1/28. Cerebral arteriovenous malformations and movement disorders.A series of six patients with movement disorders associated with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) is reported. The AVMs were classified according to the Spetzler-Martin classification as grade V (one patient), grade IV (four patients), and as grade III (one patient). One patient had action-induced hemidystonia caused by a contralateral frontoparietal AVM which compressed the putamen and was supplied partially by enlarged lenticulostriate arteries. Two patients presented with unilateral cortical tremor associated with contralateral high-frontal cortical/subcortical AVMs sparing the basal ganglia. Another patient developed hemidystonia and hemichorea-hemiballism after bleeding of a contralateral temporooccipital AVM and subsequent ischemia. Two patients had focal dystonia after thalamic and basal ganglia hemorrhage from AVMs. Five patients were operated on. The movement disorder was abolished in one patient postoperatively. Different mechanisms were identified that are relevant for the development of AVM-related movement disorders: mass effect, diaschisis, local parenchymal altered cerebral blood flow, and hemorrhagic or ischemic structural lesions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cerebral (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/28. Interfacing the body's own sensing receptors into neural prosthesis devices.Functional electric stimulation (FES) is today available as a tool in muscle activation used in picking up objects, in standing and walking, in controlling bladder emptying, and for breathing. Despite substantial progress over nearly three decades of development, many challenges remain to provide a more efficient functionality of FES systems. The most important of these is an improved control of the activated muscles. Instead of artificial sensors for feedback, new developments in electrodes to do long-term and reliable recordings from peripheral nerves emphasize the use of the body's own sensors. These are already installed and optimised through millions of years of natural evolution. This paper presents recent results on a system using electrical stimulation of motor nerves to produce movement and using the natural sensors as feedback signals to control the stimulation that can replicate some of the functions of the spinal cord and its communication with the brain. We have used the nerve signal recorded from cutaneous nerves in two different human applications: (1) to replace the external heel switch of a system for correction of spastic drop foot by peroneal stimulation, and (2) to provide an FES system for restoration of hand grasp with sensory feedback from the fingertip. For the bladder function, the sacral root stimulator is a useful control tool in emptying the bladder. To decide when to stimulate, we are at present carrying out experiments on pigs and cats using cuff electrodes on the pelvic nerve and sacral roots to record the neural information from bladder afferents. This information can potentially be used to inhibit unwanted bladder contractions and to trigger the FES system and thereby bladder emptying. Future research will show whether cuffs and other types of electrodes can be used to reliably extract signals from the large number of other receptors in the body to improve and expand on the use of natural sensors in clinical FES systems.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.41946247556555keywords = spastic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/28. gait analysis in myelomeningocele: possibilities and applications.gait analysis with a fully integrated laboratory is a relatively new instrument in the armamentarium of the pediatric orthopedic surgeon. The introduction of it has been especially successful in neuromuscular pathology and, particularly, in cerebral palsy. In spina bifida, however, it also enhances substantially the possibilities of detailed analysis of the locomotion problem. It is, furthermore, a very useful instrument in evaluating treatment and in follow-up. With a few examples, this paper tries to show the possibilities and advantages of a gait laboratory in the evaluation of patients with ambulatory spina bifida.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 111.33109652966keywords = cerebral palsy, palsy, cerebral (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/28. myasthenia gravis presenting as a unilateral abducens nerve palsy.A 48-year-old man with no significant medical history presented to the emergency department of a large, urban, tertiary-care hospital complaining of double vision and unsteady gait. physical examination was remarkable for an isolated, unilateral sixth nerve palsy. After comprehensive testing, a final diagnosis of myasthenia gravis was made. The patient's unsteady gait was a manifestation of sensory distortion from the diplopia and corrected when the patient closed his eyes. The presentation of myasthenia gravis as an isolated sixth nerve palsy is unprecedented in the emergency medicine literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6.1757252040149keywords = palsy (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/28. spinal cord stimulation facilitates functional walking in a chronic, incomplete spinal cord injured.DESIGN: This paper describes a treatment paradigm to facilitate functional gait in a quadriplegic, asia C spinal cord injured (SCI), wheelchair-dependent subject who presented with some large fiber sensation, sub-functional motor strength in all lower limb muscles, and moderate spasticity. The study utilizes partial weight bearing therapy (PWBT) followed by epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) with the assumption that both treatments would be necessary to elicit a well organized, near effortless functional gait with a walker. Function is defined in terms of accomplishing task-specific activities in the home and community. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of combined PWBT and ESCS therapies aimed at promoting functional gait in a wheelchair-dependent asia C SCI subject. SETTING: The Clinical neurobiology and bioengineering research laboratories at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, arizona, USA, and the Department of bioengineering, arizona State University, Tempe, arizona, USA. methods: The study began with the application of PWBT. The subject walked on the treadmill until a plateau in gait rhythm generation was reached. Subsequently, ESCS, applied to the lumbar enlargement, was utilized to facilitate PWBT and, later, over-ground walking for a standard distance of 15 m. gait performance was analyzed by measuring average speed, stepping symmetry, sense of effort, physical work capacity, and whole body metabolic activity. RESULTS: PWBT led to improved stereotypic stepping patterns associated with markedly reduced spasticity, but was insufficient for over-ground walking in terms of safety, energy cost, and fatigue. ESCS with PWBT generated immediate improvement in the subject's gait rhythm when appropriate stimulation parameters were used. When compared to the non-stimulated condition, over-ground walking with ESCS across a 15 m distance was featured by a reduction in time and energy cost of walking, sense of effort, and a feeling of 'lightness' in the legs. After a few months of training, performance in speed, endurance, and metabolic responses gradually converged with/without ESCS at this short distance, suggesting a learned response to these conditions. However, at longer distances (eg, 50-250 m), performance with ESCS was considerably superior. The subject was able to perform multiple functional tasks within the home and community with ESCS. CONCLUSION: We propose that ESCS augments the use-dependent plasticity created by PWBT and may be a valuable adjunct to post-SCI treadmill training in asia C subjects. We also conclude that ESCS elicits greater activation of an oxidative motor unit pool, thereby reducing the subject's sense of effort and energetic cost of walking.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83892495113111keywords = spastic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/28. Correlation between physical functioning and gait measures in children with cerebral palsy.The primary aim of this investigation was to assess the correlation between the POSNA Musculoskeletal Functional health Questionnaire (POSNA) and gait analysis in children with cerebral palsy (CP). POSNA and computerized gait analysis were used to evaluate individuals with CP. Correlations were investigated between POSNA scales, gait parameters, and the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) in 63 children (31 males, 32 females; mean age 9.17 years [SD 3.06], age range 3.75 to 16.44 years) with spastic CP. Twelve participants had hemiplegia, 29 diplegia, 12 quadriplegia, and 10 triplegia. The result of backwards stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the Log normalcy index (NI) was a significant predictor of the POSNA Global Function and Comfort scale. Energy expenditure (EE) did not add significantly to the prediction. The POSNA scales differentiated between the different topographical types of CP. The POSNA scale is a valid and useful clinical measure. Used in conjunction with the NI, EE, and FAQ, the POSNA scale provides a more complete appraisal of change in functioning.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 557.07494512385keywords = cerebral palsy, palsy, cerebral, spastic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/28. Occurrence of subdural hematoma and resolution of gait disturbance in a patient treated with shunting for normal pressure hydrocephalus.A 66-year-old man with gait disturbance was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunting using a programmable valve. The valve ultimately set at a pressure of 40 mm H(2)O after higher settings no longer relieved symptoms. However, this pressure setting was excessively low and was associated with occurrence of bilateral subdural hematomas. Paradoxically, this event was associated with stable improvement of gait. Our patient's gait disturbance was unassociated with muscle weakness, spasticity, cerebellar ataxia, or Romberg's sign, and, therefore, was consistent with a frontal gait disorder. Cerebral cortical blood flow as measured after shunting by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was slightly increased from the value before shunting, possibly because of intracranial hypotension related to the valve setting. Lasting improvement of gait in our case may be a result of increased blood flow in the supplementary motor area (SMA).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.41946247556555keywords = spastic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/28. Niemann-Pick disease type C in adults.Although it is often perceived as a paediatric disorder, significant numbers of patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C present for the first time in adult life or survive into adult life. The presentation in these patients differs from that seen in the classical juvenile form of the disease. adult patients are often referred to clinicians with psychosis or other major psychiatric problems. The dystonia with preserved intellectual functioning can be mistaken for other basal ganglia disorders such as Wilson disease. The presence of vertical gaze palsy is an important clinical clue and, in the presence of a modest increase in plasma chitotriosidase activity, can be very helpful in the differential diagnosis. The diagnosis should be confirmed in suspected cases by filipin staining of cultured fibroblasts, as well as cholesterol esterification studies and dna mutation analysis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.0292875340025keywords = palsy (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/28. Spasticity, strength, and gait changes after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a case report.STUDY DESIGN: A case report with repeated measures is presented. OBJECTIVE: To describe an objective method for evaluating changes in upper- and lower-extremity spasticity and strength, as well as temporal and kinematic gait variables, after surgical intervention for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Degenerative cervical spinal disease is a common disorder, with some form of spondylosis demonstrated radiographically in more than 80% of those older than 55 years. Normative pre- and postoperative objective data quantifying spasticity, strength, and gait do not exist. methods: A 65-year-old woman underwent C2-C3 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for progressive myelopathy secondary to a spondylosis and disc herniation. The measure for spasticity and strength at the ankles and elbows and a gait analysis were collected before surgery and at 11 days, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Spasticity and strength were assessed using a dynamometer, and a six-camera video system was used to record the gait. RESULTS: Preoperative left elbow flexor spasticity was more than 10 times greater than the values for the able bodies. It was reduced to normal levels after surgery. Substantial presurgery weakness was present in the elbow flexors and extensors bilaterally. elbow extensor strength was at able-body levels after surgery. gait speed was 57% of the able-body level before surgery and 78% of the able-body level 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This case study demonstrated the role of biomechanics in characterizing impairments associated with cervical spondylosis and its surgical intervention. Measures for spasticity, strength, and gait taken before and after surgery indicated a favorable outcome. This report provides a foundation for the continued use of biomechanical methods to measure changes in function and impairments associated with surgical intervention of cervical spine disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.0973123778278keywords = spastic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/28. gait rehabilitation in a patient affected with charcot-marie-tooth disease associated with pyramidal and cerebellar features and blindness.Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, an inherited neuropathy characterized by length-dependent degeneration of the motor and sensory nerve fibers with consequent distal muscle atrophy and sensory reduction, can be associated with symptoms and signs of involvement of the central nervous system and/or cranial nerves. We present a patient with relatively severe CMT, cerebellar ataxia, pyramidal involvement, and blindness due to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. The patient presented with poor standing and gait, with consequent severe disability. Factors responsible for the patient's functional impairment (plantarflexor failure, footdrop, foot rotation, knee flexor contracture, poor proprioception, cerebellar dysfunction, spastic paraparesis, blindness) were identified and addressed by a rehabilitation management, which included, as a main intervention, ankle stabilization by drop-foot boots instead of ankle-foot orthoses. Improved balance and independent ambulation resulted from rehabilitation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.41946247556555keywords = spastic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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