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Study design:Prospective, population-based study. This paper is part of the Stockholm Thessaloniki Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Study (STATSCIS).Objectives:To evaluate and compare outcomes, length of stay (LOS), associated conditions and medical complications at 1-year post-trauma.Settings:The Greater Thessaloniki region, Greece, and the Greater Stockholm region, Sweden. While Stockholm follows a SCI system of care, Thessaloniki follows a fragmented ‘non-system’ approach.Subjects:Out of the 87 cases in Thessaloniki and the 49 cases in Stockholm who comprised the study population of STATSCIS, 75 and 42 cases respectively were successfully followed-up during the first year post-trauma.Results:Significantly superior outcomes (that is, survival with neurological recovery, functional ability and discharge to home) and shorter LOS for initially motor complete cases occurred in Stockholm. Management routines known to increase long-term morbidity, for example, long-term tracheostomy and indwelling urethral catheters were significantly more common in Thessaloniki. Major medical complications, that is, multiple pressure ulcers, heterotopic ossification and bacteremia/sepsis were more frequent in Thessaloniki.Conclusions:Our findings show how two rather similar cohorts of TSCI manifest large discrepancies in terms of 1-year outcomes and complications, depending on the type of management they receive. As the major difference between regions was the presence or absence of a SCI system of care, rather than differences in availability of modern medicine, the mere presence of the latter does not seem to be sufficient to guarantee adequate outcomes. This study provides strong evidence as to the urgent need of implementing a SCI system of care in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Prospective, population-based study. This paper is part of the Stockholm Thessaloniki Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Study (STATSCIS).Objectives:To characterize patient populations and to compare acute management after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).Settings:The Greater Thessaloniki region in Greece and the Greater Stockholm region in Sweden.Methods:Inception cohorts with acute TSCI that were hospitalized during the study period, that is September 2006 to October 2007, were identified. Overall, 81 out of 87 cases consented to inclusion in Thessaloniki and 47 out of 49 in Stockholm. Data from Thessaloniki were collected through physical examinations, medical record reviews and communication with TSCI cases and medical teams. Data from Stockholm were retrieved from the Nordic Spinal Cord Injury Registry.Results:There were no significant differences between study groups with regard to core clinical characteristics. In contrast, there were significant differences in (1) transfer logistics from the scene of trauma to a tertiary-level hospital (number of intermediate admissions, modes of transportation and duration of transfer) and (2) acute key therapeutic interventions, that is, the use of mechanical ventilation (49% in Thessaloniki versus 20% in Stockholm), and performance of tracheostomy (36% in Thessaloniki versus 15% in Stockholm); spinal surgery was performed significantly more often and earlier in Stockholm than in Thessaloniki.Conclusions:Despite largely similar core clinical characteristics, Stockholm and Thessaloniki cases underwent significantly different acute management, most probably to be attributed to adaptations to the differing regional approaches of care one following a systematic approach of SCI care and the other not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:A complex set-up was used to investigate kinematics and ground reaction forces.Setting:Motor Control and Physical Therapy Research Laboratory, Neurotec Department, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.Objective:To investigate how men and women with spinal cord injury (SCI) perform transfers from table to wheelchair with regard to timing and magnitude of force generation beneath the hands and associated body movements.Methods:A total of 13 subjects (seven men, six women) with thoracic SCI. Kinematics of body movement were recorded (Elite 2000 system) simultaneously with the signals from three force plates (AMTI) placed beneath the buttocks and hands. Temporal and spatial parameters regarding head, trunk and trailing arm displacement, loading amplitudes and loading torque directions of both hands were analyzed for each trial and subject and compared between genders.Results:Men and women used similar amplitudes of head bending and forward displacement of the trailing shoulder, while female subjects had significantly larger trunk rotation. Both genders applied significantly more weight on the trailing hand. Differences between genders were seen in direction and timing of peak torque beneath the hands.Conclusions:The forces beneath the trailing hand were larger than those in the leading, if there is weakness or pain in one arm, this arm should be selected as the leading. To avoid excessive load on the arms, technical aids and environmental factors should be very well adapted.Sponsorship:This project was funded by the Swedish Research Council and the Health Care Science Committee of Karolinska Institutet.Spinal Cord (2007) 45, 41–48. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101935; published online 2 May 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Postal survey.Setting:A total of 19 countries in Europe.Objectives:Firstly, to collect information about incidence and systems of care for pediatric spinal cord injury (pedSCI); including prevention, initial care and follow-up in a subset of European countries. Secondly, to initiate a network of involved professionals for exchange of information and development of research and care programs.Methods:A short semi-structured questionnaire was sent to respondents working with spinal cord injury (SCI) in 19 countries in Europe.Results:Only in Portugal and Sweden, is the incidence of pedSCI (fatal injuries included) established, that is 27 children/million children/year and 4.6 children/million children/year, respectively. For the other countries, the estimated incidence of pedSCI (nonfatal injuries) varied from 0.9 to 21.2 children/million children/year in the age group of 0–14 years. Although the incidence varies considerably, pedSCI is rare throughout Europe. The management differs between the countries depending on the age of the child and the local organization of health care.Conclusions:The survey confirms that pedSCI is rare. In order to establish high-quality standardized care, further integration of knowledge in this area is needed throughout Europe. The contacts initiated by this survey may be used to create an international network serving as a reference for health professionals, researchers and families, thereby possibly alleviating some of the unwanted variations of care identified in this study.Spinal Cord (2006) 44, 106–112. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101793; published online 30 August 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN::Consecutive inclusion of spinal cord injured patients admitted for postacute rehabilitation from June 2000 to January 2002. OBJECTIVE::Assessment of prevalence of indicators of psychological distress in the subacute and early chronic stages after acute-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING::A Swedish rehabilitation center. METHODS::In all, 36 patients participated. Psychological assessment was obtained at admission, discharge and 6 months follow-up by psychological measures based on the DSM-IV (ie Beck's Depression Inventory, SPIFA, SCID-screen, AUDIT) and clinical interview. Ongoing psychotropic medication was noted. RESULTS::Clinical depression was infrequent. However, ongoing psychotropic medication was common, possibly indicating a relatively high incidence of underlying depressive and anxiety disorders. In all, 25%of the sample showed indicators of high alcohol consumption. Few patients had a previously diagnosed personality disorder. By contrast, there was frequent occurrence of personality traits outside normal ranges. CONCLUSION::Medication of psychological problems commonly occurs after SCI, especially for depression and anxiety. There are indications of alcohol overconsumption in a substantial minority of SCI patients. The study raises the question of whether suppression of psychological symptoms by drug therapy is the optimal treatment of such problems in a rehabilitation process. SPONSORSHIP::This study was funded by grants from‘Stiftelsen Tekniska Hjälpmedelåt Handikappade’.Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 223-229. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101703; Published online 7 December 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Case report on the successful treatment with pramipexole in four men with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) suffering from refractory symptoms that were previously considered to be manifestations of a post-traumatic spastic syndrome or neuropathic pain.Objective:To raise awareness among health professionals regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic possibility of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements (PLMs) in some patients with SCI responding poorly to conventional treatment for spasticity or neuropathic pain.Setting:Neurorehabilitation department of the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of Northern University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.Methods:Medical records and clinical data were retrospectively reviewed.Results:All cases obtained treatment with pramipexole, initially 0.09-0.72 mg day−1. Two of the cases had RLS and PLMs, one RLS only and one PLMs only. All four reported symptoms in the lower extremities and one also in the upper extremities. Three patients with residual gait function reported RLS score with/without treatment as follows: 32/11, 37/12 and 33/12. One patient with complete paraplegia (with incomplete RLS score) reported 22/10. After a follow-up period of 16, 20, 43 and 49 months, respectively, all four still reported excellent outcomes. Two remained on initial dosage; one had increased dosage from 0.09 to 0.18 mg day−1 and one from 0.27 to 0.80 mg day−1 during the follow-up period.Conclusions:In persons with SCI suffering from infralesional involuntary movements and/or dysesthesia and with poor response to conventional antispastic or analgesic treatment, the possibility of RLS or PLMs should be considered, as these conditions seem eminently treatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Consecutive inclusion of spinal cord injured patients admitted for postacute rehabilitation from June 2000 to January 2002., Objective: Assessment of prevalence of indicators of psychological distress in the subacute and early chronic stages after acute-onset spinal cord injury (SCI)., Setting: A Swedish rehabilitation center., Methods: In all, 36 patients participated. Psychological assessment was obtained at admission, discharge and 6 months follow-up by psychological measures based on the DSM-IV (ie Beck's Depression Inventory, SPIFA, SCID-screen, AUDIT) and clinical interview. Ongoing psychotropic medication was noted., Results: Clinical depression was infrequent. However, ongoing psychotropic medication was common, possibly indicating a relatively high incidence of underlying depressive and anxiety disorders. In all, 25% of the sample showed indicators of high alcohol consumption. Few patients had a previously diagnosed personality disorder. By contrast, there was frequent occurrence of personality traits outside normal ranges., Conclusion: Medication of psychological problems commonly occurs after SCI, especially for depression and anxiety. There are indications of alcohol overconsumption in a substantial minority of SCI patients. The study raises the question of whether suppression of psychological symptoms by drug therapy is the optimal treatment of such problems in a rehabilitation process.