Temporal dynamics of gait function in acute cervical spinal cord injury

• Published in: BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2024-06, Vol.25 (1), p.430-430
• Main Authors: Okayasu, Hiroki, Hayashi, Tetsuo, Yokota, Kazuya, Kawano, Osamu, Sakai, Hiroaki, Morishita, Yuichiro, Masuda, Muneaki, Kubota, Kensuke, Ito, Hiroshi, Maeda, Takeshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Adult; Aged; Analysis; Cervical Cord - injuries; Cervical Cord - physiopathology; Cervical spinal cord injury; Cervical Vertebrae - injuries; Cervical Vertebrae - physiopathology; Clinical trials; Female; Gait; Gait - physiology; Gait function; Humans; Male; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Middle Aged; Muscle strength; Paralysis; Patients; Recovery of Function; Rehabilitation; Retrospective Studies; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Statistical analysis; Time course; Time Factors; Validity; Walking; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2474; 1471-2474
• DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07551-6

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), gait function reaches a post-recovery plateau that depends on the paralysis severity. However, the plateau dynamics during the recovery period are not known. This study aimed to examine the gait function temporal dynamics after traumatic cervical SCI (CSCI) based on paralysis severity. This retrospective cohort study included 122 patients with traumatic CSCI admitted to a single specialized facility within 2 weeks after injury. The Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II) was estimated at 2 weeks and 2, 4, 6, and 8 months postinjury for each American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade, as determined 2 weeks postinjury. Statistical analysis was performed at 2 weeks to 2 months, 2-4 months, 4-6 months, and 6-8 months, and the time at which no significant difference was observed was considered the time at which the gait function reached a plateau. In the AIS grade A and B groups, no significant differences were observed at any time point, while in the AIS grade C group, the mean WISCI II values continued to significantly increase up to 6 months. In the AIS grade D group, the improvement in gait function was significant during the entire observation period. The plateau in gait function recovery was reached at 2 weeks postinjury in the AIS grade A and B groups and at 6 months in the AIS grade C group.