Physical therapy modalities in the rehabilitation of cats (Felis catus) with neurological and orthopedic conditions

ABSTRACT: This retrospective study described the therapeutic modalities used for the rehabilitation of cats with neurological and orthopedic diseases and provided data regarding the number of sessions, frequency, and treatment duration; the study also evaluated the modality acceptance by this species. Twenty cats were selected, 11 with neurological diseases and nine with orthopedic conditions. Acute spinal cord trauma and femoral fracture were the most frequently observed neurological (72.7%) and orthopedic (44.4%) conditions, respectively. Manual therapies comprised of passive stretching (PS), passive range of motion (PROM), and bicycle movement (BM) exercises were included in all the protocols.Therapeutic modality acceptance was positive for physical agents, thermotherapy, and hydrotherapy (100%);in manual therapies, it was positive in 40% and partially positive in 60% of cats; in kinesiotherapy, it was positive for all the assisted active exercises and negative for the active exercises. The number of physical therapy sessions significantly influenced the positive acceptance of PS (P < 0.05). The PS, PROM, and BM exercises were the most commonly used modalities; the number of physiotherapy sessions and duration of treatment were higher in cats with neurological diseases, and acceptance was positive in most therapeutic modalities.

Potential neuroprotective therapies in traumatic acute spinal injury: an integrative review

Introduction: Acute traumatic spinal cord injury is a complex injury affecting the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, vertebrae, joints, innervation and local vasculature, resulting in high mortality, physical dependence, stress, financial losses, lifelong risk of medical complications and reduced longevity. The complexity of the clinical repercussions of acute spinal cord trauma (SCI) makes early interventions necessary to ensure better prognosis. Emerging therapies with neuroprotective agents emerge 1,2,3 Methodology: For the integrative literature review, the PubMed databases were used, Scielo, Google Scholar, Cochrane and the descriptors “spinal injury”; “spinal cord trauma”; “neuroprotective” and “drug therapy”. Results: Therapies with corticosteroids, ion channel blockers, agonists and antagonists of neurotransmitters, cellular and genetic agents, vitamin D, progesterone, erythropoietin and caspase inhibitors demonstrated different neuroprotective effects involving reduction of secondary spinal cord injury and acceleration of neuronal recovery. in uneven research phases. Conclusion: It is concluded that preclinical studies with neuroprotectors as a potential treatment for TRM are promising, however, not all of them evolve into clinical trials, which limits the application of these therapies in humans. Therefore, it is necessary to improve research and clinical trials related to the use of neuroprotective agents in the management of traumatic acute spinal cord injury.

Acute Spinal Cord Compression, Spinal Cord Trauma, and Peripheral Neural Injury

Acute spinal cord compression with myelopathy is a neurologic emergency. Recognition of spinal cord compression, timely imaging, and treatment are important to restore and preserve neurologic function. This chapter reviews the causes and clinical approach to spinal cord compression. Traumatic and nontraumatic causes of spinal cord compression are addressed together because of their overlapping symptoms and management. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of peripheral nerve injury.

Impact of dental care on the oral health of in patients with trauma sequelae

This study aims to assess oral health before and after dental care to adult patients restricted to bed with trauma sequelae, admitted to the Instituto Doutor José Frota (IJF) hospital, located in the city of Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará. This is a longitudinal study with adult patients with motor and cognitive disabilities, diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma, and exogenous intoxication. We evaluated 39 patients, using the World Health Organization (WHO) dental caries index and Bedside oral exam (BOE) before and after dental care. After two dental consultations, there was a reduction of 46% of decayed teeth, poor oral health decreased by 11% and 29.6% of the BOE index, and good oral health increased by 57%. Although dental care in bed is challenging, it has proved effective, improving the health of the oral mucosa, perioral and dental surfaces and, consequently, reducing the likelihood of changes in oral health.

The Knowledge of Emergency Medical Technicians of Prehospital Care Intensity Index of Spinal Cord Trauma in Ilam Province, Iran

Background: The knowledge of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) plays a crucial role in the outcomes of traumatic patients. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of EMTs about the prehospital care intensity index of spinal cord trauma in Ilam Province, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 98 EMTs chosen by the census sampling method. The study data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire on the prehospital care intensity index of spinal cord trauma and were analyzed with SPSS 16. Results: The knowledge of the prehospital care intensity index of spinal cord trauma was at the advanced level in 87.7% of EMTs and the intermediate level in 15.3% of EMTs. There was a significant relationship between the technician’s knowledge score and variables such as age, work record, overtime hours, and the number of missions (P˂0.05). Conclusion: EMTs needed more specialized information on spinal trauma. It was recommended to hold in-service training programs more precisely and consider the training of necessary skills that most EMTs require.

Management of patients with spinal cord trauma in the hospital environment and life quality

Background: Spinal cord trauma has a negative prognosis, with low life quality. Management procedures increase chances of survival and a better life quality. Objectives: Review in the scientific literature which treatments are recommended to spinal cord trauma in the hospital and how it affects life quality. Methods: A literature review was carried out in the MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and LILACS databases, using the terms “spinal trauma”, “recovery”, “patient management”, “accessibility” and “life quality”, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. 87 articles were found and 15 followed for complete analysis. This exclusion criteria were used: (a) articles published before 2015; (b) articles that did not fit the proposed theme. Results: At the hospital, treatment to spinal cord trauma is supportive, reducing secondary damage. Respiratory disorders are treated with intubation. Management of the respiratory tract should also include physiotherapy of the pectoral region, secretion clearance, mucolytic and bronchodilators. High-risk patients may need tracheostomy. The more complex the injury and the higher the level, the more aggressive the neurogenic shock. The first treatment should be fluid resuscitation, to maintain euvolemia. The second, vasopressors and inotropes. MAP should be above 85-90 mmHg during the first week to avoid neurological damage. Conclusions: The treatments are extremely important, but the prognosis is usually negative, given the limitations that reduce the life quality of these people, who suffer from a lack of accessibility.

Application of Principal Component Analysis in the estimation of potential factors associated with the prevalence of deaths in cases of spinal cord trauma

Background: In Brazil, the mortality indicators for spinal cord trauma (SCT) are poorly known. Therefore, identifyng potential risk factors for death due to SCI is fundamental for preventive actions which suits each country region’s specificities. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study (Parecer no. 1.451.493), with the analysis of 786 medical records of SCT cases hospitalized between 2010 and 2015 at a reference hospital in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Methods: We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to estimate potential factors that contribute to the SCT, the following factors were analyzed: intervention (conservative/surgical), hospitalization period ( one week), vertebral segment affected (cervical or not), treatment cost ( 1 minimum wage), management (multiprofessional or not), distance to care, sequels, age and gender. Data analysis was performed using R. Results: The type of management and intervention and patients’ age were factors that most influenced (~20%) the outcome (death/survival). However, this indicates that ~ 80% of the outcome’s variability is due to other factors. Conclusions: PCA is useful to indicate potential factors to be considered as influencing the prevalence of death in SCT cases. The use of these data in discriminatory analyzes, hereafter, can help to clarify this topic.