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Introduction: French Public Health Insurance gathers health, demographic and economic data based on codes from the 10th version of the international classification of diseases (ICD-10), specific nomenclature for each health-care (medical or surgical) procedures, medical expenses and justifications for full coverage of medical care. We aimed to build an algorithm that could identify the French population of people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) relying on public health insurance metadata., Material and Methods: The SNDS (in French, Système National des Données de Santé) was searched for the time-period 2012-2019, looking for: full-coverage motives, ICD-10 codes, and health-therapeutic procedures specific of our population of interest. We built a step-by-step algorithm that identified i)including codes, ii)excluding codes, iii)codes needing confirmation. A group of 3 physicians recognized as experts in this field contributed with data scientists to the selection of pertinent codes and their association. Including codes were ALD-20 (full-coverage 'paraplegia', in French, Affection de Longue Durée), G114 (spastic paraplegia), Q05.x (spina bifida), spinal cord trauma (S14.x; S24.x), vascular myelopathy (G951), degenerative myelopathies (M47.x). Autoimmune, other disabling neurological diseases with a specific ICD code, and oncologic patients were excluded. Neurological symptoms (G82.x) needed confirmation. We identified 6 categories of SCI regarding their etiology, based on ICD-10 code combinations (congenital, genetic, tumoral, traumatic, acquired and symptomatic) Finally antibiotics consumption and hospitalizations of persons identified as SCI were compared to a control sample from overall population (with a 1:5 ratio)., Results: Among almost 245 000 persons with putative SCI, we identified 133 849 living individuals with SCI aged>16 (55.8% men, age 57 yo [44;70]) by 2019. Confirmed traumatic SCI were 21 459 (67% were men, age 53 yo [39;67]), acquired non-traumatic were the most frequent (n=62 561, 46.7%). SCI consumed 1.5 to 3-times more antibiotics and were 4-fold more hospitalized than controls. Also, when hospitalized, they remained twice longer in rehabilitation facilities and 3-times longer in acute care., Conclusion: Using multiple code entries, our algorithm allowed an exhaustive identification of the French adult SCI population, with an updated epidemiology. This innovative method opens the field for large-scale studies regarding medical history of persons living with SCI by the prism of medical expenses and habits., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Commercial gaming systems are increasingly being used for stroke rehabilitation; however, their effect on upper-limb recovery versus compensation is unknown., Objectives: We aimed to compare the effect of upper-limb rehabilitation using interactive gaming (Nintendo Wii) with dose-matched conventional therapy on elbow extension (recovery) and forward trunk motion (compensation) in individuals with chronic stroke. Secondary aims were to compare the effect on (1) clinical tests of impairment and activity, pain and effort, and (2) trajectory kinematics. We also explored arm and trunk motion (acceleration) during Wii sessions to understand how participants performed movements during Wii gaming., Methods: This single-centre, randomized controlled trial compared 12 hourly sessions over 4 weeks of upper-limb Wii therapy to conventional therapy. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and 4 weeks. The change in elbow extension and trunk motion during a reaching task was evaluated by electromagnetic sensors. Secondary outcomes were change in Fugl-Meyer assessment, Box and Block test, Action Research Arm Test, Motor Activity Log, and Stroke Impact Scale scores. Arm and trunk acceleration during Wii therapy was evaluated by using inertial sensors. A healthy control group was included for reference data., Results: Nineteen participants completed Wii therapy and 21 conventional therapy (mean [SD] time post-stroke 66.4 [57.2] months). The intervention and control groups did not differ in mean change in elbow extension angle (Wii: +4.5°, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1; 9.1; conventional therapy: +6.4°, 95%CI 0.6; 12.2) and forward trunk position (Wii: -3.3 cm, 95%CI -6.2;-0.4]; conventional therapy: -4.1 cm, 95%CI -6.6; -1.6) (effect size: elbow, d = 0.16, p = 0.61; trunk, d = 0.13, p = 0.65). Clinical scores improved similarly but to a small extent in both groups. The amount of arm but not trunk acceleration produced during Wii sessions increased with training., Conclusions: Supervised upper-limb gaming therapy induced similar recovery of elbow extension as conventional therapy and did not enhance the development of compensatory forward trunk movement in individuals with chronic stroke. More sessions may be necessary to induce greater improvements., Clinicaltrials: GOV: NCT01806883., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Botulinum toxin injection (BTI) reduces muscle hyperactivity, but its effect on active upper-limb function is limited. Intensive rehabilitation could optimize the effects; however, outpatient post-stroke rehabilitation is usually not intensive. One solution could be self-rehabilitation., Objectives: The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effect of a self-rehabilitation program combined with BTI on upper-limb function in individuals with chronic hemiparesis., Methods: In total, 33 outpatients were randomly allocated to receive BTI+self-rehabilitation (R group: n=17) or BTI alone (C group: n=16). Outcomes evaluated just before the BTI and 4 weeks later included the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT time: primary outcome), Action Research Arm Test, fatigue and quality of life., Results: Change in WMFT did not differ between groups at 4 weeks (WMFT time: -14% for R group, -4% for C group. WFMT score: +12% for R group, 0% in C group). WFMT time and score improved significantly in the R group only (-14%, P=0.01, and +12%, P=0.02). In addition, the proportion of patients with improved WMFT time and score was higher in the R than C group (R group: 71% improved score, 77% improved time; C group: 43% improved score, 50% improved time). Also, passive range of shoulder flexion (P=0.03) and wrist extension (P=0.01) improved only in the R group. No other variables changed significantly. Compliance was excellent; average daily training time was greater than that prescribed., Conclusions: The addition of a self-rehabilitation program to BTI did not significantly improve functional outcomes more than BTI alone; however, movement quality and speed improved only in the self-rehabilitation group. Participants in the self-rehabilitation group trained more than they were asked to, which suggests that they found the program worthwhile. These clinically relevant findings justify larger-scale studies of the effects of self-rehabilitation to enhance the effects of BTI., Clinical Trial: NCT02699762., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lower-limb spasticity can impair ambulation and gait, impacting quality of life., Objectives: This ancillary analysis of the TOWER study (NCT01603459) assessed the efficacy of incobotulinumtoxinA for lower-limb post-stroke spasticity including pes equinovarus., Methods: Participants received escalating incobotulinumtoxinA doses (400-800U) across 3 injection cycles. Changes were compared for those treated in the lower limb (with/without upper-limb treatment) or the upper limb only or for participants treated or untreated for pes equinovarus. Outcome measures were those used in the seminal study: resistance to passive movement scale (REPAS), Ashworth Scale (AS), functional ambulation and lower-limb goal attainment., Results: Among 132/155 (85%) participants with post-stroke spasticity, in cycles 1, 2 and 3, 99, 119 and 121 participants received lower-limb treatment with mean (SD) total limb incobotulinumtoxinA doses of 189.2 (99.2), 257.1 (115.0) and 321.3 (129.2) U, respectively. Of these, 80, 105 and 107, respectively, were treated for pes equinovarus. The mean (SD) improvement in REPAS lower-limb score was greater with treatment in the lower limb versus the upper limb only: -1.6 (2.1) versus-0.4 (1.4); -1.9 (1.9) versus -0.6 (1.6); -2.2 (2.2) versus -1.0 (0.0) (P=0.0005, P=0.0133 and P=0.3581; analysis of covariance [ANCOVA], between-group differences) in cycles 1, 2 and 3, respectively. For all cycles, the mean improvement in ankle joint AS score from injection to 4 weeks post-treatment was greater for participants treated versus not treated for pes equinovarus, with a significant between-group difference in cycle 1 (P=0.0099; ANCOVA). At the end of cycle 3, 42% of participants walked independently and 63% achieved 2 of 2 lower-limb treatment goals (baseline 23% and 34%, respectively)., Conclusions: This study supports the efficacy of incobotulinumtoxinA for treatment of pes equinovarus and other patterns of lower-limb post-stroke spasticity., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Spasticity causes significant long-term disability-burden, requiring comprehensive management. This review evaluates evidence from published systematic reviews of clinical trials for effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for improved spasticity outcomes., Methods: Data sources: a literature search was conducted using medical and health science electronic (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library) databases for published systematic reviews up to 15th June 2017., Data Extraction and Synthesis: two reviewers applied inclusion criteria to select potential systematic reviews, independently extracted data for methodological quality using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). Quality of evidence was critically appraised with Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE)., Results: Overall 18 systematic reviews were evaluated for evidence for a range of non-pharmacological interventions currently used in managing spasticity in various neurological conditions. There is "moderate" evidence for electro-neuromuscular stimulation and acupuncture as an adjunct therapy to conventional routine care (pharmacological and rehabilitation) in persons following stroke. "Low" quality evidence for rehabilitation programs targeting spasticity (such as induced movement therapy, stretching, dynamic elbow-splinting, occupational therapy) in stroke and other neurological conditions; extracorporeal shock-wave therapy in brain injury; transcranial direct current stimulation in stroke; transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for other neurological conditions; physical activity programs and repetitive magnetic stimulation in persons with MS, vibration therapy for SCI and stretching for other neurological condition. For other interventions, evidence was inconclusive., Conclusions: Despite the available range of non-pharmacological interventions for spasticity, there is lack of high-quality evidence for many modalities. Further research is needed to judge the effect with appropriate study designs, timing and intensity of modalities, and associate costs of these interventions., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Spasticity following lesions of the central nervous system such as stroke is a major cause of impairment and disability, especially when it affects the upper limb, and can be focally relieved by intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin (BT). Functional improvements of the affected upper limb after a BT focal treatment remain controversial., Objective: We aimed to assess the functional effects of BT treatment on upper-limb spasticity in the literature, identify flaws and deficiencies in proving these effects and propose leads for future trials., Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and Cochrane databases for trials, reviews and meta-analyses assessing the effect of BT injection in upper-limb spasticity. This was a non-systematic narrative review, and the selection of articles was based on the authors' expertise. The review focused on stroke-related spasticity and disability., Results: Patients' therapeutic targets involved use of the disability assessment scale (DAS) or goal attainment scale (GAS). Impairments and passive function goals prevailed for active function and participation and were more frequently achieved for the former than the latter. Meta-analyses showed no to mild effect sizes for improvement in upper-limb function but failed to show higher and/or better use of the paretic upper limb in activities of daily living after BT injection., Conclusion: BT injections for impairment and passive function are related to improved kinematic parameters; however, the relation between relief of spasticity and improved upper-limb activity has not been established. Possible explanations for the lack of functional effect in studies are first, disability is mainly due to muscle weakness rather than spasticity, so patients with the best underlying motricity may benefit the most from BT injections; second, assessment methods may not be adapted to screen eligible patients; third, most studies' endpoints were at 4 to 12 weeks after a single injection, but repeated treatment sessions might be needed to observe functional outcome on the upper limbs; and finally, the association of rehabilitation programs or non-pharmacological treatments may enhance the functional effects of BT injections., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)