[Quantitative gait analysis in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease]. / Analisis cuantitativo de la marcha en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada.

AIM: To describe the gait disorders and postural instability in a group of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Gait was analysed in patients in advanced stages of PD on medication. Using a computerised analysis system, we studied the kinematic variables: cadence, number of correct gait cycles (HFPS cycles), total number of cycles, duration of the phases of the cycle, electromyography and a goniometric study of the knee and the ankle. The clinical appraisal of balance and postural instability was completed with the Tinetti and Timed Up and Go tests. RESULTS: The analysis showed alterations in the spatio-temporal parameters with respect to the ranges considered to be normal: reduction of the HFPS cycles, increase in the total number of cycles and alteration of the cadence in many patients. It also revealed that the mean cadence was kept within the limits of normal values, an increase in the duration of the contact phase, reduction of monopodal support and alteration of the joint range of motion of the knee and the ankle. Likewise, changes are also observed in the scores obtained on the clinical scales, which show an increase in the risk factor for falls and mild dependence. CONCLUSION: Quantification by objective analysis of the kinetic and kinematic variables in patients with PD can be used as a tool to establish the influence of the different therapeutic alternatives in gait disorders.

TITLE: Analisis cuantitativo de la marcha en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada.Objetivo. Describir las alteraciones de la marcha e inestabilidad postural en un grupo de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) avanzada. Pacientes y metodos. Se analizo la marcha de pacientes con EP en estadio avanzado on medicacion. Por medio de un sistema de analisis computarizado del movimiento, se estudiaron las variables cinematicas: cadencia, numero de ciclos con apoyo correcto (ciclos HFPS), numero de ciclos totales, duracion de las fases del ciclo, electromiografia, y goniometria de rodilla y tobillo. La valoracion clinica del equilibrio y la inestabilidad postural se completo con los tests Tinetti y Timed Up and Go. Resultados. El analisis mostro alteraciones en los parametros espaciotemporales con respecto a los rangos de normalidad: disminucion de los ciclos HFPS, aumento del numero total de ciclos y alteracion de la cadencia en muchos pacientes, y conservacion de la cadencia media dentro de los limites de la normalidad, aumento de la duracion de la fase de apoyo, disminucion del apoyo monopodal y alteracion del rango articular de la rodilla y el tobillo. Asimismo, se observo una alteracion en las puntuaciones obtenidas en las escalas clinicas, que mostraban un aumento del factor de riesgo de caidas y dependencia leve. Conclusion. La cuantificacion mediante analisis objetivo de las variables cineticas y cinematicas en los pacientes con EP puede emplearse como herramienta para establecer la influencia de las distintas alternativas terapeuticas en el trastorno de la marcha.

Estimulación cerebral profunda: 12 años de experiencia y 250 pacientes intervenidos con un seguimiento de más de un año / Deep brain stimulation: 12 years experience and 150 patients treated with a follow-up of over a year

Introduction. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a widely accepted clinical technique. The main motor symptoms are significantly reduced. The success of the technique depends on the experience of the neurosurgeon, neurologist and neurophysiologist who carry it out. The presentation of extensive series is needed to confirm and further currently held knowledge. Aim. To demonstrate the clinical benefits of a long series of patients treated by a single group with a minimum follow-up of one year and to report new neurophysiological data. Patients and methods. The study examined a total of 250 patients with different diagnoses: most of them with Parkinson’s disease, tremor and dystonia. The nuclei that were chosen were located by magnetic resonance imaging, computerised axial tomography and neurophysiological registers. Neurophysiological exclusion criteria, such as reflex control of heart rate, sympathetic skin response and auditory startle reflex, are employed in order to exclude patients with Parkinson-plus. Results. The motor sub-scale (part III) of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale improves by 64% in the off-medication status with sub-thalamic stimulation at one year after surgery. One year after DBS, patients with dystonia show a significant decrease on the Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia scale. The improvement on the scales continues, with a mean descent of 65% in the second year after surgery. Conclusions. DBS is a suitable technique for the treatment of movement disorders. The neuronal activity of the sub-thalamus and the internal globus pallidus presents its own characteristics that reflect the motor symptoms of the patients. Surface electromyography proves to be useful for quantifying the patients’ improvement (AU)

Introducción. La estimulación cerebral profunda (ECP) es una técnica de gran aceptación clínica. Los principales síntomas motores se reducen significativamente. El éxito de la técnica radica en la experiencia del neurocirujano, neurólogo y neurofisiólogo que lo llevan a cabo. La presentación de series extensas es necesaria para confirmar y extender los actuales conocimientos. Objetivo. Demostrar los beneficios clínicos de una larga serie de pacientes intervenidos por un único grupo con un seguimiento mínimo de un año y presentar nuevos datos neurofisiológicos. Pacientes y métodos. Se han estudiado 250 pacientes con diversos diagnósticos; la mayoría con enfermedad de Parkinson, temblor y distonía. Los núcleos elegidos se localizan por resonancia magnética, tomografía axial computarizada y registros neurofisiológicos. Se utilizan criterios de exclusión neurofisiológicos, como el control reflejo de la frecuencia cardíaca, la respuesta simpaticocutánea y el reflejo de sobresalto auditivo, para excluir pacientes con Parkinson-plus. Resultados. La subescala motora (parte III) de la Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale mejora un 64% en situación off de medicación con la estimulación del subtálamo al año de la cirugía. Los pacientes con distonía muestran, un año después de la ECP, en la escala de distonía Burke-Fahn-Marsden, un descenso significativo. La mejoría en las escalas persiste, con un descenso medio del 65% en el segundo año después de la cirugía. Conclusiones. La ECP es una técnica apropiada para el tratamiento de los trastornos del movimiento. La actividad neuronal del subtálamo y del globo pálido interno presenta características propias que reflejan la sintomatología motora de los pacientes. La electromiografía superficial demuestra ser útil para cuantificar la mejoría de los pacientes (AU)

[Deep brain stimulation: 12 years' experience and 150 patients treated with a follow-up of over a year]. / Estimulación cerebral profunda: 12 años de experiencia y 250 pacientes intervenidos con un seguimiento de más de un año.

INTRODUCTION: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a widely accepted clinical technique. The main motor symptoms are significantly reduced. The success of the technique depends on the experience of the neurosurgeon, neurologist and neurophysiologist who carry it out. The presentation of extensive series is needed to confirm and further currently held knowledge. AIM: To demonstrate the clinical benefits of a long series of patients treated by a single group with a minimum follow-up of one year and to report new neurophysiological data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study examined a total of 250 patients with different diagnoses: most of them with Parkinson's disease, tremor and dystonia. The nuclei that were chosen were located by magnetic resonance imaging, computerised axial tomography and neurophysiological registers. Neurophysiological exclusion criteria, such as reflex control of heart rate, sympathetic skin response and auditory startle reflex, are employed in order to exclude patients with Parkinson-plus. RESULTS: The motor sub-scale (part III) of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale improves by 64% in the off-medication status with sub-thalamic stimulation at one year after surgery. One year after DBS, patients with dystonia show a significant decrease on the Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia scale. The improvement on the scales continues, with a mean descent of 65% in the second year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: DBS is a suitable technique for the treatment of movement disorders. The neuronal activity of the sub-thalamus and the internal globus pallidus presents its own characteristics that reflect the motor symptoms of the patients. Surface electromyography proves to be useful for quantifying the patients' improvement.