James B Meiling, Christopher T Ha, Kristin L Garlanger, Brittany A Snider, Eoin P Flanagan, Ronald K Reeves
{"title":"Inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in patients with the new diagnosis of COVID-19 tractopathy: a case series.","authors":"James B Meiling, Christopher T Ha, Kristin L Garlanger, Brittany A Snider, Eoin P Flanagan, Ronald K Reeves","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00586-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00586-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective Case Series.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Describe the inpatient rehabilitation outcomes of four patients with COVID-19 tractopathy.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States of America.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective review of medical records was performed to collect patient data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four individuals (n = 4, 3 men and 1 woman, mean age 58.25 years [range 56-61]) completed inpatient rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. All presented after COVID-19 infection and were admitted to acute care with progressive paraparesis. None were able to ambulate on admission to acute care. All received extensive evaluations which were largely negative except for mildly elevated CSF protein and MRI findings of longitudinally extensive T2 hyperintensity signal changes in the lateral (n = 3) and dorsal (n = 1) columns. All patients experienced incomplete spastic paraparesis. All patients experienced neurogenic bowel dysfunction; a majority experienced neuropathic pain (n = 3); half experienced impaired proprioception (n = 2); and a minority experienced neurogenic bladder dysfunction (n = 1). Between rehabilitation admission and discharge, the median improvement in lower extremity motor score was 5 (0-28). All patients were discharged home, but only one was a functional ambulator at time of discharge.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While the underlying mechanism is yet to be elucidated, in rare cases a COVID-19 infection can lead to a tractopathy, presenting as weakness, sensory deficits, spasticity, neuropathic pain, and neurogenic bladder/bowel. Patients with COVID-19 tractopathy would benefit from inpatient rehabilitation to enhance their functional mobility and independence.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10314931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9743814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recurrent syncope secondary to autonomic dysfunction in spinal cord injury: a case report.","authors":"Leon Smith, Roxana Heriseanu","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00585-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00585-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>High-level spinal cord injuries are often associated with autonomic impairment, which can result in orthostatic hypotension and syncope. Persistent autonomic dysfunction can manifest with disabling symptoms including recurrent syncopal events. We describe a case of autonomic failure resulting in recurrent syncopal events in a tetraplegic 66-year-old man.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10313789/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9961082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ilse J W van Nes, Hennie Rijken, Noël L W Keijsers, Jan Willem Louwerens, Jorik Nonnekes
{"title":"Improved walking capacity after complementary ankle-foot surgery and gait training in a person with an incomplete tetraplegia; a case report.","authors":"Ilse J W van Nes, Hennie Rijken, Noël L W Keijsers, Jan Willem Louwerens, Jorik Nonnekes","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00579-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00579-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The population of people with a spinal cord injury (SCI) is changing to a diverse population with an increasing number of incomplete lesions. Often, these individuals have the capacity to walk, but experience disabling gait impairments.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>The course of a 34-year-old male with a chronic incomplete traumatic cervical SCI who initially could walk no more than a few steps with supervision or a wheeled walker is described. He participated in a clinical trial with Targeted Epidural Spinal Stimulation (TESS). After this trial, he was able to walk with a wheeled walker and bilateral orthosis over a distance of 100 meters. Despite these improvements, his main complaints were (1) difficulty to correctly preposition the feet, and (2) pain in his toe and calf muscles. An interdisciplinary approach and the use of structured gait analysis formed the basis for shared decision-making with the team and the patient to perform ankle-foot surgery followed by 2-month gait training with a body weight support system. After this trajectory his walking distance increased to 250 meters, with a wheeled walker; but now without orthosis and with an increased walking speed compared to pre-surgery. Additionally, there was reduction of pain and he experienced no disturbances during sleeping, washing and clothing anymore.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This case shows that surgical interventions can improve the gait capacity even in case of chronic incomplete SCI. Furthermore, training with a body weight support system after medical-technical interventions is useful to utilize the full potential of these interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10300111/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9719635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aggressive thoracic vertebral hemangioma: case report and literature review.","authors":"Andy Kuo, Peter Ahorukomeye, Zachary L Gordon","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00577-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00577-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Vertebral hemangiomas are common and typically benign vascular lesions, with a prevalence of 10-12% in the general population and 2-3% in all spine tumors. A small subset of vertebral hemangiomas can be categorized as \"aggressive\" if they exhibit extraosseous expansion that compress the spinal cord, causing pain and various neurologic symptoms. This report details a case of aggressive thoracic hemangioma resulting in worsening pain and paraplegia to draw attention to this rare condition, including identification and treatment.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>In this case, we present a 39 year-old female with a history of progressively worsening pain and paraplegia caused by compression of the spinal cord from an aggressive thoracic vertebral hemangioma. Clinical presentation, imaging, and biopsies, confirmed the diagnosis. A combined surgical and endovascular treatment strategy was implemented, and the patient's symptoms improved.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Aggressive vertebral hemangioma is a rare condition that may cause symptoms that diminishes the quality of life, including pain and various neurological symptoms. Given the low number of such cases, and significant impact on lifestyle, it is beneficial to identify cases of aggressive thoracic hemangiomas to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis and help development of treatment guidelines. This case highlights the importance of identifying and diagnosing this rare but serious disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10199886/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10054049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brendan M Striano, Brian C Goh, Chason Ziino, Saechin Kim
{"title":"Spinal artery syndrome following kyphoplasty in the setting of a non-compressive extradural cement extravasation: a case report.","authors":"Brendan M Striano, Brian C Goh, Chason Ziino, Saechin Kim","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00574-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00574-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cement extravasation (CE) during vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is not uncommon, though neurological deficits occur rarely and when paraparesis occurs severe cord compression has been described. We report a case of progressive paraparesis in the setting of non-compressive extradural CE during kyphoplasty with evidence for spinal artery syndrome and neurological recovery after treatment.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 77-year-old female with T12 VCF failed conservative treatment and underwent kyphoplasty. In the recovery room, the patient was noted to have bilateral leg weakness, left worse than right, and had urgent CT scan that showed right paracentral CE without cord compression or arterial cement embolization. The patient was transferred to a tertiary hospital and had MRI of the spine that confirmed extradural CE and no cord compression. Because the patient had progression of lower extremity deficits despite medical management, she underwent surgical decompression, cement excision, and spinal fusion with instrumentation. Post op MRI showed T2 hyperintensities in the spinal cord consistent with spinal artery syndrome. One month post op, she had almost complete recovery of her neurological function.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Spinal artery syndrome may be considered in patients with neurological deficit s/p kyphoplasty even if the extravasated cement does not compress the spinal cord and even if the deficits are worse contralateral to the cement extravasation. If spinal artery syndrome is present and medical management does not improve the deficits, surgery may be indicated even if there is no cord compression.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10130072/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9671352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sun-Houng Kim, Onyoo Kim, Young-Hyeon Bae, Dong-Il Choi, Jae Eun Heo, Won-Kyung Song, Bum-Suk Lee
{"title":"Caregiver burden according to ageing and type of care activity in caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury.","authors":"Sun-Houng Kim, Onyoo Kim, Young-Hyeon Bae, Dong-Il Choi, Jae Eun Heo, Won-Kyung Song, Bum-Suk Lee","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00570-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00570-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe caregiver burden according to the caregivers' general characteristics, especially with ageing, and type of care activities provided by caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, health conditions, and caregiver burden.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>A single center study in Seoul, Korea.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>Participants were recruited from 87 individuals with spinal cord injuries and 87 caregivers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Caregiver Burden Inventory was used to assess caregiver burden.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Caregiver burden was significantly different by age (p = 0.001), relationship (p = 0.025), sleep hours (p = <0.001), underlying disease (p = 0.018), pain (p = <0.001), and daily activities of individuals with spinal cord injury (p = 0.001). Caregiver's age (B = 0.339, p = 0.049), sleep duration (B = -2.896, p = 0.012) and pain (B = 2.558, p < 0.001) predicted caregiver burden. Toileting assistance was the most challenging and time-consuming for caregivers, while patient transfer was associated with the greatest concerns for body injury.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Caregiver education should be targeted according to caregiver's age and type of assistance. Social policies need to be developed to distribute devices and care-robots to reduce caregiver burden and thereby assist caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10113187/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9421128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael Alexandre Alves, Sonti Pilusa, Mokgadi Kholofelo Mashola
{"title":"The prevalence and profile of spinal cord injury in public healthcare rehabilitation units in Gauteng, South Africa.","authors":"Michael Alexandre Alves, Sonti Pilusa, Mokgadi Kholofelo Mashola","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00571-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00571-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective medical record review.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine the prevalence and describe the profile of person with SCI (PWSCI) admitted in the public healthcare sector in Gauteng, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Specialized public healthcare rehabilitation units in Gauteng, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medical records of PWSCI admitted to public healthcare rehabilitation units between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2019 were perused. Data were collected anonymously and then summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics. Significance was set at p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>386 of 998 participants (38.7%) were admitted following SCI and the mean age was 36.9 years. Most participants were male (69.9%), with females significantly more likely to sustain a NTSCI (p < 0.001), which was the least common cause of SCI (34.9%). Those sustaining a TSCI were found to be significantly younger than their NTSCI counterparts (p < 0.001). Assault was the leading cause of injury (35.2%), and a positive HIV status with the presence of comorbidities were found to be significant risk factors for developing a NTSCI (p < 0.001). Most injuries were between T7-T12 (39.9%) and were complete (56.9%). The rehabilitation length of stay 85.6 days, with a mortality rate of 6.48%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Gauteng has among the highest global proportion of TSCI due to assault. Of interest, more females sustained a NTSCI than their male counterparts. There is a need to strengthen SCI prevention strategies, particularly targeting assault in young males and infectious causes in females and older populations. Further epidemiological and outcomes-based research is required for PWSCI.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10102299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9355340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gustavo Balbinot, Guijin Li, Cindy Gauthier, Kristin E Musselman, Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan, José Zariffa
{"title":"Functional electrical stimulation therapy for upper extremity rehabilitation following spinal cord injury: a pilot study.","authors":"Gustavo Balbinot, Guijin Li, Cindy Gauthier, Kristin E Musselman, Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan, José Zariffa","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00568-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00568-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Pilot study.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To examine if functional electrical stimulation therapy (FEST) improves neuromuscular factors underlying upper limb function in individuals with SCI.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>A tertiary spinal cord rehabilitation center specialized in spinal cord injury care in Canada.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined 29 muscles from 4 individuals living with chronic, cervical, and incomplete SCI. The analysis was focused on the changes in muscle activation, as well as on how the treatment could change the ability to control a given muscle or on how multiple muscles would be coordinated during volitional efforts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was evidence of gains in muscle strength, activation, and median frequency after the FEST. Gains in muscle activation indicated the activation of a greater number of motor units and gains in muscle median frequency the involvement of higher threshold, faster motor units. In some individuals, these changes were smaller but accompanied by increased control over muscle contraction, evident in a greater ability to sustain a volitional contraction, reduce the co-contraction of antagonist muscles, and provide cortical drive.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>FEST increases muscle strength and activation. Enhanced control of muscle contraction, reduced co-contraction of antagonist muscles, and a greater presence of cortical drive were some of the findings supporting the effects of FEST at the sensory-motor integration level.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10067812/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10430117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zahra Ghodsi, Seyed Behnam Jazayeri, Ahmad Pourrashidi, Mohsen Sadeghi-Naeini, Zahra Azadmanjir, Vali Baigi, Seyed Farzad Maroufi, Amir Azarhomayoun, Morteza Faghih-Jouybari, Abbas Amirjamshidi, Khatereh Naghdi, Roya Habibi Arejan, Maryam Shabani, Arvin Sepahdoost, Hojat Dehghanbanadaki, Reza Habibi, Mahdi Mohammadzadeh, Maryam Bahreini, Gerard Michael O'Reilly, Alexander R Vaccaro, James S Harrop, Benjamin M Davies, Lu Yi, Seyed Mohammad Ghodsi, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
{"title":"Development of a comprehensive assessment tool to measure the quality of care for individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries.","authors":"Zahra Ghodsi, Seyed Behnam Jazayeri, Ahmad Pourrashidi, Mohsen Sadeghi-Naeini, Zahra Azadmanjir, Vali Baigi, Seyed Farzad Maroufi, Amir Azarhomayoun, Morteza Faghih-Jouybari, Abbas Amirjamshidi, Khatereh Naghdi, Roya Habibi Arejan, Maryam Shabani, Arvin Sepahdoost, Hojat Dehghanbanadaki, Reza Habibi, Mahdi Mohammadzadeh, Maryam Bahreini, Gerard Michael O'Reilly, Alexander R Vaccaro, James S Harrop, Benjamin M Davies, Lu Yi, Seyed Mohammad Ghodsi, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00569-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41394-023-00569-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To develop a comprehensive assessment tool to evaluate the Quality of Care (QoC) in managing individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>At first, the concepts of QoC for TSCI were identified by conducting a qualitative interview along with re-evaluation of the results of a published scoping review (conceptualization). After operationalization of indicators, they were valued by using the expert panel method. Afterward, the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) were calculated and served as cut-offs for indicator selection. Then specific questions were developed for each indicator and classified into three categories: pre-hospital, in-hospital, and post-hospital. Data availability of the National Spinal Cord Injury Registry of Iran (NSCIR-IR) was subsequently used to design questions that represent indicators in an assessment tool format. The comprehensiveness of the tool was evaluated using a 4-item Likert scale by the expert panel.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Twelve experts participated in conceptualization and 11 experts participated in operationalization phase. Overall, 94 concepts for QoC were identified from published scoping review (87 items) and qualitative interviews (7 items). The process of operationalization and indicator selection led to the development of 27 indicators with acceptable content validity. Finally, the assessment tool contained three pre-hospital, twelve in-hospital, nine post-hospital, and three mixed indicators. Ninety-one percent of experts evaluated the entire tool as comprehensive.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study presents a health-related QoC tool that contains a comprehensive set of indicators to assess the QoC for individuals with TSCI. However, this tool should be used in various situations to establish construct validity further.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10067818/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10536792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Libak Abou, Lynn A Worobey, Stephanie K Rigot, Elizabeth Stanley, Laura A Rice
{"title":"Reliability of home-based remote and self-assessment of transfers using the Transfer Assessment Instrument among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.","authors":"Libak Abou, Lynn A Worobey, Stephanie K Rigot, Elizabeth Stanley, Laura A Rice","doi":"10.1038/s41394-023-00567-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-023-00567-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the reliability of home-based remote and self-assessment of transfer quality using the Transfer Assessment Instrument (TAI) among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Participant's home environment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighteen wheelchair users with SCI transferred from their wheelchair to a surface of their choice (bed, sofa, or bench) in their homes. During a live video conference, the transfer was recorded and evaluated live using the TAI (rater 1). Participants completed a self-assessment of their transfer using the TAI- questionnaire (TAI-Q). Two additional raters (raters 2 & 3) completed asynchronous assessments by watching recorded videos. Interrater reliability was assessed using Intraclass Coefficient Correlations (ICC) to compare rater 1 with the average of raters 2 & 3 and TAI-Q. Intrarater reliability was assessed by rater 1 completing another TAI by watching the recorded videos after a 4-week delay. Assessments were compared using paired sample t-tests and level of agreement between TAI scores was evaluated using Bland-Altman plots.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Moderate to good interrater and good intrarater reliability were found for the total TAI score with ICCs: 0.57-0.90 and 0.90, respectively. Moderate to good intrarater and interrater reliability were found for all TAI subscores (ICC: 0.60-0.94) except for interrater reliability of flight/landing which was poor (ICC: 0.20). Bland-Altman plots indicate no systematic bias related to the measurement of error.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The TAI is a reliable outcome measure for assessing the wheelchair and body setup phases of home-based transfers remotely and through self-assessment among individuals with SCI.</p>","PeriodicalId":22079,"journal":{"name":"Spinal Cord Series and Cases","volume":"9 1","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10060131/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9292841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}