Rehabilitation of spinal cord injury complicated with amputation

English Keywords:Spinal cord injury  Amputation  Rehabilitation engineering

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To study the effect of rehabilitation for patients of spinal cord injury with amputation. Methods: Six cases of spinal cord injury with amputation were selected from the patients admitted in China Rehabilitation Research Center from 1991 to 2011. 5 cases had the ASIA grade in A, 1 case in C. 3 cases were right lower limb amputees, 1 case was left lower limb amputee, 1 case was right upper limb amptutee, 1 case was right lower and upper limb amputee. Rehabilitation assessment was performed before treatment plan laid down. After overall condition and range of motion(ROM) improved, SCI cases with lower limb amputees were prescribed to wear prosthetics and orthotics to stand and walk. Cases with upper limb amputees were prescribed to wear functional prosthesis. American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA) scale was used to evaluate the patients′ neurological function and Functional Independence Measure(FIM) was used to evaluate the patients′ activity of daily living(ADL). Results: The mean hospitalization time for the cases was 126 days(from 58 to 236 days). After comprehensive treatment including PT, OT, prosthesis, orthosis and intensive exercise for the five paraplegia cases, ASIA scale was not improved(P>0.05), FIM scores improved significantly(the average score was 25.83 for admission and 52.17 for discharge)(P<0.05). Another cervical spinal injury patient was an incomplete injured one, whose sensory and motor function increased by 58 and 14 scores respectively. FIM score of self-care, transfer and mobility increased 9, 14 and 5 scores respectively. Conclusions: Spinal cord injury patients with amputation can improve their self-care ability significantly by substitution of the lost function after equipped with prosthesis and comprehensive rehabilitation.