Determining the priorities of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) can assist in aligning research priorities which ultimately improve these individuals' quality of life. This systematic review examined studies that directly surveyed people with SCI to ascertain their health priorities and life domains of importance. Twenty-four studies (combined sample of 5262) that met the inclusion criteria were identified using electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO). The questionnaire methods and domains of importance were reviewed and described. While the questionnaires varied across the studies, a consistent set of priorities emerged. Functional recovery priorities were identified for the following areas: motor function (including arm/hand function for individuals with tetraplegia and mobility for individuals with paraplegia), bowel, bladder and sexual function. In addition, health, as well as relationships emerged as important life domains. The information from this study, which identified the priorities and domains of importance by individuals with SCI, may be useful for informing healthcare and research agenda-setting activities.

The Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence (SCIRE) is a synthesis of the research evidence underlying rehabilitation interventions to improve the health of people living with SCI. SCIRE covers a comprehensive set of topics and in this issue we present six papers relevant to SCI rehabilitation clinicians (SCI inpatient rehabilitation practices, gait strategies, upper extremity reconstructive surgery, spasticity treatments, cardiovascular health and bone health). The SCIRE used a systematic and well-defined protocol to assess and synthesize the evidence. Each article was scored for its methodological quality using either the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Score for randomized controlled trials or the Downs and Black Tool for other types of studies. Following the individual study assessment, conclusions were drawn about the accumulated studies for each topic of interest based on the levels of evidence, quality of studies and concurring evidence. The SCIRE project was designed for health professionals to inform them of best practices.

Objective-To conduct a systematic review of published research on the pharmacological treatment of pain after spinal cord injury (SCI).Data Sources-Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published 1980 to June 2009 addressing the treatment of pain post SCI. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed for methodological quality using the PEDro assessment scale, while non-RCTs were assessed using the Downs and Black evaluation tool. A level of evidence was assigned to each intervention using a modified Sackett scale.Study Selection-The review included randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials which included prospective controlled trials, cohort, case series, case-control, prepost and post studies. Case studies were included only when there were no other studies found.Data Extraction-Data extracted included the PEDro or Downs and Black score, the type of study, a brief summary of intervention outcomes, type of pain, type of pain scale and the study findings.. Data Synthesis-Articles selected for this particular review evaluated different interventions in the pharmacological management of pain post SCI. 28 studies met inclusion criteria: there were 21 randomized controlled trials of these 19 had Level 1 evidence. Treatments were divided into five Conclusions-Most studies did not specify participants' types of pain; hence making it difficult to identify the type of pain being targeted by the treatment. Anticonvulsant and analgesic drugs had the highest levels of evidence and were the drugs most often studied. Gabapentin and pregabalin had strong evidence (five Level 1 RCTs) for effectiveness in treating post-SCI neuropathic pain, as did intravenous analgesics (lidocaine, ketamine and morphine) but the latter only had short term benefits. Tricyclic antidepressants only showed benefit for neuropathic pain in depressed individuals. Intrathecal baclofen reduced musculoskeletal pain associated with spasticity; however there was conflicting evidence for the reduction in neuropathic pain. Studies assessing the effectiveness of opioids were limited and revealed only small benefits. Cannabinoids showed conflicting evidence in improving spasticity related pain. Clonidine and morphine, when given together, had a significant synergistic neuropathic pain-relieving effect.

A randomized double-blind dose-titration crossover trial of the safety and efficacy of oral fampridine-SR (sustained release 4-aminopyridine) was conducted on spinal cord injured (SCI) patients at two centers. Twenty-six patients (n = 26) with incomplete lesions completed the trial. These patients all had chronic (>2 years) and stable neurological deficits. They received fampridine-SR 12.5 and 17.5 mg b.i.d. over a 2-week treatment period, followed by a 1-week washout and 2 weeks of placebo, or vice versa. Patients reported significant benefit of fampridine-SR over placebo on patient satisfaction (McNemar's test, p2 < 0.05) and quality of life scores (p2 < 0.01). Sensory scores (p1 < 0.01), including both pin prick (p1 = 0.059) and light touch (p1 = 0.058), and motor scores (adjusted to reflect only paretic segments) (p1 < 0.01) all yielded evidence of benefit of fampridine-SR over placebo. The Ashworth scale of spasticity was significantly (p2 < 0.05) reduced when patients received fampridine-SR. There were no statistically significant benefits of the drug on measures of pain or bowel, bladder and sexual function, or functional independence. Side effects of lightheadedness and nausea were transient and trivial relative to efficacy, and approximately 30% of patients reported a wish to continue to use fampridine-SR. The clinical benefits most likely derive from the K+ channel blocking action of the drug. Potassium channel blockade enhances axonal conduction across demyelinated internodes and enhances neuroneuronal and neuromuscular transmission in preserved axons. These results provide the first evidence of therapeutic benefit of fampridine-SR in SCI patients.

Objective-To systematically review the published literature on the treatment of deep venous thromboembolism post-spinal cord injury (SCI).Data Sources-MEDLINE/Pubmed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles addressing the treatment of deep venous thromboembolism post-SCI. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed for methodologic quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale, while non-RCTs were assessed using the Downs and Black evaluation tool.Study Selection-Studies included RCTs, non-RCTS, cohort, case-control, case series, prepost, and postinterventional studies. Case studies were included only when no other studies were available.Data Extraction-Data extracted included demographics, the nature of the study intervention, and study results.Data Synthesis-Levels of evidence were assigned to the interventions using a modified Sackett scale.Conclusions-Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Thirteen studies examined various pharmacologic interventions for the treatment or prevention of deep venous thrombosis in SCI patients. There was strong evidence to support the use of low molecular weight heparin in reducing venous thrombosis events, and a higher adjusted dose of unfractionated heparin was found to be more effective than 5000 units administered every 12 hours, although bleeding complication was more common. Nonpharmacologic treatments were also reviewed, but again limited evidence was found to support these treatments. Keywords Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries; Venous thrombosisDeep venous thrombosis and subsequent PE remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality in spinal cord injured patients. The incidence of DVT in patients with acute SCI was reported to be greater than 50% in early prospective studies-with the incidence of fatal PE estimated as high as 5%.,-The prevalence of DVT in acute SCI has been found to range from 14% to 100% and from 9% to 90%. Various test methods exist for diagnosing DVTs in individuals; however, venography has been considered the criterion standard.The clinical diagnosis of DVT and PE are often unrealiable and diagnostic testing is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Diagnostic testing varies from center to center, but 3 The high risk of DVT in acute SCI patients is a consequence of the simultaneous presence of all 3 components of Virchow's triad: hypercoagulability, stasis, and intimal (venous inner wall) injury, with stasis being the greatest concern. VT most commonly begins with a calf DVT.-Although only 20% of DVTs extend into the proximal veins,-these result in over 80% of symptomatic DVTs. Distal calf DVTs which do not extend proximally rarely are a sources of PEs, so that they are much less worrisome. Nonetheless, even those who caution against over-treatment of distal DVTs concede that there is a need for randomized trials to assess the usefulness of diagnosing and treating distal DVTs.Proximal (ie, at the level of knee or above) DVTs continue to be the primary source of concern. PE is reported in 8%...

A total cell dose of 20 M cells via 4 and up to 40 M cells via 8 perilesional intramedullary injections after thoracic and cervical SCI respectively proved safe and feasible using a manual injection technique.

4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) is a potassium channel blocking agent with the ability to restore conduction in demyelinated internodes of axons of the spinal cord. The present investigation sought to obtain electrophysiologic evidence of the effect of 4-AP in ameliorating central conduction deficits in a group of patients (n = 6) with spinal cord injury (SCI). The group was selected on the basis of having temperature-dependent central conduction deficits. 4-AP (24-25 mg total dose) was delivered intravenously at 6 mgh-1 or 15 mgh-1 while somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded as indices of central conduction. Two patients exhibited marked increases in the amplitude of cortical SEPs, and in one of these, 4-AP brought about a reduced central conduction time from L1 to cortex. Four patients revealed increased amplitude MEPs with concomitant reduction in latency indicative of enhanced conduction in corticospinal or corticobulbospinal pathways. Two of these patients demonstrated increased voluntary motor unit recruitment following 4-AP. Clinical examination revealed reduced spasticity (n = 2), reduced pain (n = 1), increased sensation (n = 1), improved leg movement (n = 3), and restored voluntary control of bowel (n = 1). These results support the hypothesis that 4-AP induces neurologic benefits in some patients with SCI. They are also consistent with the emerging concept that pharmaceutical amelioration of central conduction deficits caused by focal demyelination may contribute to the management of a select group of patients with compressive or contusive SCI.

Preclinical trials of intravenously administered 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) have demonstrated transient improvements in neurological function in patients with longstanding spinal cord injury (SCI). The present report describes three patients with SCI who responded favourably in preclinical trials and who were subsequently administered oral (capsule) 4-AP (10 mg b.i.d. or t.i.d.) over a 4 month interval. The three patients (two male: 1 female) all had incomplete tetraplegia (ASIA levels C and D) with the neurological level of the lesion between C5-C7. Following the administration of 4-AP the patients demonstrated marked and sustained reductions in upper (n=1) or lower extremity (n=2) spasticity. Other clinical bene®ts of 4-AP were reduced pain (n=1), restored muscle strength (n=3), improved sensation (n=2), voluntary control of bowel function (n=1), and sustained penile tumescence (n=2). The patients exhibited improved hand function (n=1), enhanced mobility in transfers and gait (n=2), with improved energy and endurance. Only trivial side eects (transient lightheadedness) were observed. In one case, the enhanced neurological function allowed the patient to stand with support for the ®rst time post injury (16 years). The time course of therapeutic response to the initial dose matched the pharmacokinetic elimination pro®le derived from serum and urine analysis. There was no evidence of renal or hepatic toxicity with prolonged use. These results indicate a therapeutic bene®t of oral 4-Aminopyridine in the management of various neurological de®cits in a select group of SCI patients.