SCI management and expected outcomes Flashcards

1
Q

OM - activity limitation

A
SCIM 
spinal cord independence measure 
self care 
resp and sphincter 
management 
mobility 

FIM- functional independence measure
socio-cognitive skills

Barthel index
personal care
mobility

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2
Q

effect of injury level: tetraplegia

A

C1-4 preserved
SCM traps cervical paraspinal neck accessory muscle
imps - total ass with TF may achieve modified ass with power chair.

C5
+deltoids, biceps
no wrist or hand function may use trick extension for TF

C6
+ extensor carpi radialis longus, brevis
tenodesis grip for minimal hand function, can use trick extension for transfers

C7
+ triceps
tenodesis grip, minimal finger control

C8 - + flexor carpi radialis, finger flexors
full active wrist movement
limited fine hand function

T1
lumbricals, abductor pollicis
full fine hand function

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3
Q

Effect of injury level: paraplegia

A

T2-T9: full uper limb function
imp weak trunk, impaired sitting balance, possible swing to ambulation wiht HKAFO and ZF

T10 - L1 - + paraspinal and ab muscles
better sitting balance, possible swing to ambulation in HKAFO + ZF

L2 + hip flexors
reciprocal ambulation in long leg splints or KAFOs + crutches

L3
+ quads reciprocal ambulation in AFOs + crutches

L4
+ tibialis anterior
ambulation with crutches +/- AFOs

L5
+ long toe extensors
independent ambulation +/- AFOs, crutches

S1
independent +/- stick

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4
Q

critical levels of injury

A
C1-3 
tetraplegia Ventilator dependent  Upper limb paralysis  Lower limb paralysis  Can move head
Fully dependent for all motor tasks
and ADLs
Can use assistive technology
C4
Can breathe independently  Upper limb paralysis  Lower limb paralysis
Fully dependent for all motor tasks and
ADLs
Can use assistive technology

C5
Partial paralysis of upper limbs Lower limb paralysis
Can use hand-control power
wheelchair
Assistance with transfers Assistance with most ADLs Can use upper limbs to perform
simple tasks without fine hand control Potential trick elbow extension (limited by wrist)

C6
Potential to live independently if adequately equipped and set-up
May be able to transfer, roll, move from lying to sitting, dress, bathe and tend to personal hygiene
Can use manual wheelchair Can use power wheelchair Tenodesis grip
Trick elbow extension

C7
Active elbow extension
Rely on tenodesis grip for hand function Independent in ADLs and transfers

C8
Good hand function, not reliant on
tenodesis grip
Independent in ADLs and transfers

T1
Normal fine hand function at NLI T1 Very difficult to sit unsupported Independent in ADLs and transfers

Thoracic T2-12 paraplegia
Normal hand function
Varying degrees of trunk paralysis  Varying cough efficacy
Lower limb paralysis
Potential ambulation with HKAFO
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5
Q

prognosis of incomplete injury

A

More difficult to predict

20-50% of ASIA B paraplegia recover the ability to walk by 1
year

85% of muscles that were Grade 1 or 2 at one month  > Grade 3 by 1 year

26% of muscles that were Grade 0 at 1 month  > Grade 3 by
1 year (Burns et al., 2012)
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6
Q

early functional goals

A

Tolerate sitting out of bed in an appropriately prescribed seating system for a specified time period

Maintain skin integrity

Able to verbalise skills that require help

Caregiver independence

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7
Q

initial focus

A

24 hour postural management

Readjustment of vasomotor control

Postural sensibility, balance re-education

Provision of seating, teach pressure relief

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8
Q

24 hour postural management

A

skin management

prevent contractures

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9
Q

vasomotor control

A

Before sitting out, tilt in bed to 30 degrees and gradual increase to 90 degrees
Deep breathing exercises and monitoring of vitals in each
position
Introduction of some leg hanging
10-15 minutes – 3 hours over 1 week
Progress to chair

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10
Q

stnading programme

A

Key Message: All patients with SCI should be assessed for the potential benefits of standing, as soon as they are physiologically stable and it is practically possible

Specific goals based on initial assessment and on-going evaluation
Suitable outcome measures
Target: 3 or more times a week, 30-60 minutes each time

benefits
Soft tissue Bladder/bowel Quality of life Bone health Exercise effects

precautions
Bone demineralisation Cardiovascular considerations Pain
Soft tissue considerations

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11
Q

wheelchair prescription

A
Considerations
Good posture
Ergonomic features that allow full use, full time
Comfort
Durability
Aesthetics
Attributes
“Pushability”

Electric wheelchairs
high lesions
are heavier and bulkier controls
stability

outcome meausures Wheelchair Skills Test Ascend / descend incline Ascend / descend kerb Get through hinged door
Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index Transfers
Mobility
Self-care General activities

wheelchair provision
lightweight customised
bucekt configuration
pressure relieving cushion

position changes 
educate patients on changing position regularly Why?
Sitting pressure
Postural issues
Fatigue
Discomfort

How?
Vertical lift unlikely to be long enough for benefit
Leaning forward 45° and lateral trunk leaning to 15° reduces pressure at the sitting surface

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12
Q

transfers and bed mobility

A

Sitting unsupported

Rolling

Moving from lying to sitting

Transferring

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13
Q

postural control and sitting balance

A

Back to basics of sitting balance re-education

Won’t manage COM outside BOS, no active
righting reactions (only saving reactions)
Compensation for limited trunk control:
Big BOS, ability to change BOS
Using head and arms for momentum and  orientation of COM over BOS
Appropriate hamstring extensibility
Develop upper limb strength

Consider the individual, task and environment

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14
Q

rolling

A

Used to dress, change position at night, pre-requisite for getting from lying to sitting
Rely on upper limbs and head to
generate momentum
Can be easier if ankles are crossed and body is stiffer
Difficult without triceps because of
tendency for elbow flexion
Unable to roll: can rely on bed rails or loops attached to the side of the bed; or assistance

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15
Q

lie to long sit

A
Essential for dressing and
transferring
Easy with triceps
Triceps paralysis: more
complex
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16
Q

vertical lift

A

Goals: relieve pressure, transfer, dress and move about the bed
Need to be able to perform with knees flexed and extended
3 components Elbow extension
Scapula depression Shoulder flexion
Vertical transfers possible for some people with SCI

17
Q

Transfers

A

Performed with legs up or legs down
Advantages and disadvantages to both techniques Two commonly used strategies
Rotatory strategy
Translatory strategy

Critical aspects of transfers
Buttocks do not touch the wheels
Control of end of transfer / foot placement
Slideboards can be used for training or long-term
Hooking of the wrist for C6 tetraplegia

18
Q

factors influencing transfers

A

body weight
extensibility of hamstrings
spine stiffness
spasticity

19
Q

walking

A

~50% of SCI survivors will walk (Harvey, 2008)
Walking can be a functional, therapeutic or task-specific goal
People with tetraplegia can stand with frames, tilt-tables or
standing wheelchairs
People with thoracic paraplegia ambulate with walking aids*
People with motor incomplete lesions and lumbosacral
paraplegia
Most can walk for at least limited distances Usefulness of walking depends on extent of paralysis

20
Q

walking with thoracic paraplegia

A

hip-knee-ankle-foot-orthosis. HKAFO

knee-ankle-foot-orthosis- KAFO

21
Q

walking with partial paralyis of lower limbs

A

AFO
dictus splint
functional electrical stimulation

22
Q

gait re-education

A

Conventional overground gait training
Orthoses
Aids
Therapist assistance
Electromechanical / robotic assisted (Lokomat)
Comparable to overground training in improving
walking speed and distance (Mehrholz et al 2017)
Less therapist assistance required
Functional electrical stimulation + exoskeleton / neuroprosthesis
Lab based walking

23
Q

outcome measures for walking

A
Valid and Reliable in SCI
6 minute walk test
10 metre walk test
Berg Balance Test
Timed Up and Go Test
Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI) II
SCI Functional Ambulation Inventory
SCI Functional Ambulation Profile
24
Q

hand function

A

Hugely important to tetraplegia Outcome Measures
Handheld dynamometry
Capabilities of Upper Extremity Functioning Instrument
Graded and Redefined Assessment of Sensibility, Strength and Prehension (GRASSP)
9 Hole Peg Test
Box and Blocks
Action Research Arm Test

25
Q

hand function
C4-8
T1

A

C4: Prevent complications, maintain range (low load sustained stretch)

C5: Strengthen biceps and deltoid, maintain length of paralysed muscles (aids, orthoses, splints, exercise)

C6, 7: Tenodesis grip: active wrist extension + passive tightening of finger
flexors for crude but very useful grip.
Essential point: Never stretch fingers and wrist into extension

C8: have active grip, limited fine hand function

T1 full function

26
Q

treatment options

A
Task-specific training
Splinting
Orthoses
Taping
Strengthening
Mobilisation techniques
Functional electrical stimulation
Close collaboration with occupational therapist
27
Q

other treatment options

A

Reconstructive surgery: improve pinch, grip and elbow extension => improve ADL performance and quality of life in tetraplegia
Nerve transfer surgery to restore hand and upper limb function is emerging
Neuroprostheses have a positive impact on pinch and grip strength and ADL functions in C5-C6 complete tetraplegia (devices are expensive, access is limited)

28
Q

long term problems

A
Pressure sores
Kyphosis
Scoliosis
Restricted neck flexion
Hip flexion contractures
Shoulder pain
Osteoporosis
Co-morbidities e.g. cardiovascular disease