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Bone density and other possible predictors of fracture risk in children and adolescents with spastic quadriplegia.

Forty-three patients with spastic quadriplegia (mean age 7.9 years, range 3.3 to 17.2 years) underwent bone mineral density (BMD) measurement of the lumbar spine and were evaluated between 2.6 and 5.5 years (mean 3.8) later to determine whether this measurement had predicted risk of fracture over the subsequent period of observation. Other potential risk factors that were evaluated include body weight z score, serum vitamin D levels, previous fracture, and hip spica casting. The baseline measurements showed that BMD falls further below normal with increasing age and was more than one standard deviation below age-matched normal mean in 38 of the 43 patients. Fracture rate did not differ between those with low and those with very low spinal BMD. Similarly, serum vitamin D levels and body weight z scores were not predictive of fracture. However, fracture rate was over fourfold greater following spica casting and more than threefold greater following an initial fracture. Fracture rates in the study group were similar to those reported for age- and sex-matched normal children, though generally the location of the fractures and mechanisms of injury differed.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Paraplegia and quadriplegia in the elderly due to spinal cord lesions: association with malignancy.

A retrospective study showed that paraplegia and quadriplegia due to spinal cord lesions occurred with a frequency of 1 in 500 admissions to a geriatric department. These cases predominantly were caused by malignant disease, particularly of the bronchus. However, elderly patients presenting to other hospital departments included a far higher proportion of cases with benign causes, particularly cervical spondylosis which affects patients of lower average age. Male patients predominated in both malignant and benign categories.

Age Factors↗

Anterior interbody fuson for cervical osteomyelitis. Reversal of quadriplegia after evacuation of epidural spinal abscess.

Interbody fusion for stabilization of the cervical spine after osteomyelitic destruction of the body of C5 vertebra is reported in a patient with quadriplegia and sphincter disturbances secondary to an epidural abscess. The successful union of the bone graft along with complete neurological recovery after anterior decompression and evacuation of the epidural mass seem to justify the procedure.

Abscess↗

Spinal cord potentials in traumatic paraplegia and quadriplegia.

Cortical, cervical and lumbar somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded following median and tibial nerve stimulation in patients with traumatic paraplegia and quadriplegia. The isolated cord was able to produce normal potentials even during spinal shock if the vertical extent of the lesion did not involve the generator mechanisms. The cervical potentials showed subtle changes in paraplegia at Th5 levels and below. In high cervical lesions the early cervical potentials may still be present but the later potentials were absent or, in partial lesions, delayed.

Adult↗

Sleep apnoea in patients with quadriplegia.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to establish the prevalence of, and the factors contributing towards, sleep disordered breathing in patients with quadriplegia. METHODS: Forty representative quadriplegic patients (time since injury > 6 months, injury level C8 and above, Frankel category A, B, or C; mean (SE) age 35.0 (1.7) years) had home sleep studies in which EEG, EOG, submental EMG, body movement, nasal airflow, respiratory effort, and pulse oximetry (SpO2) were measured. Patients reporting post traumatic amnesia of > 24 hours, drug or alcohol abuse or other major medical illness were excluded from the study. A questionnaire on medications and sleep was administered and supine blood pressure, awake SpO2, spirometric values, height, and neck circumference were measured. RESULTS: A pattern of sustained hypoventilation was not observed in any of the patients. Sleep apnoeas and hypopnoeas were, however, common. Eleven patients (27.5%) had a respiratory disturbance index (RDI, apnoeas plus hypopnoeas per hour of sleep) of > or = 15, with nadir SpO2 ranging from 49% to 95%. Twelve of the 40 (30%) had an apnoea index (AI) of > or = 5 and, of these, nine (75%) had predominantly obstructive apnoeas-that is, > 80% of apnoeas were obstructive or mixed. This represents a prevalence of sleep disordered breathing more than twice that observed in normal populations. For the study population RDI correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure and neck circumference. RDI was higher in patients who slept supine compared with those in other postures. Daytime sleepiness was a common complaint in the study population and sleep architecture was considerably disturbed with decreased REM sleep and increased stage 1 non-REM sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disordered breathing is common in quadriplegic patients and sleep disturbance is significant. The predominant type of apnoea is obstructive. As with non-quadriplegic patients with sleep apnoea, sleep disordered breathing in quadriplegics is associated with increased neck circumference and the supine sleep posture.

Adult↗

Acute quadriplegia due to bilateral cerebral metastases.

A 51-year-old man developed severe quadriparesis without sensory loss after a fall on the occiput. When he was treated with corticosteroids, the weakness worsened slightly for 2 days, but he then progressively improved and ultimately walked unassisted. Two months later, postmortem examination disclosed metastatic tumors in the superior portion of each precentral gyrus. The subjacent white matter was edematous. No spinal cord abnormalities were found. The clinical, radiologic, and neuropathologic findings suggest that the quadriplegia resulted from these bilateral cerebral lesions and not from spinal cord dysfunction. The rapid development of cerebral edema, perhaps precipitated by trauma, seemed to account for the acute onset of symptoms in this case.

Brain Edema↗

Neurological prognosis after traumatic quadriplegia. Three-year experience of California Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System.

Between January, 1974, and December, 1976, 123 patients with traumatic quadriplegia were admitted to the California Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System. The spinal cord injury resulted from gunshot wounds in five, from a stab wound in one, from neck injuries with no bone damage seen on x-ray studies in 10, and from fracture dislocations of the cervical spine in 107. One-year following-up information was available on 114 patients. Neurological impairment using the Frankel classification system was compared at 72 hours postinjury to the 1-year follow-up examination. Fifty of 62 patients with complete injury at 72 hours were unchanged at 1 year. Five of these 62 patients had developed motor useful function in the legs or became ambulatory by 1 year, but all had sustained serious head injuries at the time of their trauma making initial neurological assessment unreliable. Ten percent of all cases had combined head injury impairing consciousness. Among 103 cognitively intact patients, none with complete injury at 72 hours were walking at 1 year. Of patients with sensory incomplete functions at 72 hours postinjury, 47% were walking at 1 year; 87% of patients with motor incomplete function at 72 hours postinjury were walking at 1 year. Spinal surgery during the first 4 weeks postinjury did not improve neurological recovery. A method of analyzing neurological and functional outcomes of spinal cork injury is presented in order to more accurately evaluate the results of future treatment protocols for acute spinal injury.

Humans↗

Isolated intramedullary spinal artery aneurysm presenting with quadriplegia. Case report.

The case is presented of an isolated intramedullary posterior spinal artery aneurysm at the C-2 level in a 3-year-old girl. Quadriplegia related to probable intramedullary hemorrhage was the presenting symptom. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed findings consistent with an intramedullary vascular lesion, and vertebral angiography confirmed this to be an aneurysm of the posterior spinal artery. No associated vascular abnormalities were noted, and the aneurysm was successfully resected. Previous reports of isolated spinal aneurysms are reviewed.

Aneurysm↗

Changes in hip migration after selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic quadriplegia in cerebral palsy.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy is increasingly used for management of spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy but rates of hip stability following the operation have not been reported. Determining hip stability by radiographic measurement of lateral migration of the femoral head beyond a lateral edge of the acetabulum after dorsal rhizotomy allows an objective assessment of the outcome of the operation. This prospective study examined the effect of selective dorsal rhizotomy on lateral migration of the femoral head in 45 children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The children ranged in age from 2 to 9 years (average 5 years 1 month) and were grouped according to their ages with 23 children in the 2- to 4-year-old group and 22 children in the 5- to 9-year-old group. Postoperative follow up ranged from 7 to 50 months (average 20 months). The Reimers migration percentage (MP), a measure of the lateral migration of the femoral head, was calculated from anteroposterior hip radiographs taken prior to the operation and at the last follow-up examination. Of the 90 hips involved, 9% improved, 80% remained unchanged, and 11% worsened, yielding a radiographic stability rate of 89%. The hips with postrhizotomy worsening of the MP had an average preoperative MP of 14% (range 9% to 38%) and an average postoperative increase in MP of 18% (range 11% to 37%). Of the 45 children, four subsequently underwent unilateral derotational femoral osteotomies for persistent or worsening hip subluxation. There was a significant tendency for the MP to worsen in patients with lower prerhizotomy MP values (chi 2 = 20.74, df = 4, p = 0.001), but the age of patients and their ambulatory status at the time of rhizotomy had no bearing on postoperative hip stability. The data indicate that selective dorsal rhizotomy prevents progressive lateral migration of the femoral head in the majority of children who undergo the operation for spastic quadriplegia.

Cerebral Palsy↗

Acute quadriplegia with delayed onset and rapid recovery. Case report.

The authors describe a patient with severe head injury and sepsis who became acutely quadriplegic 3 days postinjury because of a critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) and critical illness myopathy (CIM), which resolved rapidly after treatment of the underlying infection. In only 3 days the patient developed septic shock together with flaccid quadriplegia and absent deep tendon reflexes with no clinical or radiological evidence of central nervous system deterioration. Neurophysiological studies showed an acute axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy, whereas the clinical course strongly suggested a concurrent myopathy. A severe Staphylococcus epidermidis infection accompanied by bacteremia was treated and the patient recovered fully within a few days. Although the case described here is unique because of its very early onset and rapid resolution, CIP and CIM are frequent complications of sepsis and multiple organ failure. The authors suggest that severely head injured patients with sepsis should be evaluated for CIP and CIM when presenting with unexplained muscle weakness or paralysis.

Acute Disease↗

Upper extremity assistive devices: assessment of use by spinal cord-injured patients with quadriplegia.

Upper extremity assistive devices prescribed during the rehabilitation of the patient with quadriplegia often are discarded once the patient leaves the hospital. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate patterns of the prescription and use of such devices and satisfaction with them. An oral questionnaire was administered to 56 spinal cord-injured quadriplegic patients 1 and 2 years after their first rehabilitation experience. Although the patients had discarded 46% of the devices within the 1st year, most of these devices were inexpensive, commercially available devices or devices made by occupational therapists. The respondents' most frequently cited reasons for discarding a device were "improved physical function" and "alternative solutions found." The devices retained in use most often were the more costly orthotics such as reciprocal orthoses and ball-bearing feeders. Sixty-four percent of the devices used within the 1st year were still being used at the end of the 2nd year. Thirty-five percent of all devices prescribed during rehabilitation were still in use at the end of 2 years. The results of this study have heightened therapists' awareness of the efficacy and use of upper extremity assistive devices and have enabled them to eliminate some devices, to modify methods of instructing patients in the use of devices, and to develop alternative products.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Hand splinting in quadriplegia: current practice.

A mailed survey was conducted to collect information about the application of hand splints to patients with spinal cord injuries resulting in quadriplegia at levels C-5, C-6, C-7, and C-8. Survey respondents were occupational therapists in spinal cord injury centers nationwide. Frequency and descriptive statistics were collected concerning both static and dynamic splints, the clinical reasoning behind splint selection, and methods used for the evaluation of hand function. The results of the survey indicate that hand splinting is an accepted intervention for the target population. A variety of static splint designs were used, depending on level of injury, muscle strength, and the patient's acceptance. The dynamic splint designs were used most frequently with patients whose lesions were at C-6 and C-7. The reasons for not splinting were primarily related to the patient's compliance and acceptance. Observation of patients' performance of functional tasks was the preferred method of evaluation of hand function, as there are no appropriate standardized tests available for this population.

Equipment Design↗

Orthotic intervention for development of hand function with C-6 quadriplegia.

OBJECTIVES: Much has been written about the use of static orthoses to maintain proper position and prevent deformity, but there are few empirical data to determine whether static orthoses improve function, maintain range of motion, or prevent deformity in the hand. METHOD: This study measured gains in hand function during a 3-month rehabilitation period in 13 persons with sixth cervical (C-6) level complete quadriplegia, 7 of whom wore a static orthosis at night (experimental group) and 6 who did not wear the orthosis (control group). Hand function, range of motion and strength were measured in all subjects 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the study commenced, and again after 12 weeks in only 69% of the subjects. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in hand function between control and experimental groups; hand function had improved significantly in all 13 subjects. CONCLUSION: As the effects of deformity have been clinically observed, future studies should examine the effects of static orthoses with increased daily wear or wear over a longer period of time.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Acute, flaccid quadriplegia in three cats with suspected coral snake envenomation.

Three cats were evaluated for acute, ascending, flaccid quadriplegia; depression; and reduced nociception. Complete or partial neuromuscular junction blockade was found on nerve stimulation studies during electromyographic examinations. Two of the cases had wounds on the chin or paw compatible with coral snake bites. Although a coral snake was found in only one case, coral snake envenomation was suspected because potential for exposure, clinical signs, and electrodiagnostic findings were similar to dogs reported with this condition and to cats with tiger snake envenomation. Only one case received coral snake antivenin. All cases recovered within seven-to-10 days.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of hosiery on skin temperature in spastic quadriplegia. A preliminary study.

The effect of hosiery on 21 patients with spastic quadriplegia was studied by examining skin temperatures before and after wearing control socks (cotton or cotton/acrylic), compared with the test socks (21% stretch nylon and 80% synthetic hollow-core fiber). The latter are claimed by the manufacturers to provide superior warmth. Other investigations suggest that no material for a given thickness has superior insulation properties. The results of this preliminary study support these investigations, in that no significant difference in skin temperatures was found between the control and test socks when worn by this population.

Foot↗

[Hypokalemic quadriplegia with distal tubular acidosis revealing a a case of primary Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome].

BACKGROUND: Primary Sjögren's syndrome is associated in 6 to 25% of cases with kidney involvement Most often it is a chronic interstitial nephritis, generally asymptomatic but sometimes responsible for distal tubular acidosis which can be complicated by severe hypokalemia. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old woman had hypokalemic quadriplegia, distal renal tubular acidosis and chronic interstitial nephritis at kidney biopsy. Primary Sjögren's syndrome was diagnosed. DISCUSSION: We discuss briefly the clinical, biological and immunological features of 18 similar cases reported in the literature.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗

Surgical treatment for absent single-hand grip and elbow extension in quadriplegia. Principles and preliminary experience.

A classification of quadriplegic patients based on available sensory receptors (ocular only or both ocular and hand sensibility) and motor function in each upper extremity greatly facilitates the planning and evaluation of surgical treatment. In forty hands of thirty-three patients with post-traumatic quadriplegia and cord lesions higher than those usually thought to be benefited by reconstructive surgery, three or more procedures were performed at one or more sittings to create an active wrist extensor and a thumb flexor grip, a function easier to provide and much more useful to these patients than tripod pinch. In these forty hands no function was lost and in all but two function was improved significantly if not greatly. A useful level of active elbow extension was restored in fifteen of sixteen extremities in quadriplegics by transfer of the posterior half of the deltoid to the triceps aponeurosis, lengthening the deltoid with free grafts from the toe extensors. Each upper extremity of quadriplegic patients of the type under consideration is a highly individualized problem. Successful treatment requires strict attention to every detail of preoperative evaluation, surgical treatment, and postoperative care.

Activities of Daily Living↗