Use of Objective Outcomes Measures to Verify the Effects of ICF-Based Gait Treatment in Huntington's Disease Patient on Globus Pallidus Deep Brain Stimulation: A Case Report.

In advanced stages of in Huntington's disease (HD) gait impairments and severe chorea are usually medication-refractory. The long-term effects on gait in HD of physiotherapy ICF-based management post- globus pallidus deep brain stimulation (GPi DBS) are not well-established. Physiotherapy has been recognized as an essential element in HD treatment. Here, we present a case report of a 56-year-old woman with HD on the advanced stage and severe chorea medication-refractory after GPi-DBS. We performed multidisciplinary motor assessments ICF-based to identify the disability at clinical and home-setting, including environmental and personal factors before and after GPi-DBS surgery and at 11-time points follow-up. The surgery was very successful and directly post GPi-DBS, there were a significant improvement in chorea and a substantial decrease in medication dose. A framework ICF- based physiotherapy protocol with external cues was developed to improve gait was delivered post-surgery and was continued three times/week during 18-months. Physiotherapy sessions consisted of a personalized protocol of exercises with functional movements, balance, and gait training with external cues. Improvements in gait were observed in 3-months post-intervention and were more expressive in 6-months follow-up. Our patient improved substantially HD motor symptoms and her quality of life after GPi-DBS intervention and a physiotherapy program ICF-based. The objective outcomes measures used to assess gait have served as endpoints to assessing the patient's motor profile during the pre-operative period. Assessments were helpful to verify the efficacy of the multidisciplinary intervention in long-term. Conclusion: Periodically assessing function and disability using outcome improvements may support clinicians' decisions about DBS, medication adjustments and guide physiotherapists to personalize the ICF-based intervention.

Development of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the "Grading scale for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus": cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity.

OBJECTIVE: The current study translated to Portuguese and validated the normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) scale originally developed in English as the Grading Scale for Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. METHODS: Following Guillemin's validation protocol, the last version of the Portuguese NPH scale was applied to 121 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (73 men and 48 women) from the Group of Cerebral Hydrodynamics from July 2010 to March 2012. RESULTS: The mean age was 71.09 years old, ranging from 35 to 92 years. The rate of agreement and reproducibility was high, as confirmed by Cohen's Kappa coefficient, with excellent intraobserver correlation for the NPH scale items individually evaluated: gait (0.80), dementia (0.90) and incontinence (0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The Portuguese version of the Grading Scale for Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus was successfully translated and validated for use in Brazilian patients.

Development of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the "Grading scale for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus": cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity / Validação da escala de hidrocefalia de pressão normal idiopática para o português brasileiro: aplicação, confiabilidade e validade

ABSTRACT Objective: The current study translated to Portuguese and validated the normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) scale originally developed in English as the Grading Scale for Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Methods: Following Guillemin's validation protocol, the last version of the Portuguese NPH scale was applied to 121 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (73 men and 48 women) from the Group of Cerebral Hydrodynamics from July 2010 to March 2012. Results: The mean age was 71.09 years old, ranging from 35 to 92 years. The rate of agreement and reproducibility was high, as confirmed by Cohen's Kappa coefficient, with excellent intraobserver correlation for the NPH scale items individually evaluated: gait (0.80), dementia (0.90) and incontinence (0.87). Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the Grading Scale for Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus was successfully translated and validated for use in Brazilian patients.

RESUMO Objetivos: o presente estudo valida para a língua portuguesa a escala de hidrocefalia de pressão normal (HPN) desenvolvida em língua inglesa como "Escala de classificação para hidrocefalia de pressão normal idiopática". Métodos: Usando o método de Guillemin, uma versão traduzida da escala foi aplicada em 121 pacientes consecutivos com diagnóstico de hidrocefalia de pressão normal (73 homens e 48 mulheres) no Grupo de Hidrodinâmica Cerebral do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP de julho de 2010 a março de 2012. Resultados: a média de idade foi de 71,09 anos, variando de 35 a 92 anos. A taxa de concordância e reprodutibilidade foi alta, conforme confirmado pelo coeficiente Kappa, com excelente correlação intraobservador para itens de escala HPN que avaliou a marcha (0,80), demência (0,90) e incontinência (0,87). Conclusões: a versão em português da escala de graduação para pacientes com HPN foi traduzida e validada com sucesso para uso em pacientes brasileiros de ambos os sexos.

Performance of the fixed pressure valve with antisiphon device SPHERA® in the treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus and prevention of overdrainage / Efeito da válvula de pressão fixa com antisifão SPHERA®no tratamento da hidrocefalia de pressão normal e prevenção de hiperdrenagem

ABSTRACT Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterized by the triad of gait apraxia, dementia and urinary incontinence associated with ventriculomegaly and normal pressure of cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment is accomplished through the implantation of a ventricular shunt (VPS), however some complications are still frequent, like overdrainage due to siphon effect. This study analyses the performance of a valve with anti-siphon device (SPHERA®) in the treatment of patients with NPH and compares it with another group of patients with NPH who underwent the same procedure without anti-siphon mechanism (PS Medical® valve). 30 patients were consecutively enrolled in two groups with 15 patients each and followed clinically and radiologically for 1 year. Patients submitted to VPS with SPHERA® valve had the same clinical improvement as patients submitted to VPS with PS Medical®. However, complications and symptomatology due to overdrainage were significantly lower in SPHERA® group, suggesting it as a safe tool to treat NPH.

RESUMO A hidrocefalia de pressão normal (HPN) é caracterizada pela tríade de sintomas de apraxia de marcha, demência e incontinência urinária. O tratamento padrão é realizado através de implantação de derivação ventricular, porém várias complicações são frequentes, como a hiperdrenagem secundária ao efeito sifão. Este estudo avaliou o resultado da válvula SPHERA® no tratamento desses pacientes em comparação com um grupo controle (PS Medical®). 30 pacientes foram consecutivamente alocados em dois grupos de 15 e seguidos por 1 ano. Pacientes com a válvula SPHERA® tiveram o mesmo grau de melhora clínica em comparação ao grupo controle, no entanto as complicações diagnósticadas e sintomatologia secundária à hiperdrenagem foi significativamente inferior no grupo da válvula SPHERA® group, sugerindo-a como uma ferramenta segura e aplicável.

Performance of the fixed pressure valve with antisiphon device SPHERA® in the treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus and prevention of overdrainage.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterized by the triad of gait apraxia, dementia and urinary incontinence associated with ventriculomegaly and normal pressure of cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment is accomplished through the implantation of a ventricular shunt (VPS), however some complications are still frequent, like overdrainage due to siphon effect. This study analyses the performance of a valve with anti-siphon device (SPHERA®) in the treatment of patients with NPH and compares it with another group of patients with NPH who underwent the same procedure without anti-siphon mechanism (PS Medical® valve). 30 patients were consecutively enrolled in two groups with 15 patients each and followed clinically and radiologically for 1 year. Patients submitted to VPS with SPHERA® valve had the same clinical improvement as patients submitted to VPS with PS Medical®. However, complications and symptomatology due to overdrainage were significantly lower in SPHERA® group, suggesting it as a safe tool to treat NPH.

Randomized controlled trial protocol: balance training with rhythmical cues to improve and maintain balance control in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Postural instability is a particularly incapacitating disorder, whose loss of motor independence by Parkinson´s Disease (PD) patients marks a significant stage of disease onset. Evidence suggests that deficits in automatic motor control, sensory integration and attention are associated with the lack of balance in PD. Physiotherapy together with medication play an important role in the treatment of this state, although no consensus has been reached on the best treatment modality. The aim of this randomized controlled trial protocol is to evaluate the effects of balance training with rhythmical (BRT), which is a motor program to improve balance associated with rhythmical auditory cues (RACs). This study is ongoing in the stage 1. METHODS AND DESIGN: A total of 150 PD patients at H&Y stages II-III and asymptomatic for depression and dementia are enrolled in a single-blind randomized study. Randomization is achieved via a computer-generated random-sequence table. All patients should also present a fall history. They will be assigned into one of three groups, and their balance and gait will be assessed before and after 10 training sessions, and after 4 and 30 weeks subsequent to the end of the training. The BRT group will receive a motor program to improve balance associated with RACs, the MT group will perform motor training with the same aims as those in the BRT group but without RACs, and the control group (CG) will be trained only in orientations. The exercise program specific to balance is of 5 weeks' duration with two sessions per week, 45 min each, and consists of general physiotherapy exercises. Each session will be divided into five warm-up minutes-30 min for the main part and 10 min for the cool down. The training progresses and intensifies each week depending on the individual's performance. The subjects should be able to execute 10 repetitions of the exercise sequences correctly to progress to the next movement. DISCUSSION: This randomized study protocol will evaluate the effects of a motor program designed to improve balance associated with RACs, and will also assess whether balance training leads to activation of balance reactions at the appropriate time. We hypothesize that if this motor program is maintained long-term, it will prevent falls. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02488265 ; Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine Clinics Hospital 1.102.464.

Role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy and ventriculoperitoneal shunt in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: preliminary results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the most common treatment for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) is a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), generally with programmable valve implantation. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is another treatment option, and it does not require prosthesis implantation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the functional neurological outcome in patients after 12 months of treatment with INPH by using 2 different techniques: ETV or VPS. METHODS: Randomized, parallel, open-label trial involving the study of 42 patients with INPH and a positive response to the tap test, from January 2009 to January 2012. ETV was performed with a rigid endoscope with a 30° lens (Minop, Aesculap), and VPS was performed with a fixed-pressure valve (PS Medical, Medtronic). The outcome was assessed 12 months after surgery. The neurological function outcomes were based on the results of 6 clinical scales: mini-mental, Berg balance, dynamic gait index, functional independence measure, timed up and go, and normal pressure hydrocephalus. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups after 12 months of follow-ups, and the VPS group showed better improvement results (ETV = 50%, VPS = 76.9%). CONCLUSION: Compared with ETV, VPS is a superior method because it had better functional neurological outcomes 12 months after surgery.