IntroductionPatients with spina bifida in the lumbosacral region usually have various degrees of motor and sensory dysfunctions of the lower extremities and anal sphincter. The aim of our study was to evaluate the distribution and differences in frequencies of affected muscles, number of affected muscles and degree of neurogenic lesion between patients with spina bifida occulta (SBO) and spina bifida aperta (SBA).Material and methodsIn 100 patients with SB, 6 muscles in the lower limbs were separately analysed. Due to the number of affected muscles, we evaluated 5 groups of patients: with 1 affected muscle, 2 affected muscles, 3 affected muscles, 4 affected muscles and 5 affected muscles. Three degrees of neurogenic lesions were assessed: mild, moderate and severe.ResultsThe tibialis anterior muscle was most frequently affected in SB patients. The outer anal sphincter was frequently affected in the group of SBA patients. Single muscle affection is frequent in the group of patients with SBO, while in the group of patients with SBA, 4 muscles were significantly frequently affected. The great majority of patients (45.46%) with affected outer anal sphincter (OAS) in the group of SBO were without affection of other muscles, while for the SBA group it was for every third patient. Mild neurogenic lesion was significantly frequent in SBO patients, while severe form was significantly frequent in SBA patients.ConclusionsPatients with SBO usually present with mild to moderate clinical presentation, while multiple root involvement and severe degree of neurogenic lesion is associated more frequently with SBA.

No abstract

ObjectiveMultiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale (MSSS)-88 has been developed for self-assessment of spasticity symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to validate MSSS-88 and evaluate the psychometric properties in patients with MS in Serbia.MethodsThe study comprised 65 MS patients with spasticity. MSSS-88 consists of 88 items grouped in eight sections. Internal consistency of the MSSS-88SR subscales was determined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Test/retest reliability with an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for each MSSS-88SR subscale was performed. Clinical validity of MSSS-88SR was determined by correlations with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS).ResultsThe range of Cronbach’s alpha for all scales and ICC was 0.91–0.96 and 0.84–0.91, respectively. All ICCs were statistically significant (p<0.05). All evaluated subscales of MSSS-88 were significantly correlated with the NRS scale. The highest correlation coefficients were registered between the WL subscale and the EDSS and MAS, while the strongest relationship was observed between the MSS subscale and the NRS.ConclusionThe Serbian translated version of this instrument may be useful as a clinical measure for spasticity and functionality in patients with MS.

The Patient-Reported Impact of Spasticity Measure (PRISM) has been developed recently to assess the impact of spasticity on quality of life after spinal cord injury. Although PRISM may also be useful in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), its psychometric properties in MS have not been established and PRISM is currently available only in English. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to translate PRISM into the Serbian language (PRISMSR) and examine its validity (construct, convergent, divergent) and reliability (internal consistency, test-retest reliability) in 48 patients with spasticity because of MS diagnosed at least 1 year earlier and in remission at least 3 months. PRISMSR was administered twice 3 days apart. The validity of seven PRISMSR subscales was examined against the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for spasticity, sex, and education. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach α and test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement (ICC2,1). During the forward-backward translation, only one PRISM item required minor cultural adaption. Almost all PRISMSR scores correlated significantly with MAS and NRS scores (r=0.29-0.51, 0.001≤P≤0.043). They were all significantly higher for MAS≥2 group versus the MAS<2 group (0.003≤P≤0.035) and for the NRS≥7 group versus the NRS<7 group (0.001≤P≤0.042), except for the Social Embarrassment subscale (P=0.083). The PRISMSR scores were not significantly different between sexes (P≥0.104) or those with high school versus college degree (P≥0.139). Both Cronbach α (0.78-0.93) and test-retest ICC2,1 (0.82-0.90) were high. The original PRISM may be translated successfully into other languages. PRISMSR shows adequate validity and reliability for assessing the impact of spasticity on quality of life in patients with MS.

Combined therapy is more efficient in treatment of children with neurogenic bladder. Electrotherapy is non-invasive, easily applicable and has had a significant place in treatment of children with dysfunctional voiding.

Background and objective: Dysfunctional voiding (DV) presents relatively frequent problem in pediatric urologist practice. The necessity for implementation of DV evaluation in the pediatric population is of particular importance, since there is no clear consensus on the clinical assessment of such condition. The aims of our study were to evaluate the test/retest reliability and reproducibility of dysfunctional voiding and incontinence scoring system: Serbian version (DVISSSR) in patients with voiding and incontinence dysfunctions without structural deformities, and to estimate cut-off value for DVISSSR. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 57 children with voiding and incontinence dysfunctions and 30 healthy pediatric controls. For the evaluation of voiding and incontinence dysfunction we used DVISS. The forward–backward method was applied for translation of the DVISS questionnaire from English into Serbian language. Reproducibility was analyzed by Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Sensitivity and specificity of DVISSSR scores was done by receiver operating curve (ROC) curve. Results: There was a significant difference in DVISSSR score between patients and controls (p < 0.001). For reliability and reproducibility of the questionnaire, there was no significant difference between repeated measurements (p = 0.141), and strong reliability (ICC = 0.957; p < 0.001). Conclusion: We have demonstrated successful translation and validation of the DVISSSR score. Moreover, a reliable scoring system of children with voiding dysfunctions should include evaluations of symptom scoring systems at the multicentric level.

Objective: The aims of our study were to translate the dysfunctional voiding symptom score (DVSS) from English to Serbian; culturally adopt the items; assess the internal consistency and the test–retest reliability of DVSSSR in patients with dysfunctional voiding (DV); evaluate and test the construct and divergent validity of DVSSSR against demographic parameters (gender and education); and examine the level of explained variability for each item of DVSSSR against demographic parameters (gender and education). Methods: The cross-sectional observational study included 50 patients with dysfunctional voiding aged 5 years and above. The DVSS questionnaire was translated from English into Serbian by the forward–backward method. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach α and test–retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). For validity testing we performed construct and divergent validity analyses. Results: There was excellent internal consistency for every item except for Item 6 (0.787) and Item 3 (0.864), where internal consistency was good. The observed test/retest ICC for average measures was more than 0.75 (excellent) for all DVSSSR items. Gender and educational level does not correlate significantly with each item of DVSSSR (p > 0.05). For divergent validity, there were no significant differences in mean values of each item of DVSSSR between genders and different levels of education (p > 0.05). Variability that can be explained for gender and educational level was below 10%. Conclusion: Translated DVSSSR is of adequate validity and reliability for assessing DV in children.

From the above-mentioned it can be concluded that individual rehabilitation assessment for every patient is needed. Early rehabilitation measures give sustained effects of well-being after completion of the programme.