SCI Publications

Presents part of a chapter on rehabilitation in joint and connective tissue diseases in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Discusses ankylosing spondylitis and spinal stenosis, including differential features, diagnostic strategy, rehabilitation management, spinal complications of ankylosing spondylitis, and pathophysiology of ...

Describes a prospective multicenter study that involved nine centers participating in the National Model Spinal Cord Injury System program. The study investigated neurological deficit and recovery patterns following spinal cord injury (SCI) from stab wounds. Subjects were 32 individuals with SCI following stab wounds. Detailed motor examinations were completed ...

Discusses ethical issues in the management of persons with severe neuromuscular disorders. The authors suggest that, despite the many recent management advances for individuals with severe neuromuscular disease, quality of life cannot be assured by medical advances or technology. Furthermore, they contend that quality of life issues are often ...

Study evaluating life satisfaction and well being in 87 individuals with traumatic tetraplegia two years or more postinjury. Forty two ventilator assisted individuals with tetraplegia (VAITs) and 45 autonomously breathing individuals with tetraplegia (ABITs) completed standard psychosocial instruments. Major findings include the following: 1) the VAITs' life satisfaction and ...

Study examining longitudinal changes in nocturnal blood gas tensions in 10 individuals with complete C4 to C7 motor quadriplegia who were at least 6 months postinjury. The mean age was 41.2 years and mean time since injury was 7.7 years at the initial evaluation. Subjects were reevaluated 5 years ...

Study compares injured adolescents presenting to an emergency room with a positive serum alcohol concentration (SAC+) with those injured adolescents with a negative serum alcohol concentration (SAC-). Retrospective data was used from 176 injured patients (ages 13-18), who were admitted consecutively to a university hospital for two entire years ...

Discusses the key rehabilitation outcomes that should be measured to adequately document the impact of rehabilitation in a person's life. The author proposes a model of rehabilitation outcomes that builds on the concepts of impairment, disability, and handicap from the World Health Organization's model of disablement. The model identifies ...

Review of the literature on pressure ulcer development and clinical management. The following topics are discussed: 1) etiologic factors; 2) persons at risk for pressure ulcer development; 3) systems for the description/classification of pressure ulcers; 4) pathologic tissue changes; 5) complications; 6) medical management; 7) treatment of the ulcer; ...

Article highlights the role of alcohol use in trauma. Clinical studies that explore the effects of acute and chronic alcohol use on the response to injury are discussed. Potential mechanisms, both physiologic and cellular, by which alcohol may enhance injury are reviewed. Advances in the identification of alcohol abuse ...

Study examined the relationship between time and required intrathecal baclofen dose necessary for keeping spasticity at an acceptable level. The study also investigated whether tolerance was a factor in the study subjects. Subjects were 18 individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who had undergone continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion pump ...

Study of 9,135 spinal cord injured persons identifies risk factors and causes for mortality over an eleven year period. Primary cause of death for the 9.3% of the studied group that died was related to diseases of the respiratory system. The causes of death are correlated to age groups, ...