Article
Physiology
Keith M. D. McNaughton, Jessica L. Witherow, Crystal B. Dupuche, Karen C. Peebles, Tom G. Elphick, Anna L. Hudson, Euan J. McCaughey, Claire L. Boswell-Ruys, Jane E. Butler
Summary: This study investigated the reflex response to brief airway occlusion in individuals with sensory incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI). The reflex was more prevalent in this group compared to those with complete cSCI and similar to able-bodied individuals. Participants without the reflex had untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while those with the reflex had either no, mild, or treated OSA. This study reveals novel differences in the reflex control of inspiratory muscles across the cSCI population.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Kazuyuki Miyamoto, Shino Katsuki, Hiroki Yamaga, Motoyasu Nakamura, Keisuke Suzuki, Gen Inoue, Masaharu Yagi, Jun Sasaki, Kenji Dohi, Munetaka Hayashi
Summary: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a progressive disease characterized by symmetric muscle weakness. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Detailed medical history collection and considering GBS as a differential diagnosis in emergency settings where neurological examination is not feasible are important steps in the diagnostic process.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Elisa J. Gonzalez-Rothi, Kun-Ze Lee
Summary: Acute intermittent hypoxia has shown promise as a treatment for respiratory insufficiency in individuals with spinal cord injury, through inducing neuroplasticity and functional recovery. Research in animal models has laid the foundation for the translation of this therapeutic strategy to clinical populations.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Einat Engel-Haber, Amanda Botticello, Brittany Snider, Steven Kirshblum
Summary: The demographics of acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) have changed over the last few decades. This study analyzed the incidence and neurological characteristics of different syndromes of incomplete tetraplegia in individuals with traumatic SCI using new computable definitions. The findings provide updated information and proposed criteria for these syndromes, enabling better understanding and future studies.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Bizhan Aarabi, Chen Chixiang, J. Marc Simard, Timothy Chryssikos, Jesse A. Stokum, Charles A. Sansur, Kenneth M. Crandall, Joshua Olexa, Jeffrey Oliver, Melissa R. Meister, Gregory Cannarsa, Ashish Sharma, Cara Lomangino, Maureen Scarboro, Abdul-Kareem Ahmed, Nathan Han, Riccardo Serra, Phelan Shea, Carla Aresco, Gary T. Schwartzbauer
Summary: This study aimed to identify candidates for expansion duraplasty in patients with inadequate surgical decompression, based on the absence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interface around the spinal cord on MRI. The results showed that 9.6% of patients failed bony decompression alone and either did or would benefit from expansion duraplasty.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Chaohua Yang, Qing Wang, Shuang Xu, Can Guan, Guangzhou Li, Gaoju Wang
Summary: This study suggests that early extensive posterior decompression surgery may improve neurological outcomes after severe traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (tcSCI), especially in patients with cervical spinal stenosis (CSS).
FRONTIERS IN SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Patricia Del Cerro, Andres Barriga-Martin, Hugo Vara, Luis M. Romero-Munoz, Angel Rodriguez-De-Lope, Jorge E. Collazos-Castro
Summary: A model of cervical spinal cord injury was characterized in domestic pigs, showing neuronal loss extending for a relatively small distance, primarily concentrating in the ipsilateral, caudal spinal cord stump; axonal Wallerian degeneration manifested as marked atrophy in the spinal cord segments. In addition to causing chronic monoplegia or severe monoparesis, the first month post-lesion led to postural and motor impairments in the trunk and other legs.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Allan D. Levi, Jan M. Schwab
Summary: The corticospinal tract (CST) is the main voluntary motor pathway that controls human movements. It plays a crucial role in the loss and recovery of neurological function after incomplete cervical spinal cord injury, particularly in hand function.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY-SPINE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
M. Dobran, D. Aiudi, V. Liverotti, M. R. Fasinella, S. Lattanzi, C. Melchiorri, A. Iacoangeli, S. Campa, G. Polonara
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of certain features documented on preoperative MRI in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury. The length of the spinal cord lesion, the diameter of the canal at the level of spinal cord compression, and the presence of intramedullary hemorrhage were significantly associated with the SCIM questionnaire score at one year follow-up. Shorter spinal cord lesion, larger canal diameter at the level of spinal cord compression, and absence of intramedullary hemorrhage were predictors of better outcome.
EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Agnieszka Wincek, Juliusz Huber, Katarzyna Leszczynska, Wojciech Fortuna, Stefan Okurowski, Krzysztof Chmielak, Pawel Tabakow
Summary: High-frequency rTMS treatment in iSCI patients led to improvements in muscle electrical activity parameters, motor unit recruitment, and transmission of neural impulses in spinal pathways.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian, James Hong, Mohamad Khazaei, Jonathon Chon Teng Chio, Jian Wang, Anna Badner, Michael G. Fehlings
Summary: This study demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of midostaurin in injured rats led to alterations in local inflammasome and gene expression, resulting in enhanced recovery and improved coordination between forelimbs and hindlimbs after injury. Histological analysis also indicated improved tissue preservation and functionality in treated animals during the chronic phase of injury. Overall, systemic administration of midostaurin proved to be an effective strategy for mitigating cervical secondary SCI damage.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Briana P. Meyer, Lydiane Hirschler, Seongtaek Lee, Shekar N. Kurpad, Jan M. Warnking, Emmanuel L. Barbier, Matthew D. Budde
Summary: This study optimized pCASL for the rodent cervical spinal cord and demonstrated its utility in identifying perfusion deficits in an acute contusion injury model. Results showed that perfusion was clearly decreased at the site of injury after moderate contusion.
JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Ravindran Visagan, Ellaine Boseta, Argyro Zoumprouli, Marios C. Papadopoulos, Samira Saadoun
Summary: This study found that breathing function in patients with acute cervical traumatic spinal cord injuries is dependent on spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP). SCPP in the range of 80-90 mmHg is associated with optimal diaphragmatic and intercostal muscle function.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Laureen D. Hachem, Mary Zhu, Bizhan Aarabi, Benjamin Davies, Anthony DiGiorgio, Nathan Evaniew, Michael G. Fehlings, Mario Ganau, Daniel Graves, James Guest, Yoon Ha, James Harrop, Christopher Hofstetter, Paul Koljonen, Shekar Kurpad, Rex Marco, Allan R. Martin, Narihito Nagoshi, Aria Nouri, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar, Ricardo Rodrigues-Pinto, Valerie Ter Wengel, Lindsay Tetreault, Brian Kwon, Jefferson R. Wilson
Summary: This study aims to assess current practice patterns in the management of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and develop a simplified, practical classification system. The results show that spinal stability, cord compression, and neurological status are the most important factors influencing surgeons' decisions in the surgical management of cervical SCI.
GLOBAL SPINE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alex B. Bak, Ali Moghaddamjou, Anahita Malvea, Michael G. Fehlings
Summary: This study compares the impact of high-energy and low-energy mechanisms of injury on the neurological outcomes of cervical sensorimotor complete tSCI. The results show that high-energy mechanisms of injury are associated with poorer motor recovery. This suggests that the mechanism of injury should be considered when predicting and understanding the diversity of outcomes after acute tSCI.