Impairment Of Upper Extremity Function Research Articles

Effects of motor imagery based brain-computer interface on upper limb function and attention in stroke patients with hemiplegia: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSeeking positive and comprehensive rehabilitation methods after stroke is an urgent problem to be solved, which is very important to improve the dysfunction of stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of motor imagery-based brain-computer interface training (MI-BCI) on upper limb function and attention in stroke patients with hemiplegia.MethodsSixty stroke patients with impairment of upper extremity function and decreased attention were randomly assigned to the control group (CR group) or the experimental group (BCI group) in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the CR group received conventional rehabilitation. Patients in the BCI group received 20 min of MI-BCI training five times a week for 3 weeks (15 sessions) in addition to conventional rehabilitation. The primary outcome measures were the changes in Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Assessment of Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and Attention Network Test (ANT) from baseline to 3 weeks.ResultsAbout 93% of the patients completed the allocated training. Compared with the CR group, among those in the BCI group, FMA-UE was increased by 8.0 points (95%CI, 5.0 to 10.0; P < 0.001). Alert network response time (32.4ms; 95%CI, 58.4 to 85.6; P < 0.001), orienting network response (5.6ms; 95%CI, 29.8 to 55.8; P = 0.010), and corrects number (8.0; 95%CI, 17.0 to 28.0; P < 0.001) also increased in the BCI group compared with the CR group. Additionally, the executive control network response time (− 105.9ms; 95%CI, − 68.3 to − 23.6; P = 0.002), the total average response time (− 244.8ms; 95%CI, − 155.8 to − 66.2; P = 0.002), and total time (− 122.0ms; 95%CI, − 80.0 to − 35.0; P = 0.001) were reduced in the BCI group compared with the CR group.ConclusionMI-BCI combined with conventional rehabilitation training could better enhance upper limb motor function and attention in stroke patients. This training method may be feasible and suitable for individuals with stroke.Trial registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with Portal Number ChiCTR2100050430(27/08/2021).

Review on the Design of Group Experimental Study for Neurocognitive Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients

The purpose of this study was to review the design of a group experimental study for neurocognitive rehabilitation of stroke patients. A total of 119 articles published from the first issue to the latest issue of the Journal of Korean Society of Neurocognitive Rehabilitation were reviewed, including the original texts of the articles. The final four articles were analyzed according to the selection and exclusion criteria of this study. The final selected articles were investigated for qualitative classification of the level of evidence and data collection. Further, frequency analysis was performed on the characteristics and variables included in the study and presented according to the patient, intervention, comparison/control, outcome method based on the extracted data. There were four group experimental studies on stroke patients published in the Journal of Korean Society of Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, and among them, one group experimental study was the most. According to the specific characteristics of stroke patients, the largest number of studies were on stroke patients with limitations in activities of daily living and impairment of upper extremity function. As a measurement tool, activities of daily life was most widely used. This study reviewed the design of a group experiment for neurocognitive rehabilitation of stroke patients and presented basic data that can be applied to evidence-based clinical trials.

Multidisciplinary Consensus: Brachial Plexus Injuries. Basic Principles of Diagnostics and Treatment

Summary. Brachial plexus injuries is a severe and debilitating trauma characterized by gross impairment of upper extremity function. Mostly this is the trauma of young active people of working age, which often leads to significant loss of upper extremity function and disability of the patient. On October 10, 2019, at the XVIII Congress of Orthopedists Traumatologists of Ukraine held in Ivano-Frankivsk, a round table was held on the basic issues of diagnosis and treatment of patients with brachial plexus injuries, and a multidisciplinary consensus was adopted on the basic principles of diagnosis and treatment of brachial plexus injuries. During the round table, the issues of determining risk groups for brachial plexus injury (patients with polytrauma, road trafic accident, patients with injuries of the shoulder girdle area, dislocations of the shoulder, open lesions of the shoulder girdle and subclavian area, patients with atypical pain in the shoulder, patients that lost upper extremity function after surgery in the supraclavicular and subclavian area, neck, mastectomy, radiation therapy) and the protocol of clinical examination of patients (which must include the possibility of active movements in the joints of the upper limb and stabilization of the scapula; it is obligatory to determine the strength of the muscles of the affected limb in comparison with the healthy one, to determine sensitivity in the corresponding areas of autonomous innervation of the roots; also it is important to determine Horner syndrome) were discussed. Also, the place and time of additional diagnostics methods (emergency ultrasound and radiography, after 3 weeks – needle and stimulation electroneuromyography (ENMG), MRI of the brachial plexus or cervical spine, CT myelography) and an algorithm for the supervision of patients with a brachial plexus injury were adopted; the centers of brachial plexus surgery were specified. All this later formed the basis of multidisciplinary consensus.

Is there a dose-dependent effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy in patients with hemiplegia?

Impairment of upper extremity function is a common sequelae of stroke. It has been reported that modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) could prove to be effective. To investigate the relationship between the intensity of rehabilitation such as treatment and constraining time, and the functional outcome for the paretic upper extremity in stroke patients through mCIMT. We conducted an observational prospective study of 31 patients with hemiplegia and subacute or chronic stroke. The mCIMT was performed for two weeks. Rehabilitation time and constraining time were variable among patients. The rehabilitation time included an individualized task-oriented program and conventional occupation treatment with an individualized therapist. The constraining time, with mit or splint, was also asked to self-record individually. The outcome was evaluated on the more affected side by the Wolf Motor Function Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motor Activity Log 14, and Functional Independence Measure for self-care tasks after the therapy. All participants after the modified constraint-induced movement therapy program for two weeks improved on the evaluated outcome measures (P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between the dose-dependent treatment or constraining time and outcomes. Comparisons improvement with subgroups based on the duration from onset, constraining component, dominant hand consistent with lesion side of stroke, and initial medical research council score for muscle strength, also showed no significant differences. This is the first study on the effects of intensity of mCIMT with respect to time-dosage. Although all patients in this study showed improved functional status, no significant correlation between dose-dependent rehabilitation or constraining time and outcomes was seen.

Results of parallel plate fixation of comminuted intra-articular distal humeral fractures

This study investigated the results of parallel plate fixation of comminuted distal humeral fractures in a consecutive series of patients. Parallel plate fixation was used in 47 patients (30 women), mean age 60 years (range 18-98 years), with Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) type C distal humeral fractures during 2007 to 2011. Medical records and radiographs were retrospectively assessed. Thirty-five patients completed Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) outcome measure and the RAND Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey. Twenty-seven patients underwent clinical examination, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) rating, and radiography after 3.9 years (range, 1.6-7.9 years) of follow-up. The mean flexion arc was lower on the affected side vs the unaffected elbow (123° vs 140°, P = .03). The mean MEPS was 88; the result was excellent in 14, good in 8, fair in 3, and poor in 2 patients. DASH results indicated slight impairment of upper extremity function compared with the reference value (26 vs 10, P = .001). RAND SF-36 scores indicated normal quality of life compared with reference values from the Finnish population. Forty-four fractures united uneventfully. One case each of nonunion and malunion occurred. One olecranon osteotomy failed to unite. There were 3 cases of infection. Prominent hardware was a common late problem, and plates often required removal. The complication rate was 7 of 47 (15%); 4 of these patients (9%) required reoperation. The hardware removal rate was 13 of 47 (28%). Parallel plate fixation is an effective method to treat comminuted distal humeral fractures. Good elbow function can be restored in most cases with minor impairments that do not worsen quality of life.

The Perioperative Educational Program for Improving Upper Arm Dysfunction in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Controlled Trial

Most patients who undergo breast cancer surgery suffer from impairment of upper extremity function. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a perioperative educational program for improving upper arm dysfunction in patients with breast cancer. This longitudinal controlled study was conducted between January 2010 and July 2012. Participants comprised 149 patients with primary breast cancer before operation, allocated to intervention and control groups. Intervention comprised a 3-month educational program on monitoring arm function and exercises for preventing shoulder dysfunction and lymphedema. The control group received routine care from on-site staffs. Of the 149 patients analyzed, 69 underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and 80 underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The intervention group included 39 patients with ALND and 51 patients with SLNB, while the control group included 30 patients with ALND and 29 patients with SLNB. Arm girth, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and grip strength were measured before surgery and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Self-reported questionnaires, the Subjective Perception of Post-Operative Functional Impairment of the Arm (SPOFIA) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), were administered at the same time points. Among the variables examined, only SPOFIA and grip strength were significantly improved in the intervention group with ALND. In contrast, the perioperative educational program caused no significant improvement for the patients who underwent the surgery with SLNB. Thus, the present program improves the postoperative upper arm function and discomfort in breast cancer patients who undergo surgery with ALND.

Management of Intractable Upper Extremity Pain With Continuous Subarachnoid Block at the Low Cervical Level Without Impairment of Upper Extremity Function

We present a case of continuous subarachnoid block for the treatment of refractory cancer pain in the shoulder and upper extremity on the right side of the patient. The catheter tip was placed in the subarachnoid space close to the nerve roots on the right side at the height of C5 corresponding to the painful region. Until the patient died, his pain was controlled with infusions of bupivacaine (30-58.7 mg/d) and morphine (2-19.6 mg/d) for 120 days during which upper extremity function was not disturbed and respiratory function and performance status were improved. This case suggests continuous subarachnoid block at the low cervical level is useful for refractory cancer pain in the shoulder and upper extremity.

Serratus Anterior Transposition Muscle Flaps for Bronchial Coverage: Technique and Functional Outcomes

Because of its consistent anatomy, long vascular pedicle, malleability, low complication rate, and low donor site morbidity, we prefer serratus anterior transposition muscle flaps for prophylactic coverage of irradiated bronchi and treatment of bronchopleural fistulas. Our surgical technique is described, and our outcomes are discussed. Serratus anterior transposition muscle flaps can be performed with minimal morbidity and minimal impairment of upper extremity function.

Microvascular reconstructions after extensive soft tissue sarcoma resections in the upper limb

Aims Limb-sparing surgery combined with radiotherapy (RT) is the basis of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of microvascular reconstruction after extensive tumour resections in the upper extremity. Methods Twenty patients with STS of the upper extremity were treated with excision and microvascular reconstruction. RT was administered if surgical margins were less than 25 mm. Results were evaluated retrospectively. Results Twenty free flaps were performed and no flaps were lost. There was no operative mortality, and wound complication rate was 15%. Median follow-up length was 74 months. Five-year local recurrence-free survival was 57%, metastasis-free survival 67%, disease-free survival 45% and disease-specific overall survival 80%. Ten patients had no or only mild impairment of upper extremity function, seven had impaired function affecting daily life, and three patients underwent amputation. For patients treated with curative intent, limb salvage rate was 94%. Conclusions Free flaps are useful and reliable in the treatment of patients with STS of the upper extremity. Without microvascular reconstruction limb salvage would have been impossible in these patients. Oncological outcome is comparable to other extremity STS patients and upper extremity function is acceptable.

Nervale und muskuläre Ersatzoperationen zur Wiederherstellung der gelähmten Ellenbogenfunktion

Paralysis of elbow flexion or extension leads to major impairment of upper extremity function. Surgical reconstruction can be achieved using several procedures. If the time interval since the nerve injury is short, anatomic reconstruction by means of nerve suture or nerve transplantation should be attempted. Alternatively, nerve transposition is possible. If more than 12-18 months have elapsed, reinnervation of arm muscles can no longer be expected. In this case, muscle transposition is helpful. Restoring flexion is predominantly required following brachial plexus injury, when the function of the biceps, brachioradialis and brachialis muscles are lost. As donor muscles the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major and triceps brachii can be used, alternatively a transfer of the flexor-pronator muscles of the forearm is possible. Latissimus dorsi transfer to reconstruct elbow flexion is also indicated in defects of the anterior upper arm muscle compartiment due to trauma, ischemia, or tumor. Patients with proximal radial nerve lesions may benefit from latissimus transfer to reachieve elbow flexion extension. In tetraplegic patients, elbow extension is restored mainly by transfer of the posterior deltoid muscle extended with a tendon graft, or by means of a biceps-to-triceps transfer.

Upper extremity impairment in workers performing repetitive tasks.

A series of subjective and objective measures were chosen to determine impairment of upper extremity function in 157 workers performing repetitive tasks. Workers were asked to respond to questions regarding their perception of the presence or absence of numbness, pain, weakness, or swelling in their upper extremities. Objective tests consisted of the measurement of grip strength, pinch strength, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament sensory responses, vibrometer responses, neurometer measurement, and the presence or absence of Tinel's or Phalen's signs. These measures were considered collectively to estimate the overall levels of impairment of each individual. Overall findings show that 55 percent of workers examined had impairment scores of 2 or more and 75 percent had scores of 1 or more. Significant differences were found in impairment ratings between job types. Those jobs requiring the highest repetition with the least rest per cycle had the highest impairment ratings. Workers that rotated jobs had impairment scores significantly less (p less than 0.005) than the average of workers performing single-task jobs. We conclude that cumulative trauma disorders are more prevalent than originally believed and that the disorder is best examined from an overall functional impairment perspective.