ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic complications. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of clinical knowledge regarding rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19 after lower-limb amputation. Case: A 74-year-old woman with COVID-19 was admitted to a university hospital. During hospitalization, she underwent right transfemoral amputation due to acute limb ischemia. Three months after admission, the patient was transferred to a convalescent rehabilitation ward in the same hospital. A femoral prosthesis was prescribed 2 weeks after her transfer to the rehabilitation ward. It featured ischial-ramal containment with a soft liner and belt suspension, 668-g multiple linkage-type safety knee joint (Imasen Engineering; M0781 SwanS), and a solid-ankle cushioned-heel foot. The total rehabilitation time during the patient's stay in the acute-care and rehabilitation wards was 65.5 h (0.99 h/day, 66 days) and 275.0 h (3.02 h/day, 91 days), respectively. In the rehabilitation ward, the patient underwent 54.4 h (19.8%) of muscle strength training, 48.1 h (17.5%) of comprehensive assessments, and 47.1 h (17.1%) of gait training. The patient was discharged home 6 months after admission, with a total Functional Independence Measure score of 120. The patient could walk slowly [44.2 s (0.23 m/s) in the 10 m-walk test] with a femoral prosthesis and a quad cane but exhibited limited endurance (75.0 m in the 6-min walk test). Discussion: Following appropriate rehabilitation, a patient was able to walk independently after lower-limb amputation despite the complication of COVID-19, although her walking ability was limited.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Dysphagia is the difficulty in swallowing because of the presence of certain diseases; it particularly compromises the oral and/or pharyngeal stages. In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, neuromuscular complications, prolonged bed rest, and endotracheal intubation target different levels of the swallowing network. Thus, critically ill patients are prone to dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. In this review, we first discuss the possible cause and pathophysiology underlying dysphagia associated with coronavirus disease 2019, including cerebrovascular events, such as stroke, encephalomyelitis, encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and myositis, that may lead to the dysphagia reported as a complication associated with the coronavirus disease 2019. Next, we present some recommendations for dysphagia evaluation with modifications that would allow a safe and comprehensive assessment based on available evidence to date, including critical considerations of the appropriate use of personal protective equipment and optimization individual's noninstrumental swallowing tasks evaluation, while preserving instrumental assessments for urgent cases only. Finally, we discuss a practical managing strategy for dysphagia rehabilitation to ensure safe and efficient practice in the risks of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 exposure, in which swallowing therapy using newer technology, such as telerehabilitation system or wearable device, would be considered as a useful option.