Spinal cord
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Experimental animal study. ⋯ Decreased below-level withdrawal thresholds do not reflect pain-like hypersensitivity in rodent models of (thoracic contusion) SCI. A large body of previous preclinical SCI pain research needs reinterpretation. We actually found below-level thermal and mechanical hypoesthesia and we also excluded a relation between withdrawal hyperreflexia and spasticity. Withdrawal hyperreflexia might still prove useful to model spasms or clonus, which are, like hypoesthesia, also significant clinical problems after SCI.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pharmacological prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis in acute spinal cord injury: an Indian perspective.
Prospective randomized single blind study. ⋯ There is a significant incidence of DVT in Indian subjects with ASCI but definitely less than what has been reported in western literature. Pharmacological prophylaxis (LMWH in this study) significantly (P=0.041) decreases the incidence of DVT in subjects with ASCI. As there was no difference in the incidence of symptomatic DVT or related complications, a larger study would be required to conclude definitely on the role of pharmacological prophylaxis in the Indian population.
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To describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and to assess factors that affect HRQoL. ⋯ As expected, physical functioning and physical role limitation were the most pronounced deficits in HRQoL. Compared with data from other countries, all scores for the RAND-36 scales are lower in Estonian TSCI patients. The HRQoL following TSCI is affected by severity of injury, depression, age and employment status.
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Prospective study. ⋯ Quantitative MRI analysis may provide reliable information for the prediction of the initial neurological status and surgical outcome of patients with SCIWORET.
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Comparative Study
Translation of the rat thoracic contusion model; part 2 - forward versus backward locomotion testing.
Experimental animal study. ⋯ Our data show that backward locomotion is a highly sensitive and quick test to discriminate between sham, mild and moderate SCI, even after 6 weeks. Backward locomotion testing may improve the translational value of experimental results for the clinic.