Traumatic Paraplegia: Difference between revisions
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== Physical Therapy Management == | == Physical Therapy Management == | ||
From the very beginning of this lesion all efforts should be concentrated on the rehabilitation of the patient. The most important points which have to be considered in the early stages or even immediate stage are: the prevention of pressure sores; the control of urinary infections, this is mainly the task of the doctors; the prevention of muscle tendon contractures of paralyzed limbs due to faulty position, such as keeping the legs constantly adducted, the hips and knee’s flexed, and the feet and toes in plantair flexion. These faulty positions can be prevented by physiotherapy treatment like strengthening and stretching of the muscles of the trunk and upper limbs which are very important to the patient. Also to prevent an ailment like scolioses. <ref name="Guttmann et al.">SURGICAL ASPECTS OF THE TREATMENT | From the very beginning of this lesion all efforts should be concentrated on the rehabilitation of the patient. The most important points which have to be considered in the early stages or even immediate stage are: the prevention of pressure sores; the control of urinary infections, this is mainly the task of the doctors; the prevention of muscle tendon contractures of paralyzed limbs due to faulty position, such as keeping the legs constantly adducted, the hips and knee’s flexed, and the feet and toes in plantair flexion. These faulty positions can be prevented by physiotherapy treatment like strengthening and stretching of the muscles of the trunk and upper limbs which are very important to the patient. Also to prevent an ailment like scolioses. <ref name="Guttmann et al.">SURGICAL ASPECTS OF THE TREATMENT OFfckLRTRAUMATIC PARAPLEGIA;Guttmann ; 1949</ref> <ref name="Hedera et al.">Spastic Paraplegia 3A , SPG3A; Peter Hedera, MD, PhD ; 2010</ref> Like every injury complete immobilization should be prevented. It is shown that an intensive physical training program of 10 to 15 weeks could make the patient climb and go down 20 standard stairs and able to walk 100 meters indoors with crutches for example. It is highly recommended not to be independent of a wheel-chair and try to be mobile as much as possible. <ref name="Natvig et al.">Ambulation without wheelchairs for paraplegics with complete lesions.; Natvig H, McAdam R.; 1978</ref> Intense and regular therapy for spasticity, including physiotherapy, can delay and minimize the appearance of these complications named above. <ref name="Hedera et al.">Spastic Paraplegia 3A , SPG3A; Peter Hedera, MD, PhD; 2010</ref> <br> | ||
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== Epidemiology/ Etiology == | |||
The cause of paraplegia due to a spinal cord injury is mostly by a caraccident. Also noted was due to a firearm injury, which isn’t the case in every country in the world of course. Traumatic paraplegia is most prominent among young men between the ages of 21 and 35 years. The more reckless way of driving of the younger population could be one of the reasons. This injury has a major effect on the social life of the patient, like divorce for example. Therefore it might be important as a physiotherapist to talk against the patient about considering professional psychological help and also guide him through this step. | |||
<ref name="Blanesl et al.">Clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of persons with traumatic paraplegia living in São Paulo, Brazil; Leila BlanesI; Lana LourençoI; Maria Isabel Sampaio CarmagnaniII; Lydia Masako FerreiraI; 2009</ref> | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /><br> | <references /><br> | ||
Revision as of 16:40, 18 May 2011
Definition/Description
[edit | edit source]
Traumatic paraplegia is caused by a lesion of the spinal cord which of course occurs after a trauma. It will lead to paralyzed parts of the body or even spasms of the limbs and dysfunction of the bladder, all under the place of the damaged part of the spine. The problem would lay with the cord which seems to show a dysfunctioning sending potentials through the limbs which could lead to the symptoms of this pathology. [1] [2] [3]
Physical Therapy Management[edit | edit source]
From the very beginning of this lesion all efforts should be concentrated on the rehabilitation of the patient. The most important points which have to be considered in the early stages or even immediate stage are: the prevention of pressure sores; the control of urinary infections, this is mainly the task of the doctors; the prevention of muscle tendon contractures of paralyzed limbs due to faulty position, such as keeping the legs constantly adducted, the hips and knee’s flexed, and the feet and toes in plantair flexion. These faulty positions can be prevented by physiotherapy treatment like strengthening and stretching of the muscles of the trunk and upper limbs which are very important to the patient. Also to prevent an ailment like scolioses. [4] [5] Like every injury complete immobilization should be prevented. It is shown that an intensive physical training program of 10 to 15 weeks could make the patient climb and go down 20 standard stairs and able to walk 100 meters indoors with crutches for example. It is highly recommended not to be independent of a wheel-chair and try to be mobile as much as possible. [6] Intense and regular therapy for spasticity, including physiotherapy, can delay and minimize the appearance of these complications named above. [5]
Epidemiology/ Etiology[edit | edit source]
The cause of paraplegia due to a spinal cord injury is mostly by a caraccident. Also noted was due to a firearm injury, which isn’t the case in every country in the world of course. Traumatic paraplegia is most prominent among young men between the ages of 21 and 35 years. The more reckless way of driving of the younger population could be one of the reasons. This injury has a major effect on the social life of the patient, like divorce for example. Therefore it might be important as a physiotherapist to talk against the patient about considering professional psychological help and also guide him through this step. [7]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ PATHOLOGICAL OSSIFICATION IN TRAUMATIC PARAPLEGIA*; A. G. HARDY, SHEFFIELD, and J. W. DICKSON, IPSWICH, ENGLAND ; 1963
- ↑ Initial Treatment of Traumatic Paraplegia;fckLRBy L. GUTTMANN, O.B.E., M.D., M.R.C.P.;1953
- ↑ Spinal cord potentials in traumatic paraplegiafckLRand quadriplegia; E M SEDGWICK, E EL-NEGAMY, AND H FRANKEL; 1980
- ↑ SURGICAL ASPECTS OF THE TREATMENT OFfckLRTRAUMATIC PARAPLEGIA;Guttmann ; 1949
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Spastic Paraplegia 3A , SPG3A; Peter Hedera, MD, PhD ; 2010 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Hedera et al." defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Ambulation without wheelchairs for paraplegics with complete lesions.; Natvig H, McAdam R.; 1978
- ↑ Clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of persons with traumatic paraplegia living in São Paulo, Brazil; Leila BlanesI; Lana LourençoI; Maria Isabel Sampaio CarmagnaniII; Lydia Masako FerreiraI; 2009
