A direct spinal cord-computer interface enables the control of the paralysed hand in spinal cord injury.

The paralysis of the muscles controlling the hand dramatically limits the quality of life of individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, with a non-invasive neural interface, we demonstrate that eight motor complete SCI individuals (C5-C6) are still able to task-modulate in real-time the activity of populations of spinal motor neurons with residual neural pathways. In all SCI participants tested, we identified groups of motor units under voluntary control that encoded various hand movements. The motor unit discharges were mapped into more than 10 degrees of freedom, ranging from grasping to individual hand-digit flexion and extension. We then mapped the neural dynamics into a real-time controlled virtual hand. The SCI participants were able to match the cue hand posture by proportionally controlling four degrees of freedom (opening and closing the hand and index flexion/extension). These results demonstrate that wearable muscle sensors provide access to spared motor neurons that are fully under voluntary control in complete cervical SCI individuals. This non-invasive neural interface allows the investigation of motor neuron changes after the injury and has the potential to promote movement restoration when integrated with assistive devices.

Cycle ergometer training vs resistance training in ICU-acquired weakness.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effectiveness of cycle ergometer training and resistance training to enhance the efficiency of standard care to improve walking ability, muscular strength of the lower limbs, cardiovascular endurance and health-related quality of life during inpatient rehabilitation in intensive care unit acquired weakness. MATERIALS & METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with severe to moderate walking disability were enrolled in one of the three experimental groups: (a) ergometer training group, (b) resistance training group and (c) control group (standard care only). Intervention was applied 5 days a week over a 4-week period during inpatient neurological rehabilitation. We evaluated walking ability (Functional Ambulation Category test, timed up and go test, 10-metre walk test and 6-minute walk test), muscle strength (Medical Research Council and maximum muscle strength tests), cardiovascular endurance and muscular endurance of the lower limbs at the fatigue threshold (physical working capacity at fatigue threshold) and quality of life (medical outcomes study SF-36 form). All tests were performed at baseline, after two weeks of treatment and at the end of the 4-week intervention period. RESULTS: Ergometer training and resistance training enhanced the effectiveness of standard care in order to improve (a) lower limb muscle strength, (b) walking ability and (c) cardiorespiratory fitness during inpatient rehabilitation of intensive care acquired weakness. In addition, ergometer training may be superior to resistance training. CONCLUSIONS: Our data encourage more research to develop and implement these training tools in rehabilitation programmes for intensive care acquired weakness.

Outcome after post-acute spinal cord specific rehabilitation: a German single center study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze single center outcome measures of spinal cord injury (SCI)-specific rehabilitation (SCISR) in Germany. SETTING: The study was conducted at an SCI specialized rehabilitation center. METHODS: Nonparametric tests for outcome description such as SCIM and length of stay. Logistic regression for outcome prediction was used. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty patients (113 men, 47 women) with a mean age of 64.4 years were included. Non-traumatic etiologies, such as vascular diseases, tumors, infections or degenerative diseases accounted for 55.6% of SCI (89/160). Men experienced significantly more cervical lesions (P=0.02) and presented with lower SCIMstart values (P=0.04). Patients with AIS D (incomplete SCI) had significantly higher SCIMstart and SCIMend (P<0.01, each). Age correlated negatively with SCIMstart and SCIMend (r=-0.21; P<0.05; r=-0.21; P<0.05; respectively). The chance to reach an SCIMend ⩾50 points (milestone for starting post-primary rehabilitation) increased with every SCIM point at the beginning of rehabilitation by 12.2% (95% CI 7.3-17.3%) and for every day in rehabilitation by 1.4% (95% CI 0.5-2.3%). Every additional day in acute medical care, however, decreased the chance for this by 2.2% (95% CI -3.6 to -0.8%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study giving outcomes for post-acute SCISR in Germany. The obtained data support that even in an older cohort, early admission to SCISR after SCI and longer LOSreha increases the chance for higher independence at the end of the rehabilitation period.

Outcome of Intensive Care Unit-Dependent, Tracheotomized Patients with Cerebrovascular Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Outcome studies in intensive care unit -dependent, tracheotomized, and mechanical ventilated patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) are scarce. METHODS: In a retrospective approach, we analyzed the outcome of 143 patients with ischemic stroke (IS), primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). To measure the potential benefit of in-patient rehabilitation, we used the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). In addition, weaning and rehabilitation duration, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) in the acute care hospital (preweaning), and mortality rates were assessed. RESULTS: Approximately 50% of all patients were transferred home. These patients were fully independent or under nursing support. We found no differences regarding weaning and rehabilitation durations, or FIM scores in between each entity. Log-regression analyses showed that every day on MV generates a 3.2% reduction of the possibility to achieve a beneficial outcome (FIM ≥ 50 points [only moderate assistance necessary]), whereas every day in-patient rehabilitation without MV increases the chance for favorable outcome by 1.9%. Mortality rates were 5% for IS and 10% for PICH and SAH, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that even severely affected, tracheotomized patients with CVD benefit from early in-patient rehabilitation, irrespective of the etiology of vascular brain injury. Mortality rates of early rehabilitation in CVD are low. Until no validated outcome predictors are available, all efforts should be undertaken to enable in-patient rehabilitation, even in severe cases of CVD to improve outcome and to prevent accommodation in long-time-care facilities.

Histological characterization and biochemical analysis of paraspinal muscles in neuromuscularly healthy subjects.

INTRODUCTION: There are no generally accepted histopathological reference values in paraspinal skeletal muscle biopsies. METHODS: We examined multifidii muscle biopsies from 20 neuromuscularly healthy subjects using routine histological stains and biochemical analyses of respiratory chain enzymes. RESULTS: Staining showed incomplete myopathic features, such as increased variability in fiber size, type 1 hypertrophy, rounded fiber shape, endomysial fibrosis, and replacement by adipose tissue. Acid phosphatase reaction was positive in up to 35% of the selected muscle fibers. Mitochondrial changes were obvious but revealed no selective age dependence. Reduced complex I, cytochrome c oxidase (COX), and citrate synthase (CS) could be observed. CONCLUSIONS: Because the increased variability in morphological details can easily be misinterpreted as myopathic changes, analysis of paraspinal muscles should take into consideration that incomplete myopathic features and reduced oxidative enzyme activities for complex I, COX, and CS are normal variations at this location.

Dysphagia--a common, transient symptom in critical illness polyneuropathy: a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing study*.

OBJECTIVES: Critical illness polyneuropathy is a common disorder in the neurological ICU. Dysphagia is well known to deteriorate outcome in the ICU. The prevalence of dysphagia in critical illness polyneuropathy is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dysphagia in critical illness polyneuropathy using fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study. SETTING: Neurological rehabilitation ICU. PATIENTS: Twenty-two patients with critical illness polyneuropathy. INTERVENTIONS: Clinical swallowing examination and serial fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (days 3, 14, and 28 after admission). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Swallowing of saliva, pureed consistencies, and liquids was tested using fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing at three different time points. The penetration-aspiration scale by Rosenbek et al and the secretion severity rating scale by Murray et al were used for grading. Functional outcome after rehabilitation was assessed using the functional independence measure.: Pathologic swallowing was found in 20 of 22 patients (91%). Hypesthesia of laryngeal structures was found in 17 of 22 patients (77%) during the first fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Over the 4-week follow-up period, laryngeal hypesthesia resolved in 75% of affected cases. Pureed consistencies were swallowed safely in 18 of 22 cases (82%), whereas liquids and saliva showed high aspiration rates (13 of 17 [78%] and 10 of 22 [45%], respectively). Swallowing function recovered completely in 21 of 22 (95%) within 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Dysphagia is frequent among patients with critical illness polyneuropathy treated in the ICU. Old age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the mode of mechanical ventilation, the prevalence of tracheal tubes, and behavioral "learned nonuse" may all be contributing factors for the development of dysphagia in critical illness polyneuropathy. Complete recovery occurs in a high percentage of affected individuals within 4 weeks.

The influence of weaning duration on rehabilitative outcome in early neurological rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: We investigated if longer weaning is associated with inferior rehabilitative outcome in critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). METHODS: We analysed retrospectively weaning protocols and medical histories of 171 tracheotomized patients with CIP and CVD. We assessed weaning durations (WD), independence in activities of daily living, as assessed by the functional independence measure (FIM), mortality rates and discharge modalities in each cohort. Weaning was performed using synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) with Autoflow® and assisted spontaneous ventilation (ASV). RESULTS: WD was significantly longer in CIP compared to CVD (p < 0.001). Despite shorter in-patient treatment and longer WD, patients with CIP acquired significantly greater gains of improvement than CVD (p = 0.015). Independent living at home was possible in 43% of patients with CIP and in 26% of CVD. Mortality was equal in both groups (13% vs. 6%, p > 0.05). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) showed a trend towards longer weaning durations in both entities (p = 0.06). Higher age significantly correlated with longer WD (p = 0.038, r = 0.16). Longer rehabilitation duration (RD) positively correlated with higher Delta-FIM (DFIM) in both entities (p = 0.006, r = 0.21). CONCLUSION: Longer weaning and its partly negative influence on rehabilitative outcome can be compensated by longer in-patient rehabilitation in CIP and CVD.

Recovery and outcome of frontal alien hand syndrome after anterior cerebral artery stroke.

Ischemic lesions within the territory of the anterior cerebral artery present with a variety of clinical signs and symptoms. Among these, frontal alien hand syndrome is rare and easily overlooked in the acute clinical setting, but significantly impacts on functional activities of daily life. Given its rareness, very little is known about its long-term outcome. To shade some more light onto this issue, clinical presentation, course of rehabilitation and outcome of two illustrative cases of frontal alien hand syndrome following anterior cerebral artery stroke are presented. Within seven and nine months from symptom onset, respectively, the clinical symptoms of frontal alien hand had resolved completely in both cases. We conclude that frontal alien hand syndrome has a favourable long-term outcome.

Parkinsonism following bilateral hypoxic-ischemic lesions of the striatum.

A 40-year-old white male received cardio-pulmonary resuscitation after cardiac arrest due to an epileptic status. Four months after the incident he developed an akinetic-rigid syndrome and a postural tremor more pronounced on the right side of the body. Brain imaging revealed bilateral lesions of the putamen and caudate nucleus. Levodopa improved bradykinesia and muscular rigidity, but not the postural tremor.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) reveals characteristic pattern of myocardial damage in patients with mitochondrial myopathy.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial myopathy comprises various clinical subforms of neuromuscular disorders that are characterised by impaired mitochondrial energy metabolism due to dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. No comprehensive and targeted cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies have been performed so far in patients with mitochondrial disorders. The present study aimed at characterising cardiac disease manifestations in patients with mitochondrial myopathy and elucidating the in vivo cardiac damage pattern of patients with different subforms of mitochondrial disease by CMR studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective study, 37 patients with mitochondrial myopathy underwent comprehensive neurological and cardiac evaluations including physical examination, resting ECG and CMR. The CMR studies comprised cine-CMR, T2-weighted "edema" imaging and T1-weighted late-gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) imaging. Various patterns and degrees of skeletal myopathy were present in the participants of this study, whereas clinical symptoms such as chest pain symptoms (in eight (22%) patients) and various degrees of dyspnea (in 16 (43%) patients) were less frequent. Pathological ECG findings were documented in eight (22%) patients. T2-weighted "edema" imaging was positive in one (3%) patient with MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) only. LGE imaging demonstrated the presence of non-ischemic LGE in 12 (32%) patients: 10 out of 24 (42%) patients with CPEO (chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia) or KSS (Kearns-Sayre syndrome) and 2 of 3 (67%) patients with MELAS were LGE positive. All 10 LGE-positive patients with CPEO or KSS demonstrated a potentially typical pattern of diffuse intramural LGE in the left-ventricular (LV) inferolateral segments. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac involvement is a frequent finding in patients with mitochondrial myopathy. A potentially characteristic pattern of diffuse intramural LGE in the LV inferolateral segments was identified in patients suffering from the subforms CPEO or KSS.

Camptocormia in Parkinson's disease: a review of the literature.

Camptocormia (CC) is defined as a trunkal flexion which worsens while standing, sitting and walking and disappears in the supine position. CC is a well-known clinical phenomenon in patients with generalized neuromuscular disorders like polymyositis, myasthenia gravis or motor neuron diseases, and it is also described in the context of movement disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD) or multiple system atrophy. In association with PD, CC seems to be a rare symptom which occurs preferentially in late stages of the disease. Currently, there are 3 main hypotheses on the pathogenesis of CC in PD, i.e. a focal myopathy of the trunk muscles, axial dystonia and a drug-induced etiology. This review gives a synopsis and critical acclaim of these 3 etiologies and refers to the current study data and possible treatment strategies.