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Radiofrequency energy, such as that used in neuroablation, has been applied in various medical and surgical fields. However, no consensus exists regarding neuroablation protocols using radiofrequency. This study aimed to report the effect of a radiofrequency neuroablative technique on spastic foot management in a patient with stroke and present its safety and persistence. A 59-year-old man with hemiplegic gait by the intracerebral hemorrhage had radiofrequency ablation of the motor nerve branch supplying the medial gastrocnemius. The patient’s subjective and objective measurements of the spastic limb improved after the intervention. The effect lasted for 3 months. Radiofrequency neuroablative technique may be beneficial for treating spastic gait in patients with stroke. The above technique must be used to verify patients with spasticity, and research should be investigated to determine appropriated parameters.
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Cricopharyngeal dysfunction is a disorder in which excessive tension in the upper esophageal sphincter occurs leads to dysphagia. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a disease in which excessive bone formation is widely observed in various parts of the body including the cervical spine. This case report shows a dysphagia patient who had cricopharyngeal dysfunction combined with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. A male patient suffering from dysphagia for 4 months visited the hospital. He was examined by using a videofluoroscopic swallow study, which confirmed simultaneous cricopharyngeal dysfunction and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Considering the advanced age of the patient, a botulinum toxin injection was first administered to treat his cricopharyngeal dysfunction. The patient showed partial improvement with this treatment. However, dysphagia persisted due to incomplete occlusion of the epiglottis by the anterior osteophyte. The patient was in good general condition; therefore a partial cervical corpectomy was performed for cervical diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. The patient showed complete recovery from dysphagia post-surgery. In conclusion, two separate treatments were individually given; a botulinum toxin injection for cricopharyngeal dysfunction and surgery for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, and each treatment was confirmed as effective.
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Objective@#To prove the hypothesis that the parameters of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) during will be more deteriorated in neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) than in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). @*Methods@#This retrospective study reviewed the data of 69 patients (NMS=32, AIS=37) who underwent scoliosis surgery under IONM. The amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and the amplitude and the latency of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were examined. Demographic, preoperative, perioperative and postoperative data were analyzed to determine whether they affected the IONM parameters for each group. @*Results@#Of the items analyzed, the bleeding amount was the only significant risk factor for SEP latency deterioration in the NMS group only. The amplitude of SEP and MEP did not correlate with the hemodynamic parameters. The NMS/AIS ratios of the bleeding-related parameters were higher in the order of bleeding amount/weight (2.62, p<0.01), bleeding amount/body mass index (2.13, p<0.01), and bleeding amount (1.56, p<0.01). This study suggests that SEP latency is more vulnerable than SEP or MEP amplitude in ischemic conditions during scoliosis surgery. @*Conclusion@#In NMS patients, it should be considered that the bleeding amount can have a critical effect on intraoperative electrophysiological deterioration.
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Brain tumors are receiving increasing attention in cancer rehabilitation due to their high rate of neurological deterioration. Motor dysfunction, cognitive deterioration, and emotional problems are commonly present in patients with brain tumors. Other medical complications, such as seizures, headache, and dysphagia are also common. An individualized multidisciplinary rehabilitation intervention is necessary to treat functional impairment due to the tumor itself and/or treatment-related dysfunction. Herein, we discuss rehabilitation treatment strategies in relation to the neurological and functional complications that commonly occur in patients with brain tumors.
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Wilson’s disease (WD) is a genetic disease caused by an ATP7B gene mutation. Although dysphagia is known as a neurological manifestation of WD, clinical case reports with post-treatment long-term follow-up are scarce. A 17-year-old male was admitted to hospital complaining of general weakness and swallowing difficulty. He was diagnosed with WD by genetic confirmation. Assessment of the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) determined an initial videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) score of 48. After 11 months treatment with D-penicillamine and neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy (NMES) with oromotor exercises, the VDS score improved to 23, especially in the following areas: mastication, apraxia, premature bolus loss, triggering of pharyngeal swallow, and laryngeal elevation. Dysphagia is an early neurological symptom of WD, and is reversible when properly treated with early diagnosis. Thus, since WD is treatable, patients presenting with dysphagia should be indicative of high probability of the disease, and evaluated at the earliest. NMES treatment in combination with D-penicillamine helps to improve the deglutition function in both oral and pharyngeal phases. To investigate the characteristics of dysphagia and the specific clinical efficacy of NMES in WD, further studies with larger number of patients are required.
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Objective@#To identify the relationship between dysphagia, dietary level, and pulmonary function in post-stroke patients. @*Methods@#Thirty-six post-stroke patients with dysphagia, who were hospitalized from June 2017 to October 2017 in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at a tertiary hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. The video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) were used to assess dysphagia. The vital capacity (VC) and peak cough flow (PCF) were used to assess the pulmonary function. Upon admission, the patients were divided into three groups according to their dietary level (tube feeding, dysphagia diet, and general diet). The correlation between dysphagia and pulmonary function was analyzed using an independent t-test test with the optimal points, and the relationship between the diet level and pulmonary function was evaluated using a one-way analysis of the variance. @*Results@#Significant correlations between the pulmonary function and sub-items of VDS were found in “oral transit time” with VC, “vallecullar residue” and “aspiration” with PCF, and “triggering of pharyngeal swallow”, “VDS total score” with VC and PCF. The dietary levels upon admission had a significant correlation with VC and PCF. The VC among groups divided according to three diet levels showed statistically significant differences. @*Conclusion@#This study revealed the relationship between the pulmonary function and dysphagia in post-stroke patients. Moreover, the pulmonary function correlated with dietary level, even though it was not confirmed that it affected dietary levels. The clinical importance of the pulmonary function in post-stroke patients with dysphagia should be emphasized. In addition, a large-scale study is needed to determine the correlation between the pulmonary function and swallowing difficulty
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Acquired brain injury patients who present dysphagia associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD) are more common than expected. TMJD is associated with restriction of mouth opening and jaw movements, thereby interfering with the oral phase of the swallowing process. An 18-year-old female with traumatic brain injury mainly complained of dysphagia when first admitted. After nearly one year of conventional dysphagia therapy, the patient could barely eat a minced diet. The videofluoroscopic swallowing study showed that a soft and bite-sized diet was tolerable to the patient, but the restricted mouth opening and mandibular movement imposed a major limitation of the dietary build-up. After examining the imaging studies, the patient was diagnosed with TMJD attributed to muscle lesion and misaligned stomatognathic system. The patient subsequently underwent a stomatognathic alignment and TMJ strengthening exercise program over a span of two weeks, after which the therapeutic effects were evaluated with the craniomandibular index (CMI) and Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) parameters, before and after the exercise program. The results showed improvements in the neck mobility and orofacial movements, and the patient was able to consume soft and bite-sized diet in the clinical setting. Thus, we propose that active exercise to achieve postural correction and TMJ muscle strengthening are effective treatment options for dysphagia associated with TMJD.
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Acquired brain injury patients who present dysphagia associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD) are more common than expected. TMJD is associated with restriction of mouth opening and jaw movements, thereby interfering with the oral phase of the swallowing process. An 18-year-old female with traumatic brain injury mainly complained of dysphagia when first admitted. After nearly one year of conventional dysphagia therapy, the patient could barely eat a minced diet. The videofluoroscopic swallowing study showed that a soft and bite-sized diet was tolerable to the patient, but the restricted mouth opening and mandibular movement imposed a major limitation of the dietary build-up. After examining the imaging studies, the patient was diagnosed with TMJD attributed to muscle lesion and misaligned stomatognathic system. The patient subsequently underwent a stomatognathic alignment and TMJ strengthening exercise program over a span of two weeks, after which the therapeutic effects were evaluated with the craniomandibular index (CMI) and Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) parameters, before and after the exercise program. The results showed improvements in the neck mobility and orofacial movements, and the patient was able to consume soft and bite-sized diet in the clinical setting. Thus, we propose that active exercise to achieve postural correction and TMJ muscle strengthening are effective treatment options for dysphagia associated with TMJD.
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This retrospective case-control study aimed to the effect of hypokalemia on the functional outcomes of patients with subacute stroke. A total of 96 post-stroke hemiplegic patients admitted to an inpatient clinic of the department of rehabilitation medicine between March 2014 and February 2018 were recruited. Serum potassium level was assessed at the time of admission, and the patients with hypokalemia on admission or within 7 days after onset were classified into the hypokalemic group. Functional assessments using the Hemispheric Stroke Scale (HSS), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), Functional Independence Measure for locomotion, and Mini Mental Status Examination were performed. The primary outcome was the change in functional score during rehabilitation. No significant intergroup differences in baseline characteristics were found except hospital stay duration and use of diuretics. FAC recovery (0.91 vs. 1.66, p = 0.001), HSS lower extremity and total motor scores (0.37 vs. 1.10, p = 0.01; 0.83 vs. 2.18, p = 0.02, respectively) were significantly lower in the hypokalemic group. Pearson correlation analysis of the initial serum potassium level and functional recovery revealed significant correlations with the FAC or HSS lower extremity and total motor scores (p = 0.001, p = 0.01, and p = 0.04, respectively).
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Humanos , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Diuréticos , Hipopotasemia , Pacientes Internos , Tiempo de Internación , Locomoción , Extremidad Inferior , Potasio , Rehabilitación , Estudios Retrospectivos , Accidente Cerebrovascular , CaminataRESUMEN
Despite the low incidence, seizures induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been studied as they may cause neurological and functional regression. Seizures may predict poor outcomes in stroke patients, with no reports of improved neurological status after seizures. This is the first Korean report of a seizure induced by rTMS, and the first report in the literature of prompt motor recovery following a seizure induced by high-frequency rTMS of the primary motor cortex in a stroke patient. A 43-year-old man with left hemiplegia due to infarction in the right basal ganglia was enrolled 10 sessions of rTMS (each session consisted of 15 trains, with each train consisting of 5 seconds of stimulation at 20 Hz and 90% of resting motor threshold for each session followed by 55 seconds of rest). The self-limited seizure occurred within 5 seconds after the 10th session. It lasted for 60 seconds, with generalized tonic features in all four extremities and the trunk and loss of consciousness followed by prompt improvement in left hand muscle strength and coordination. Though the seizure is known to usually cause neurologic regression, this case showed neurologic improvement after rTMS even after the rTMS-induced seizure.
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Adulto , Humanos , Ganglios Basales , Extremidades , Mano , Hemiplejía , Incidencia , Infarto , Corteza Motora , Fuerza Muscular , Convulsiones , Accidente Cerebrovascular , Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal , InconscienciaRESUMEN
“Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2016” is the 3rd edition of clinical practice guideline (CPG) for stroke rehabilitation in Korea, which updates the 2nd edition published in 2014. Forty-two specialists in stroke rehabilitation from 21 universities and 4 rehabilitation hospitals and 4 consultants participated in this update. The purpose of this CPG is to provide optimum practical guidelines for stroke rehabilitation teams to make a decision when they manage stroke patients and ultimately, to help stroke patients obtain maximal functional recovery and return to the society. The recent two CPGs from Canada (2015) and USA (2016) and articles that were published following the 2nd edition were used to develop this 3rd edition of CPG for stroke rehabilitation in Korea. The chosen articles' level of evidence and grade of recommendation were decided by the criteria of Scotland (2010) and the formal consensus was derived by the nominal group technique. The levels of evidence range from 1++ to 4 and the grades of recommendation range from A to D. Good Practice Point was recommended as best practice based on the clinical experience of the guideline developmental group. The draft of the developed CPG was reviewed by the experts group in the public hearings and then revised. “Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2016” consists of ‘Chapter 1; Introduction of Stroke Rehabilitation’, ‘Chapter 2; Rehabilitation for Stroke Syndrome, ‘Chapter 3; Rehabilitation for Returning to the Society’, and ‘Chapter 4; Advanced Technique for Stroke Rehabilitation’. “Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2016” will provide direction and standardization for acute, subacute and chronic stroke rehabilitation in Korea.
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Humanos , Canadá , Consenso , Consultores , Corea (Geográfico) , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Rehabilitación , Escocia , Especialización , Accidente CerebrovascularRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To identify which combination of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) is most reliable for postoperative motor deterioration during spinal cord tumor surgery, according to anatomical and pathologic type. METHODS: MEPs and SEPs were monitored in patients who underwent spinal cord tumor surgery between November 2012 and August 2016. Muscle strength was examined in all patients before surgery, within 48 hours postoperatively and 4 weeks later. We analyzed sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of each significant change in SEPs and MEPs. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity and specificity of SEPs or MEPs were 100% and 61.3%, respectively. The intraoperative MEP monitoring alone showed both higher sensitivity (67.9%) and specificity (83.2%) than SEP monitoring alone for postoperative motor deterioration. Two patients with persistent motor deterioration had significant changes only in SEPs. There are no significant differences in reliabilities between anatomical types, except with hemangioma, where SEPs were more specific than MEPs for postoperative motor deterioration. Both overall positive and negative predictive values of MEPs were higher than the predictive values of SEPs. However, the positive predictive value was higher by the dual monitoring of MEPs and SEPs, compared to MEPs alone. CONCLUSION: For spinal cord tumor surgery, combined MEP and SEP monitoring showed the highest sensitivity for the postoperative motor deterioration. Although MEPs are more specific than SEPs in most types of spinal cord tumor surgery, SEPs should still be monitored, especially in hemangioma surgery.
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Humanos , Potenciales Evocados Motores , Potenciales Evocados Somatosensoriales , Hemangioma , Monitorización Neurofisiológica Intraoperatoria , Fuerza Muscular , Complicaciones Posoperatorias , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Neoplasias de la Médula Espinal , Médula EspinalRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is characterized by progressive muscular weakness with symptoms caused by involvement of the brain. The aim of this study was to delineate global changes in cortical thickness and white matter integrity in patients with DM1, compared to age-matched healthy controls, and in brain areas highly correlated with CTG repeat size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cortical thickness and white matter integrity were compared in nine adult DM1 patients and age matched healthy controls using T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging. The patients' intelligence quotient (IQ) and CTG repeat size were measured in each individual. RESULTS: Cortical thickness was significantly reduced in the frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices, while tract-based spatial statistics showed decreased diffusion metrics in widespread areas, including the bilateral orbitofrontal, anterior frontal, insular, external capsule, and occipital cortices in DM1 patients, compared to controls. Additionally, thickness was negatively correlated with the number of CTG repeats in those areas. White matter integrity was negatively correlated with CTG repeats in the left entorhinal, anterior corona radiata, orbitofrontal, and lateral occipital areas. No statistically significant correlation was found between IQ scores and the size of CTG repeats. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that DM1 is associated with wide distributions of network changes in both gray and white matter. Some of areas related to cognition showed significant correlations with CTG repeats.
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Adulto , Humanos , Encéfalo , Cognición , Difusión , Imagen de Difusión Tensora , Cápsula Externa , Inteligencia , Debilidad Muscular , Miotonía , Distrofia Miotónica , Lóbulo Occipital , Sustancia BlancaRESUMEN
This case report describes a severe nerve injury to the right ulnar nerve, caused by bee venom acupuncture. A 52-year-old right-handed man received bee venom acupuncture on the medial side of his right elbow and forearm, at a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) clinic. Immediately after acupuncture, the patient experienced pain and swelling on the right elbow. There was further development of weakness of the right little finger, and sensory changes on the ulnar dermatome of the right hand. The patient visited our clinic 7 days after acupuncture. Electrodiagnostic studies 2 weeks after the acupuncture showed ulnar nerve damage. The patient underwent steroid pulse and rehabilitation treatments. However, his condition did not improve completely, even 4 months after acupuncture.
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Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Acupuntura , Venenos de Abeja , Abejas , Codo , Dedos , Antebrazo , Mano , Medicina Tradicional Coreana , Rehabilitación , Nervio Cubital , Neuropatías CubitalesRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To report successful cases of extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation at our institution using pulmonary rehabilitation consisting of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in neuromuscular patients with experience of reintubation. METHODS: Patients who experienced extubation failure via the conventional weaning strategy but afterwards had extubation success via NIV were studied retrospectively. Continuous end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) and pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO₂) monitoring were performed. Extubation success was defined as a state not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube or tracheotomy during a period of at least 5 days. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients with ventilatory failure who initially experienced extubation failure were finally placed under part-time NIV after extubation. No patient had any serious or long-term adverse effect from NIV, and all patients left the hospital alive. CONCLUSION: NIV may promote successful weaning in neuromuscular patients with experience of reintubation.
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Humanos , Enfermedades Neuromusculares , Ventilación no Invasiva , Oxihemoglobinas , Rehabilitación , Respiración Artificial , Estudios Retrospectivos , Traqueotomía , DesteteRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the combination of muscle motor evoked potentials (mMEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) measured during spinal surgery can predict immediate and permanent postoperative motor deficits. METHODS: mMEP and SEP was monitored in patients undergoing spinal surgery between November 2012 and July 2014. mMEPs were elicited by a train of transcranial electrical stimulation over the motor cortex and recorded from the upper/lower limbs. SEPs were recorded by stimulating the tibial and median nerves. RESULTS: Combined mMEP/SEP recording was successfully achieved in 190 operations. In 117 of these, mMEPs and SEPs were stable and 73 showed significant changes. In 20 cases, motor deficits in the first 48 postoperative hours were observed and 6 patients manifested permanent neurological deficits. The two potentials were monitored in a number of spinal surgeries. For surgery on spinal deformities, the sensitivity and specificity of combined mMEP/SEP monitoring were 100% and 92.4%, respectively. In the case of spinal cord tumor surgeries, sensitivity was only 50% but SEP changes were observed preceding permanent motor deficits in some cases. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative monitoring is a useful tool in spinal surgery. For spinal deformity surgery, combined mMEP/SEP monitoring showed high sensitivity and specificity; in spinal tumor surgery, only SEP changes predicted permanent motor deficits. Therefore, mMEP, SEP, and joint monitoring may all be appropriate and beneficial for the intraoperative monitoring of spinal surgery.
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Humanos , Anomalías Congénitas , Potenciales Evocados Motores , Potenciales Evocados Somatosensoriales , Extremidades , Monitorización Neurofisiológica Intraoperatoria , Articulaciones , Nervio Mediano , Monitoreo Intraoperatorio , Corteza Motora , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Neoplasias de la Médula Espinal , Columna Vertebral , Estimulación Transcraneal de Corriente DirectaRESUMEN
Neurological deficits commonly associated with anterior choroidal artery infarction (AChAI) include hemiplegia, hemisensory loss, and homonymous hemianopsia, while neuropsychological and perceptual deficits are uncommon. Prominent cognitive function impairment has rarely been reported. Here, we report a case of AChAI with prominent cognitive function impairment without motor deterioration. In contrast to the typical clinical features of AChAI, near complete and rapid motor recovery was observed, while cognitive impairment persisted despite rehabilitation therapy.
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Infarto Cerebral , Hemianopsia , Hemiplejía , Cápsula Interna , RehabilitaciónRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the sympathetic skin response (SSR) in diagnosing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) by comparing three diagnostic modalities-SSR, three-phasic bone scans (TPBS), and thermography. METHODS: Thirteen patients with severe limb pain were recruited. Among them, 6 were diagnosed with CRPS according to the proposed revised CRPS clinical diagnostic criteria described by the International Association for the Study of Pain. SSR was measured in either the hands or feet bilaterally and was considered abnormal when the latency was prolonged. A positive TPBS finding was defined as diffuse increased tracer uptake on the delayed image. Thermographic findings were considered positive if a temperature asymmetry greater than 1.00degrees C was detected between the extremities. RESULTS: Five of 6 CRPS patients showed prolonged latency on SSR (83% sensitivity). TPBS was positive in the 5 CRPS patients who underwent TPBS (100% sensitivity). Thermography was positive in 4 of 5 CRPS patients who underwent the procedure (80% sensitivity). The remaining 7 non-CRPS patients differed on examination. SSR latencies within normal limit were noted in 4 of 7 non-CRPS patients (57% specificity). Results were negative in 4 of 5 non-CRPS patients who underwent TPBS (80% specificity), and negative in 3 of 5 non-CRPS patients who underwent thermography (60% specificity). CONCLUSION: SSR may be helpful in detecting CRPS.
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Humanos , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Síndromes de Dolor Regional Complejo , Extremidades , Pie , Respuesta Galvánica de la Piel , Mano , Cintigrafía , Piel , TermografíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Patients with brain disorder manifest hypermetabolism, increased energy expenditure, and increased protein loss. Nutritional support can prevent loss of immunocompetence, and can decrease morbidity and mortality associated with brain disorder. Thus, we aimed to determine the nutritional status by measuring body mass index (BMI) in patients with brain disorder during the first 6 months and identify factors related to malnutrition in this study. METHOD: We enrolled 244 patients from January 2008 to December 2009. The patients were classified into two groups: BMI under 18.5 were categorized as malnourished, while BMI over 18.5 as not malnourished. Extracted data includes demographic characteristics, type of brain disorder, functional independence measure (FIM) and Korea mini-mental status exam (K-MMSE) scores, history of diabetes mellitus (DM), and laboratory data. Feeding method was classified into oral and enteral tube feeding. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnourished patients was 13.1% (32 out of 244 patients). There was significant difference of total lymphocyte count (TLC) between the two groups. And there was no significant difference of correlation in other parameters. Analysis of feeding method showed that 11.4% of oral feeding patients were malnourished, compared to 17.4% of tube feeding patients who were categorized as malnourished. The tube feeding group tends to be more malnourished. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be a guide for active rehabilitation of patients with brain disorder, and further studies regarding functional outcome and complications related to early nutritional status is needed.
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Humanos , Índice de Masa Corporal , Encefalopatías , Lesiones Encefálicas , Diabetes Mellitus , Metabolismo Energético , Nutrición Enteral , Métodos de Alimentación , Inmunocompetencia , Corea (Geográfico) , Recuento de Linfocitos , Desnutrición , Mortalidad , Estado Nutricional , Apoyo Nutricional , Prevalencia , Rehabilitación , Accidente CerebrovascularRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess the practical diagnostic value of facial nerve antidromic evoked potential (FNAEP), we compared it with the diagnostic value of the electroneurography (ENoG) test in Bell's palsy. METHODS: In total, 20 patients with unilateral Bell's palsy were recruited. Between the 1st and 17th days after the onset of facial palsy, FNAEP and ENoG tests were conducted. The degeneration ratio and FNAEP latency difference between the affected and unaffected sides were calculated in all subjects. RESULTS: In all patients, FNAEP showed prolonged latencies on the affected side versus the unaffected side. The difference was statistically significant. In contrast, there was no significant difference between sides in the normal control group. In 8 of 20 patients, ENoG revealed a degeneration ratio less than 50%, but FNAEP show a difference of more than 0.295+/-0.599 ms, the average value of normal control group. This shows FNAEP could be a more sensitive test for Bell's palsy diagnosis than ENoG. In particular, in 10 patients tested within 7 days after onset, an abnormal ENoG finding was noted in only four of them, but FNAEP showed a significant latency difference in all patients at this early stage. Thus, FANEP was more sensitive in detecting facial nerve injury than the ENoG test (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: FNAEP has some clinical value in the diagnosis of facial nerve degeneration. It is important that FNAEP be considered in patients with facial palsy at an early stage and integrated with other relevant tests.