1/12. Improvement of sleep apnea in a patient with cerebral palsy.Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) can reduce spasticity in adults and children with cerebral palsy. Benefits of ITB therapy include improved Ashworth scores, activities of daily living, and mobility. The impact of ITB therapy on sleep apnea in patients with cerebral palsy has not been reported. This case report describes a 29-yr-old female with mixed spastic athetoid quadriparetic cerebral palsy with dystonia, gross motor function IV, who had sleep apnea, requiring nightly continuous positive airway pressure. She received ITB with the goal to improve her wheelchair positioning and decrease her excessive movements. After the initiation of the ITB, reduction of her spasticity and dystonia was noted, as well as improvement of her sleep apnea. This case suggests that ITB therapy may improve respiratory function through reduction of respiratory muscle spasticity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/12. spinal cord injury medicine. 2. Medical complications after spinal cord injury: Identification and management.This is a self-directed learning module that reviews medical complications associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). It is part of a chapter on SCI medicine in the Self-Directed Physiatric Educational Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article includes discussion of common medical complications that impact rehabilitation and long-term follow-up for individuals with SCI. Issues addressed include the rehabilitation approach to SCI individuals with pressure ulcers, unilateral lower-extremity swelling (deep venous thrombosis, heterotopic ossification, fractures), along with the pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia, orthostatic hypotension, and pain. overall ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To describe diagnostic and treatment approaches for medical complications common to individuals with SCI.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/12. Bladder stones - red herring for resurgence of spasticity in a spinal cord injury patient with implantation of Medtronic Synchromed pump for intrathecal delivery of baclofen - a case report.BACKGROUND: Increased spasms in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, whose spasticity was previously well controlled with intrathecal baclofen therapy, are due to (in order of frequency) drug tolerance, increased stimulus, low reservoir volume, catheter malfunction, disease progression, human error, and pump mechanical failure. We present a SCI patient, in whom bladder calculi acted as red herring for increased spasticity whereas the real cause was spontaneous extrusion of catheter from intrathecal space. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old male sustained a fracture of C5/6 and incomplete tetraplegia at C-8 level. Medtronic Synchromed pump for intrathecal baclofen therapy was implanted 13 months later to control severe spasticity. The tip of catheter was placed at T-10 level. The initial dose of baclofen was 300 micrograms/day of baclofen, administered by a simple continuous infusion. During a nine-month period, he required increasing doses of baclofen (875 micrograms/day) to control spasticity. X-ray of abdomen showed multiple radio opaque shadows in the region of urinary bladder. No malfunction of the pump was detected. Therefore, increased spasticity was attributed to bladder stones. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy of bladder stones was carried out successfully. Even after removal of bladder stones, this patient required further increases in the dose of intrathecal baclofen (950, 1050, 1200 and then 1300 micrograms/day). Careful evaluation of pump-catheter system revealed that the catheter had extruded spontaneously and was lying in the paraspinal space at L-4, where the catheter had been anchored before it entered the subarachnoid space. A new catheter was passed into the subarachnoid space and the tip of catheter was located at T-8 level. The dose of intrathecal baclofen was decreased to 300 micrograms/day. CONCLUSION: Vesical calculi acted as red herring for resurgence of spasticity. The real cause for increased spasms was spontaneous extrusion of whole length of catheter from subarachnoid space. Repeated bending forwards and straightening of torso for pressure relief and during transfers from wheel chair probably contributed to spontaneous extrusion of catheter from spinal canal in this patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/12. Breathlessness associated with abdominal spastic contraction in a patient with C4 tetraplegia: a case report.A tetraplegic patient with C4 cervical cord injury reported breathlessness during episodes of spastic contraction of the abdominal muscles. To determine the mechanism, we performed electrophysiologic testing of the phrenic nerves. We measured abdominal pressure, esophageal pressure, and transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) during a maximal inspiratory effort (Pdi max), a maximal sniff maneuver (sniff Pdi) during resting breathing, and during the episodes of breathlessness. Electrophysiologic testing of the phrenic nerves showed axonal neuropathy on the left. Sniff Pdi and Pdi max were 38cmH(2)O and 42cmH(2)O, respectively. Transient spastic contractions of abdominal muscles were associated with an increase in abdominal pressure greater than 30cmH(2)O, with a decrease in abdominal volume; this rise in abdominal pressure was transmitted to the esophageal pressure. Inspiration became effective only when esophageal pressure fell below the resting baseline value. Achieving this decrease required an increase in inspiratory effort, characterized by swings in esophageal pressure and Pdi of 30cmH(2)O and 40cmH(2)O (approximately 100% of Pdi max), respectively. During these periods, minute ventilation was markedly reduced. This is the first report that spastic abdominal muscle contractions can impose a significant load on the diaphragm, uncovering moderate diaphragmatic weakness. This has important clinical implications; abolition of the spastic abdominal muscle contraction in this patient completely resolved her intermittent respiratory symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/12. Implantable baclofen pump as an adjuvant in treatment of pressure sores.Currently, the success of ulcer treatment is limited by the high recurrence and complication rates. Spasticity is an important contributing factor to ulcer recurrence, and intrathecal baclofen is an effective method to reduce spasticity. Spasticity creates friction, shear, and mobility impairment resulting in wound dehiscence, flap loss, infection, and hematoma. Spasticity can be managed pharmacologically and surgically; baclofen is the drug of choice. baclofen inhibits spasticity by blocking excitatory neurotransmitters in the spinal dorsal horn. Intrathecal baclofen maximizes the dose delivered to spinal receptors and minimizes the side effects associated with oral baclofen. case reports of intrathecal baclofen used in patients with pressure sores demonstrate the use of intrathecal baclofen to improve reconstructive outcomes in spastic patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/12. Inspiratory speech as a management option for spastic dysphonia. Case study.A case study is reported of a subject who has used inspiratory speech (IS) for 6 years as a means of overcoming the communication problems of long-standing adductor spastic dysphonia (ASD). The subject was studied to confirm his use of IS, determine the mechanisms of its production, investigate its effects on ventilatory gas exchange, and confirm that it was perceptually preferable to ASD expiratory speech (ES). Results showed that the production and control of a high laryngeal resistance to airflow were necessary for usable IS. voice quality was quantitatively and perceptually poor; however, the improved fluency and absence of phonatory spasm made IS the preferred speaking mode for both the listener and the speaker. Transcutaneous measurements of the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the subject's blood were made during extended speaking periods. These measurements indicated that ventilation was unchanged during IS, and that ventilation during ES was similar to the "hyperventilation" state of normal speakers. The reasons for the absence of phonatory spasm during IS are discussed, and the possibility of its use as a noninvasive management option for other ASD sufferers is addressed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/12. Old pulmonary embolus of the distal part of a Pudenz low-pressure ventriculoatrial shunt.At the autopsy of a man, aged 21 years, who had suffered from spastic tetraplegia for 10 years, the distal 25 cm of the Pudenz low-pressure ventriculoatrial shunt was found in the pulmonary artery, partly adherent to and partly covered with intima. The site of the detachment was the connection at the entrance to the facial vein. It is mentioned in the literature that the entrance of the venous system is, indeed, the most common site of detachment. An x-ray film of the chest, taken 3 1/2 years previously, retrospectively disclosed the catheter at the same location as demonstrated at the autopsy, but it had been overlooked at the time. On the non-intima-coated parts of the catheter, fresh thrombotic material was found, and there was cor pulmonale. The cause of detachment may have been the long-standing spastic tension in the neck muscles.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/12. 'Costen's syndrome'--correlation or coincidence: a review of 45 patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, otalgia and other aural symptoms.Forty-five patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and otalgia together with other aural symptoms (deafness, tinnitus, pressure/blockage and vertigo) were evaluated clinically and audiometrically. The theoretical mechanisms by which aural symptoms may be produced as a result of temporomandibular joint dysfunction are outlined and discussed in the light of the patients under review. The wide diversity in the incidence of additional aural symptoms apart from otalgia reported in the literature is noted, together with the general lack of full objective audiometric assessment. In 37 patients the aural symptoms were directly attributable to other coincidental otolaryngological pathology. Details of the remaining 8 cases are presented. The other aural symptoms of 4 of these patients were also probably accounted for by other coincidental otalaryngological pathology. It may be significant that 2 of the other patients were suffering from concurrent psychiatric disorders. Thus in this series at least 9% of the patients were considered to have other aural symptoms coincidental to temporomandibular joint dysfunction. This is compatible with the relatively common occurrence of both temporomandibular joint dysfunction and aural symptoms in the general population. This study leads us to believe that there is no direct aetiological basis to link temporomandibular joint dysfunction and other aural symptoms apart from otalgia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/12. Late hip subluxation in spastic diplegia associated with unrecognized hydrocephalus.Problematic hip subluxation is uncommon in spastic diplegia. We have identified three cases of late hip subluxation in teenage children with spastic diplegia associated with unrecognized hydrocephalus or ventriculoperitoneal shunt dysfunction. Each was a community ambulator with radiologically stable hips in childhood, but in adolescence underwent a deterioration in ambulatory status associated with rapid hip subluxation. Subsequent investigation revealed undiagnosed hydrocephalus in one patient and shunt dysfunction requiring revision in the other two. Surgery was performed in all three cases to control the hip subluxation. The atypical presentation of a progressively unstable hip in an ambulatory spastic diplegic patient may indicate the presence of previously unrecognized raised intraventricular pressure.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/12. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: implications for spinal cord injury patients with intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps. Case report.A patient with a cervical spinal cord injury receiving intrathecal baclofen for spasticity control underwent a 7 week course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to induce healing of an ischial decubitus ulcer. After completion of this treatment and during a routine baclofen infusion pump refill, the actual pump reservoir volume exceeded computer measurements obtained with telemetry. Examination of the physiology of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in relation to infusion pump function revealed that the intraspinal pressures attained during hyperbaric oxygen therapy produced retrograde leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into the infusion pump reservoir.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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