and explained almost 50% of variance (R ² = 0.47, p < 0.001). Moreover, shorter pain duration predicted a higher body awareness (p = 0.04).

Conclusion: In patients with chronic pain, high pain intensity and multiple painful sites seem to be associated with impaired stress regulation. The patients had low body awareness, which was negatively influenced by pain duration.

Objective: Evaluation of the hand function affected when replacing a malfunctioning hand by a bionic hand.

Design: Case report.

Subjects: One individual that wished for a better quality of life after unsatisfying hand function following a replantation.

Methods: A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of body functions as well as activity performance and participation before and after a planned amputation and prosthetic fitting is presented.

Results: Improvements were seen in the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that were used regarding activity (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH] and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]), pain (Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory [NPSI], Brief Pain Inventory [BPI], Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]), cold intolerance (CISS) and health related quality of life (SF-36), as well as in the standardised grip function test, Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP). No referred sensations were seen but the discriminative touch on the forearm was improved. In the qualitative interview, a relief of pain, a lack of cold intolerance, improved appearance, better grip function and overall emotional wellbeing were expressed.

Conclusions: The planned amputation and subsequent fitting and usage of a hand prosthesis were satisfying for the individual with positive effects on activity and participation.

Clinical relevance: When the hand function after a hand replantation does not reach satisfactory levels, a planned amputation and a prosthetic hand can be the right solution.

Objective: Making the diagnosis of sarcopenia is not always easy and this is especially true for those with cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether it is possible to diagnose sarcopenia by using ultrasound-guided measurements of anterior femoral muscle thickness.

Methods: We investigated the utility of ultrasound-guided measurements of anterior femoral muscle thickness in 1075 hospitalized patients with cardiovascular disease (675 men). As a comparison, sarcopenia was assessed by skeletal muscle mass index using bioelectrical impedance analysis and the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria.

Results: When the receiver operating characteristic curve using muscle thickness was examined, we found this could be used to make the diagnosis of sarcopenia (men: cutoff value 2.425 cm, area under the curve 0.796; women: cutoff value 1.995 cm, area under the curve 0.746). The prevalence of sarcopenia according to the criteria with skeletal muscle mass index was 34.2% in men and 51.8% in women, while its prevalence according to the cutoff value of muscle thickness was 29.2% in men and 36.7% in women.

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided measurement of the anterior femoral muscle thickness is a simple and useful method to help make the diagnosis of sarcopenia in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To examine the effect of in-bed leg cycling exercise on patients with intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW).

Design: Single-center retrospective study.

Subjects/patients: Patients admitted to the ICU between January 2019 and March 2023 were enrolled in the ergometer group, and those admitted to the ICU between August 2017 and December 2018 were enrolled in the control group.

Methods: The ergometer group performed in-bed leg cycling exercises 5 times per week for 20 min from the day of ICU-AW diagnosis. Furthermore, the ergometer group received 1 early mobilization session per day according to the early mobilization protocol, whereas the control group received 1 or 2 sessions per day. The number of patients with recovery from ICU-AW at ICU discharge and improvement in physical functions were compared.

Results: Significantly more patients in the ergometer group recovered from ICU-AW than in the control group (87.0% vs 60.6%, p = 0.039). Regarding physical function, the ergometer group showed significantly higher improvement efficiency in Medical Research Council sum score (1.0 [0.7-2.1] vs 0.1 [0.0-0.2], p < 0.001).

Conclusion: In-bed leg cycling exercise, in addition to the early mobilization protocol, reduced the number of patients with ICU-AW at ICU discharge.

Objective: People with a lower-limb amputation often have a sedentary lifestyle and increasing physical activity is important to optimize their health and quality of life. To achieve this the Amputee Parateam programme was developed. Amputee Parateam is a sports programme that addresses important physical, environmental, and social barriers for sports participation. This programme was evaluated in terms of various aspects of physical functioning and health.

Design: Repeated measures design.

Patients: Thirteen participants with a lower-limb amputation, with a median age of 51 (interquartile range (IQR) 40-63).

Methods: Measurements were performed at T0 (baseline), T1 (after 6 weeks) and T2 (follow-up after 12 months). Outcome measures were walking ability, functional mobility, daily activity, health-related quality of life, and adherence to sports at follow-up.

Results: Walking ability and functional ability significantly improved between T0 and T1. Adherence to sports at follow-up was high, with 11/13 participants still practicing sports weekly. There were no significant changes in daily activity or health-related quality of life.

Conclusions: The Amputee Parateam programme successfully improved walking ability and functional mobility and resulted in a high adherence to sports among the participants. However, these improvements in physical capacity did not lead to less sedentary behaviour in daily life.

Introduction: This report concerns the case of a 70-year-old man with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). The diagnosis in the current case took more than 2 years. iNPH is characterised by ventriculomegaly with a known triad of symptoms: gait disturbance, cognitive impairments and urinary incontinence. Although this is a difficult diagnosis and other conditions must be ruled out, several points in the process could lead to a correct diagnosis. The aim of the report is to identify several reasons why the diagnosis was delayed for such a long time, as well as lessons for the future.

Case: This patient developed several symptoms over time. First, he presented with depressive mood and altered behaviour. He later developed gait difficulties and, finally, urinary incontinence. Multiple consultations and examinations failed to provide an exact explanation for all his symptoms. After 2 years, a new doctor at the hospital started from scratch and recognised the iNPH triad, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the radiologist.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of iNPH is difficult, as symptoms may manifest over time. In this case, the delay of diagnosis exceeded estimations. A broader view through interdisciplinary consultation could provide new insights and lead to earlier diagnosis.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a dyadic outpatient rehabilitation program focused on improving the real-life daily activities of patients with mild cognitive impairments or dementia and their caregivers.

Design: Retrospective study.

Subjects: Eight patients with mild cognitive impairments or dementia and their caregivers.

Methods: The rehabilitation program comprised eight 1-hour sessions by occupational therapists with patients and his/her caregivers. Patients were assessed for motor function, cognitive function, and quality of life, and their caregivers were assessed for depression and caregiver burden. Participants were assessed at pre-program and post-program, and 3-month follow-up.

Results: The scores of caregiver-assessed Quality of life in Alzheimer's disease scale in patients significantly improved at post-program (median [interquartile range], 30.0 [7.0]) compared with pre-program (27.0 [2.8], effect size = 0.77, p = 0.029). In caregivers, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview scores decreased significantly at post-program (16.5 [13.0]) compared with pre-program (22.0 [17.5], effect size = 0.72, p = 0.042). There were no significant differences in other assessments.

Conclusions: The rehabilitation program focused on real daily activities and demonstrated to improve patients' quality of life and caregivers' depression and caring burden through patient-caregiver interaction. Future enhanced follow-up systems are warranted.

Objective: We evaluated the impact of Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in musculoskeletal consultations out of hospital using a Philips Lumify portable ultrasound device. We aimed to determine the impact of POCUS on the number of hospital referrals for injections as well as on the number of injections performed in consultation.

Design: Retrospective case study comparing 2 periods: June to September 2021 (pre-POCUS) and November 2021 to February 2022 (POCUS). Statistical comparisons were performed using the χ². In both periods, 21 medical consultations were performed. In the pre-POCUS period, 470 patients were assessed, with an average of 1.29 hospital referrals made per day of consultation for hospital injections and an average of 2.05 injections performed per day of medical consultation. In the POCUS period, 589 patients were assessed, with an average of 0.1 hospital referrals per day (-92.6%; p < 0.00001) and an average of 2.76 injections performed per day (+34.9%; p < 0.00001). The introduction of POCUS at our practice reduced the number of hospital referrals made for injections and increased the number of injections performed every day of consultation.

Conclusion: This suggests that POCUS is of great clinical value in out-of-hospital musculoskeletal rehabilitation consultations.