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Biomedical subjects

G Zeilig

Publications and source records attributed to G Zeilig.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

[Spinal cord injuries caused by aviation accidents].

During the past 15 years fewer than 1% of those treated in the National Spinal Cord Injury Center were injured as a result of aviation accidents. In addition to 9 such patients treated at the center since 1973, another 6 were found among the many hundreds receiving ambulatory care in our clinics. 3 patients had survived a helicopter crash, 2 were injured while ejecting from combat aircraft, 3 were injured in crashes of light aircraft, 1 fell from a hand glider and 6 were injured in parachute drops. Of the 15 reviewed, 6 use wheelchairs, 3 walk assisted by orthopedic devices, while 6 ambulate freely. Although initial hospitalization was not substantially longer than in other patients with spinal cord injuries, extended ambulatory psychological intervention was necessary.

Accidents, Aviation

Long term follow up of patients with cauda equina syndrome due to intraspinal lipoma.

We have had the opportunity to treat and follow up two young males with cauda equina syndromes after recurrent resection of intraspinal lipomas. This condition is relatively rare. The patients underwent myelographies, operations, long periods of hospitalisation, and rehabilitation. The syndromes included low back pain, arachnoiditis, and recurrence of the lipoma after several years and multiple operations. These are the problems that we were faced with: (1) Although the tumor is benign it is impossible to resect it completely. (2) There are complications which interfere with rehabilitation, including pain, arachnoiditis, and neurological deterioration. (3) Long term prognosis might be grave and the patient and family should know this. (4) Physiotherapy and sports: should these patients perform strenuous exercise or not?

Adult

Spinal cord injury associated with blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm.

The incidence of spinal cord injury associated with blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm is extremely low and rarely mentioned in the numerous reports about rupture of the diaphragm. It is thought that more such cases can be found among the fatalities of aircraft accidents and presumably among the fatalities of road traffic accidents as the forces causing such injuries make it unlikely for the casualty to survive. The authors present six cases encountered at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, England, and at Sheba Medical Centre, Israel. Although the mortality of such cases, if the patient survives the original impact, is usually due to associated injuries, early diagnosis is essential as late complications increase the incidence of delayed mortality.

Adolescent

'Duplicate limbs' sensation in acute traumatic quadriplegia.

A 64-year-old man sustained acute quadriplegia due to a traffic accident, while in the midst of a petit mal seizure. After recovery from the initial medical complications he developed a duplicate limb phenomenon. The patient felt that another pair of upper and lower limbs had grown from his body, parallel to the paralysed limbs. To the best of our knowledge this duplicate phenomenon in all limbs has not been described before in a traumatic quadriplegic patient. It is our impression that this phenomenon is a rare example of preoccupation with the paralytic limbs, of sensory deprivation with a (possible) unusual drug reaction.

Humans

Hyperprolactinemia, galactorrhea and amenorrhea in women with a spinal cord injury.

Six women with a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) developed hyperprolactinemia, amenorrhea and galactorrhea. Five of them had thoracic level lesions and 1 had a lumbosacral lesion. Two were postpartum and 1 was pregnant at the time of injury. Transient diabetes insipidus developed in 1 patient. Temporary administration of bromocriptine decreased prolactin levels, caused cessation of lactation and restored ovulatory cycles. The syndrome disappeared spontaneously in all 6 patients. Pituitary stalk concussion resulting from the trauma might cause this phenomenon, with the level of the cord injury playing a role. Being pregnant or early postpartum can predispose women to develop this syndrome.

Adult

Massive centrifugal multitrauma resulting in paralysis and limb loss. A report of 4 cases and discussion of the special problems in rehabilitation.

Four cases are described wherein massive centrifugal trauma caused a whirl-whiplash type injury to the spinal cord resulting in paralysis. Two patients became paraplegics and two quadriplegics. In three cases, there was a loss of one or more limbs associated with other concomitant injuries. Attention is focused on the problems facing patients with a combination of plegias and amputation.

Adolescent