Polio Patients in Northern Italy, a 50 Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Poliomyelitis was before the immunization an important medical problem. Nowadays polio prior patients (PP) suffer from polio sequelae or have developed post-polio-syndrome (PPS) with increasing paresis, pain and fatigue. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the medical situation 50 years after acute polio. The degree of paresis was compared between the recovery 1952-1961 and 2012.The prevalence of patients fulfilling the criteria for PPS was estimated. METHOD: The study was performed in Italy. Included were PP with rehabilitation after acute polio 1952-1961 and in 2012. During the years PP underwent yearly evaluation. A thorough neurological examination was performed in 2012. A telephone interview with questions concerning pain, paresis, fatigue, walking aids and concomitant diseases was performed in 2012. The patients were divided in two groups, if they fulfilled the criteria for PPS or not. RESULTS: Included were 67(94%) patients receiving rehabilitation after acute poliomyelitis and 2012. 78% were walkers, half of the PPS used wheelchair. Eight out of ten suffered from pain. Four out of ten fulfilled the PPS criteria. Pain was slightly more common in PPS. CONCLUSION: Female gender, fatigue and wheelchair dependency were significantly more common in PPS while pain was common in both groups.

A prospective study of pain and psychological functioning following traumatic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal study. OBJECTIVES: To study prospectively pain characteristics, change in pain over time and the associations between pain and psychological functioning in adults with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Neurosurgical departments, SCI rehabilitation centres and the community. METHODS: Adults with traumatic SCI admitted over a 3-year period to two neurosurgical departments underwent clinical examination and questionnaires within 3 months after injury (baseline) and at 6, 12 and 42 months following SCI. Pain intensity and interference within the last 7 days, a global quality of life (QoL) item, the 5-item Mental Health Index and the 6-item Catastrophizing scale were used. RESULTS: Ninety individuals were recruited, of which 81 completed a telephone interview on average 3.5 (s.d., 0.6) years after the SCI. Pain was present in 75% at 3.5 years. Baseline pain catastrophizing scores did not predict pain intensity at 3.5 years. Both psychological functioning and QoL increased over time. QoL scores increased less in participants who reported an increase in pain intensity from baseline to the 3.5-year follow-up, and the change in QoL score correlated with the change in pain interference. Neuropathic pain had an onset within the first 12 months and tended to become persistent, whereas musculoskeletal pain more often had a late onset or resolved in cases of early onset. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of SCI participants continue to experience pain many years after SCI. Teaching individuals with SCI skills to minimise pain's impact on function as soon as possible following injury may prove beneficial.

Traumatic spinal cord injuries: evidence from 30 years in a single centre.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. OBJECTIVES: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a devastating injury that causes a lifelong disability, involving mostly young men. The aim of the study was to analyse some clinical and epidemiological features of TSCI patients admitted to the Spinal Unit of Florence, Italy, during 30 years, from 1981 to 2010. SETTING: Spinal Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. METHODS: The medical files from the computerised database of the patients who sustained TSCI from 1 January 1981 to 31 December 2010 and received comprehensive care in the same centre were analysed. Information was collected with regard to demographic data, causes of injury, time of injury, associated injuries, treatment of the vertebral lesion and neurological condition at discharge. RESULTS: A total of 1479 patients were included. The number of two-wheeler road traffic accidents (RTAs) has increased over the years, whereas the percentage of falls and sports accidents has been quite constant. The lesions due to 4-wheeler RTAs tend to decrease. Lesions due to falls mainly affected older persons than those due to sports accidents, with a mean age at the time of injury of 52 and 25 years, respectively. Diving was the most common cause among sports and leisure accidents. Associated injuries were present in 56% of all the cases included. CONCLUSION: The cases of spinal cord injury due to two-wheeler RTAs have increased over the years probably because of the increasing diffusion of the use of such a vehicle, and such an eventuality has to be taken into consideration in future prevention strategies.

Medical complication in adults with spina bifida.

SETTING: Cohort study. INTRODUCTION: Spina bifida (SB) is a congenital malformation affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and is one of the most prevalent CNS disorders in children. Hydrocephalus (HC) is present in 80% of newborns with SB. The aim of the present study was to analyze the medical complications and to relate the complications to age at examination, the level of injury, AIS grade and presence of HC in adults with SB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SB patients were recruited from the Spinalis out-patient clinic at the Karolinska University Hospital at their annual follow-up. The patients underwent a thorough general and neurological examination and background data including medical complications were retrieved from the medical files. RESULTS: 127 of 157 (82%) SB patients (114 with MMC and 13 SB occulta) with a mean age of 34 years were included. Half of the patients had a complete SCI and a lumbar level was most common. Nearly 60% of the patients had HC. 88 patients (69%) suffered from at least one medical complication. Urinary tract infection (UTI), scoliosis and pain were the most common complications found in 46%, 30% and 28% of the patients, respectively. Less common complications were epilepsy, pressure ulcers (PU) and spasticity. DISCUSSION: SB gives a disability including motor, sensory dysfunctions and the patients suffer from a high frequency of medical complications like UTI, scoliosis, pain, and epilepsy. Data gives basis for adequate routines for medical examination at the follow-up.

25 years or more after spinal cord injury: clinical conditions of individuals in the Florence and Stockholm areas.

SETTING: Retrospective analysis and retrospective follow-up. INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord injury (SCI) patients have today a nearly normal lifespan. Avoidance of medical complications is key to this end. The aim of the study was to analyse health in individuals surviving 25 years or more after traumatic SCI in Stockholm and Florence, and compare medical complications. METHODS: Data from the databases of the Spinal Unit of Florence and from the Spinalis, Stockholm were analysed. Patients included were C2-L 2, American Spinal Cord Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) A-C, and ≥25 years post traumatic SCI. Patients underwent a thorough neurological and general examination, and were interviewed about medical events during those years. Analysed data include: gender, age at injury, current age, neurological level, AIS, cause of injury, presence of neuropathic pain (NP), and spasticity and medical complications. RESULTS: A total of 66 Italian patients and 74 Swedish patients were included. The only statistical difference between the groups was cause of injury due to falls was higher in the Florence group (P<0.01). Male/female ratio was 4:1. Traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury. In all, 60% were paraplegics. Pressure ulcers (PU) occurred in nearly 60% and 32% experienced NP. Respiratory complications (RC) occurred in 25% among tetraplegics. Neurological deterioration occurred in 14%. CONCLUSION: PU, bony fractures, spasticity and NP are important problems after SCI. RC are of clinical importance in the tetraplegics. Complications occur during all periods after injury. Many patients are otherwise healthy 25 years or more after SCI.

Neurological and functional outcome in traumatic central cord syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of in-patient stay and prospective follow-up. OBJECTIVES: To study neurological and functional outcomes after traumatic central cord syndrome (TCCS). SETTING: Regional Spinal Unit of Florence, Italy. METHODS: In total, 82 patients, admitted for acute rehabilitation to our Centre (1996-2002) with a diagnosis of TCCS entered the study. Data on admission and discharge were collected for assessments performed at 18 months of injury or later. Data included: cause of injury, gender, type of vertebral lesion, treatment, time of hospitalisation (LoS), ASIA/ISCOS Impairment Scale, neurological examination, functional independence measure (FIM) on admission and discharge. Additional measures included the walking index for spinal cord injuries (WISCI), bladder management, FIM, spasticity on discharge/follow-up and neuropathic pain at follow-up. Correlations were performed on outcome measures in relation to age, treatment, LoS, spasticity and neuropathic pain. RESULTS: Average age was 52 (16-82) years. Causes included falls (47%), road traffic accidents (36%) and sport (7%). Of patients, 45% were treated surgically and 55% conservatively. LoS was 120 days (24-390), but less for those treated without surgery. Patients under 65 years had better outcomes with less neuropathic pain. Neurological and functional recovery was observed on discharge from rehabilitation, which continued in the period following discharge. Spasticity was equally present in all age groups. No difference in outcome was found as a result of spine surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TCCS are older than other spinal cord injured patients, but often show improvement after discharge. Improvement in subjects under 65 years was significantly better than for those over 65 years.

The prevalence of neuropathic pain after non-traumatic spinal cord lesion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective register study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the following parameters for the development of neuropathic pain after non-traumatic spinal cord lesion: that is age at onset of spinal cord disease, gender, completeness of lesion, level of lesion, and aetiology. SETTING: A unit for patients with post-acute traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord lesions in the greater area of Stockholm, Sweden. METHOD: All patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions visiting the unit between 1995 and 2000 were classified according to the following: that is neuropathic pain at or below lesion level according to IASP criteria, age at time of the onset of the spinal cord symptoms, injury level, complete/incomplete injury, and aetiology. Results were analysed with chi(2) - analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 38% had neuropathic pain, 15% had pain predominantly at the level of lesion, and 23% predominantly below the level of lesion. Of those with pain, 67% reported that the pain affected daily life. Women reported neuropathic pain below the level of lesion more often (40%) than men (13%). The prevalence was particularly high (64%) for patients with malignant spinal cord diseases. Neither age at onset of the spinal cord symptoms, nor complete/incomplete injury nor injury level had significant influence on the prevalence. CONCLUSION: Neuropathic pain is common among patients with acquired non-traumatic spinal cord lesions regardless of aetiology, often causing severe problems in daily life.

Spinal cord injuries due to diving accidents.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study and data analysis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyse the main features of spinal cord injuries due to diving accidents accepted in our Centre from June 1978 to December 2002. SETTING: Regional Spinal Unit of Florence, Italy. INTRODUCTION: Diving accidents mostly occur in a young and healthy population and most of the patients develop tetraplegia with a severe lifelong disability. From 1978 to 2002, 65 patients with spinal injuries due to diving accidents were admitted to the Regional Spinal Unit of Florence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted by analysing data stored in our local computerized database. We considered the vertebral injury, ASIA-ISCOS neurological classification on admission and discharge, gender, age at the time of injury, month of injury, treatment of vertebral lesion, length of stay in the Spinal Unit, neurological outcome, and complications. Data were analysed statistically by using the Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. RESULTS: In all, 62/65 patients were males (95%). Mean age at injury time: 22 years. On admission, 35/65 were neurologically complete ASIA A (54%), while 16 were classified ASIA B, 7 ASIA C and 7 ASIA D, according to the ASIA-ISCOS neurological standard of classification. C6 was the most common neurological motor level (40%) and C5 the most common vertebral injury level. In all, 36/65 (55%) patients underwent surgical treatment. Mean hospitalization time was 5 months. No neurological deterioration was recorded. In all, 20/65 (31%) patients improved neurologically and 16/20 (80%) of those had received surgical treatment. In all, 15/65 (23%) patients had complications and one patient died during the hospitalization period. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION: Patients whose vertebral lesions were surgically treated had a better neurological outcome than conservatively treated ones. Teardrop fractures showed worse neurological outcome as compared with burst fractures. Neurological improvement was more present in initially incomplete lesions. Treatment with high dose methylprednisolone during the first 8 h after trauma seemed to influence the neurological outcome positively. Age was also an important factor in influencing the neurological outcome.

Neuropathic pain after traumatic spinal cord injury--relations to gender, spinal level, completeness, and age at the time of injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective register study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of age at the time of injury, gender, level of injury, and completeness of injury for the development of at level and below level neuropathic pain. SETTING: "Spinalis", a postacute spinal cord injury (SCI) outpatient clinic, serving the greater Stockholm area (Sweden). METHOD: All patients who visited the clinic in 1995-2000 (402 patients) for the first time were examined. The following items were selected: at-level and below-level neuropathic pain according to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) criteria, age at the time of injury, gender, level of injury according to ASIA, and completeness of injury. Mean time of 6 years after the injury. Results were analysed with chi(2) analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of all patients examined, 13% had at level pain and 27% had below level pain. Neuropathic pain was less than half as frequent (26%) in the group aged less than 20 years at the time of injury as in the oldest group (58%). The increasing trend was mainly due to below-level pain up to 39 years of age, and due to at-level pain at ages 40 and above at the time of injury. No correlation was observed to gender, level of injury or completeness of injury, except for below level pain, which was associated with complete injury. CONCLUSION: The results show that neuropathic pain after SCI is common and occurs much more often in patients injured at higher ages. This indicates the importance of neuroanalgetic intervention, in particular for patients injured in higher ages.

Gender related differences in pain in spinal cord injured individuals.

STUDY DESIGN: Out of a population of 456 patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI), 130 having pain were selected after matching, based on gender, age, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment grade and level of lesion. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether gender differences with regard to pain perception and prevalence exist in a population of patients following spinal cord injury. SETTING: Spinalis SCI Unit (out-patient clinic), Stockholm, Sweden. METHOD: 130 patients suffering from pain were assessed over a 12-month period in a yearly health control. RESULTS: SCI women had a higher prevalence of nociceptive pain than men and their use of analgesics was greater. However, no differences between the sexes could be seen regarding pain and localization, onset, distribution, factors affecting pain, number of painful body regions, pain descriptors, ratings of pain intensities or in pain and life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: This study showed that SCI men and women describe their pain very similarly. However, SCI women had a higher prevalence of nociceptive pain than men and their use of opiates and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was greater.