Difficulty of Returning to Work After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report

Astrina Nur Bahrun, Andriati

2017

Abstract

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has devastating consequences for the physical, social and vocational well-being of patients. Sensoric and motoric damage may disrupt the bowel and bladder. Objective: To report the rehabilitation of a burst fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebra caused by spinal cord injury. Case description: A 54-year-old man became paraplegic after a fall from about 2 meters’ height when he stood on a brittle wooden plank, falling into a sitting and then lying position. After the incident, his bilateral lower limbs showed decreased strength with sensory loss from L1 and below, pain at the back area VAS 3 when moving his lower extremity, but bowel and bladder were normal. He was diagnosed with T12 paraplegia AIS C due to a burst fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebra. The patient underwent Pedicel Screw & Rod (PSR) surgery. Discussion: Our rehabilitation goals were to prevent further impairment, avoid long immobilization, ambulation with or without assistive devices and return to work as a mechanic. He used a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) Flexion Extension Lateral (FEL) control for early mobilization after the surgery. He received electrical stimulation at the ankle dorsi and plantarflexor whose muscle strength was still 1 at 3 weeks after surgery, and range of motion, sensory reeducation, pain management and endurance exercises. There were improvements in muscle strength, especially in the ankle dorsiflexor (1/1 to 3/4), long toe extensor (1/1 to 1/4), and ankle plantarflexor (1/1 to 4/4). There was sensory deficit from L1 and below to L2 and below. The level of Asia impairment scale was from C to D. He didn’t use the brace anymore and managed independent ambulation without an assistive device, but still could not return to work 1 year after the surgery. The main findings were a strong conviction about the ability to work, but time was needed first, to create new routines in his daily life. The major obstacles were described as lack of education, lack of work experience, sick mindset, and perceived limitations due to the injury. Conclusion: Early rehabilitation programs and early mobilization with a brace after surgery prevent long immobilization complications. Comprehensive management including vocational rehabilitation due to his productive age and recent injury was needed.

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Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Bahrun A. and Andriati. (2017). Difficulty of Returning to Work After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report.In Proceedings of the International Meeting on Regenerative Medicine - Volume 1: IMRM, ISBN 978-989-758-334-6, pages 144-147. DOI: 10.5220/0007317501440147


in Bibtex Style

@conference{imrm17,
author={Astrina Nur Bahrun and Andriati},
title={Difficulty of Returning to Work After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Meeting on Regenerative Medicine - Volume 1: IMRM,},
year={2017},
pages={144-147},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0007317501440147},
isbn={978-989-758-334-6},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the International Meeting on Regenerative Medicine - Volume 1: IMRM,
TI - Difficulty of Returning to Work After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report
SN - 978-989-758-334-6
AU - Bahrun A.
AU - Andriati.
PY - 2017
SP - 144
EP - 147
DO - 10.5220/0007317501440147