Rehab Centers: Driving Ability Following Upper Limb Amputation.

Driving ability following upper limb amputation.

Filed under: Rehab Centers

Prosthet Orthot Int. 2013 Feb 8;
Burger H, Marincek C

Background:In the existing literature, there is scarce information about subjects with upper limb amputation and driving.Objectives:The aim of this study was to find out how frequently subjects following upper limb amputation have problems when driving; most frequently proposed adaptations and, when possible, factors that influence driving ability.Study design:Retrospective clinical study.Methods:Medical records were reviewed of all subjects following upper limb amputation who had been amputated in the last 5 years and those with congenital upper limb deficiency who in the last 5 years turned 17.Results:Out of 37 subjects, 7 did not attend the clinic for assessment of driving abilities. They were significantly older at the time of the amputation (p < 0.001). To the remaining 30 who attended driving assessment, zero to four car adaptations (two on average) were proposed. There were no correlations between the number of suggested car adaptations and the age at the time of the amputation, amputation level, education and severity of phantom limb pain. Type of prosthesis also did not influence the number of car adaptations.Conclusions:Most people following upper limb amputation need at least one car adaptation for safe driving.Clinical relevanceMost people following upper limb amputation need car adaptations for safe driving. Assessment of driving abilities has to be a part of comprehensive rehabilitation of these persons. HubMed – rehab

 

A retrospective study on traumatic spinal cord injury in an inpatient rehabilitation unit in central Saudi Arabia.

Filed under: Rehab Centers

Saudi Med J. 2013 Feb; 34(2): 161-5
Al-Jadid MS

To determine the causes, age and gender differences, hospital length of stay (HLoS), and prevalence of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in a Saudi referral trauma center.We retrospectively reviewed hospital records of all patients who completed the TSCI rehabilitation program in the Rehabilitation Medicine Division, Department of Neurosciences at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from August 1982 and November 2010. The age and gender of the patient, type and mechanism of trauma, type and severity of neurologic deficits, frequency, and HLoS of patient`s were collected for analysis.The mean age of the patients was 29.7 +/- 0.73 years. Out of 466 TSCI patients, 398 were males (85.4%) and 68 were females (14.6%). The higher frequency of TSCI was found in the 16-30 age group, and a lower frequency was found in the 0-15 and more than 45 age groups. Out of the 466 TSCI patients 377 (80.1%) sustained their injuries as a result from motor vehicle accidents. Cervical cord was the most common site of injury accounting for 34% (n=137) of cases in male population, and in females, the higher frequency was the upper thoracic (n=31 [45.6%])There were 250 TSCI patients that stayed in the hospital for 1-70 days, and only 12 patients stayed in the hospital for more than 280 days.Compared to females, the frequency of TSCI was higher in males, and 16-30 age group sustained more TSCI. Road traffic accident is the most common cause of injury, and more than 50% of the TSCI patients stayed in the hospital for less than 70 days.
HubMed – rehab

 

Vestibular rehabilitation outcomes in the elderly with chronic vestibular dysfunction.

Filed under: Rehab Centers

Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2012 Nov; 14(11): 705-8
Bayat A, Pourbakht A, Saki N, Zainun Z, Nikakhlagh S, Mirmomeni G

Chronic vestibular dysfunction is a frustrating problem in the elderly and can have a tremendous impact on their life, but only a few studies are available. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is an important therapeutic option for the neuro-otologist in treating patients with significant balance deficits.The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of vestibular rehabilitation on dizziness in elderly patients with chronic vestibular dysfunction.A total of 33 patients older than 60 years with chronic vestibular dysfunction were studied. Clinical and objective vestibular tests including videonystagmography (VNG) and dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) were carried out at their first visit, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks post-VRT. The VRT exercises were performed according to Cawthorne and Cooksey protocols.Oculomotor assessments were within normal limits in all patients. Nineteen patients (57.57%) showed abnormal canal paralysis on caloric testing which at follow-up sessions; CP values were decreased remarkably after VRT exercises. We found a significant improvement between pre-VRT and post-VRT total DHI scores (P < 0.001). This improvement was most prominent in functional subscore.Our study demonstrated that VRT is an effective therapeutic method for elderly patients with chronic vestibular dysfunction. HubMed – rehab

 

What are the “ingredients” of modified constraint-induced therapy? An evidence-based review, recipe, and recommendations.

Filed under: Rehab Centers

Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2013 Feb 8;
Page SJ, Boe S, Levine P

Modified constraint induced movement therapy (mCIT) increases paretic upper extremity use and movement in all phases of stroke. Although fundamental to its appropriate implementation, specific details on day to day implementation on this promising family of therapies have not heretofore been published. Consequently, some integral behavioral facets of mCIT may be overlooked, while other approaches may be easily mistaken to constitute mCIT, during attempts to implement the therapy. The purpose of this paper is to review mCIT, and to provide the clinician-reader with a detailed description of the “ingredients” of mCIT and their rationale, including clinical examples of these components. It is expected that a more complete understanding of the components comprising this promising approach will overcome knowledge barriers associated with its appropriate use, and encourage better patient management in clinical practice.
HubMed – rehab

 

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