Assessment of load-sharing thoracolumbar injury: A modified scoring system

BACKGROUND Many classification systems of thoracolumbar spinal fractures have been proposed to enhance treatment protocols,but none have achieved universal adoption.AIM To develop a new patient scoring system for cases with thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score(TLICS)=4,namely the load-sharing thoracolumbar injury score(LSTLIS).METHODS Based on thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score,this study proposes the use of the established load-sharing classification(LSC)to develop an improved classification system(LSTLIS).To prove the reliability and reproducibility of LSTLIS,a retrospective analysis for patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures has been conducted.RESULTS A total of 102 cases were enrolled in the study.The scoring trend of LSTLIS is roughly similar as the LSC scoring,however,the average deviation based on the former method is relatively smaller than that of the latter.Thus,the robustness of the LSTLIS scoring method is better than that of LSC.LSTLIS can further classify patients with TLICS=4,so as to assess more accurately this particular circumstance,and the majority of LSTLIS recommendations are consistent with actual clinical decisions.LSTLIS is a scoring system that combines LSC and TLICS to compensate for the lack of appropriate inclusion of anterior and middle column compression fractures with TLICS.Following preliminary clinical verification,LSTLIS has greater feasibility and reliability value,is more practical in comprehensively assessing certain clinical circumstances,and has better accuracy with clinically significant guidelines.

An expert consensus on the evaluation and treatment of acute thoracolumbar spine and spinal cord injury in China

This is an expert consensus on the evaluation and treatment of thoracolumbar spinal injury, estab- lished from February 2009 to July 2010. The expert consensus consists mainly of six parts with a total of 54 recommendations including the overview （one item）; pre-hospital care （one item）; evaluation and diagnosis （13 items）; treatment （23 items）; prevention and treatment of major com- plications （12 items）; and rehabilitation （four items）. This is the first time that Chinese experts have published a consensus on spine and spinal cord injury. The expert consensus was established based on Delphi methods, literature analysis, and clinical experiences. Each recommendation is supported by and was interpreted using multi-level evidences. The level of agreement with the rec- ommendation among the panel members was assessed as either low, moderate, or strong. Each panel member was asked to indicate his or her level of agreement on a 5-point scale, with ＂1＂ cor- respondJng to neutrality and ＂5＂ representJng maxJmum agreement. Scores were aggregated across the panel members and an arithmetic mean was calculated. This mean score was then translated into low, moderate, or strong. After all of the votes were collected and calculated, the results showed no low-level recommendations, 10 moderate-level recommendations, and 44 strong-level recom- mendations. An expert consensus was reached and was recognized by Chinese spine surgeons. Wide-scale adoption of these recommendations is urgent in the management of acute thora- columbar spine and spinal cord injury in a broader attempt to create a standard evaluation and treatment strategy for acute thoracolumbar spine and spinal cord injury in China.

Application of a paraplegic gait orthosis in thoracolumbar spinal cord injury

Paraplegic gait orthosis has been shown to help paraplegic patients stand and walk, although this method cannot be individualized for patients with different spinal cord injuries and functional recovery of the lower extremities. There is, however, a great need to develop individualized paraplegic orthosis to improve overall quality of life for paraplegic patients. In the present study, 36 spinal cord（below T4） injury patients were equally and randomly divided into control and observation groups. The control group received systematic rehabilitation training, including maintenance of joint range of motion, residual muscle strength training, standing training, balance training, and functional electrical stimulation. The observation group received an individualized paraplegic locomotion brace and functional training according to the various spinal cord injury levels and muscle strength based on comprehensive systematic rehabilitation training. After 3 months of rehabilitation training, the observation group achieved therapeutic locomotion in 8 cases, family-based locomotion in 7 cases, and community-based locomotion in 3 cases. However, locomotion was not achieved in any of the control group patients. These findings suggest that individualized paraplegic braces significantly improve activity of daily living and locomotion in patients with thoracolumbar spinal cord injury.