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  • Computer-assisted robotic device for upper limb interventions for a patient with an incomplete cervical level spinal cord injury

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Case Reports: Novel treatment (new drug/interventions; established drug/procedure in new situation)
Computer-assisted robotic device for upper limb interventions for a patient with an incomplete cervical level spinal cord injury
  1. Lynette Mackenzie1,
  2. Emma Tan2 and
  3. Lisa Benad2
  1. 1The University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2Occupational Therapy Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Lynette Mackenzie; Lynette.Mackenzie{at}sydney.edu.au

Abstract

A man in his 50s with an incomplete cervical spinal cord injury underwent a 3-week occupational therapy programme using a computer-assisted robotic device for the upper limbs (Diego) in an acute care spinal injury unit. The patient and their partner reported their experience. Range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, pain, fatigue, independence and occupational performance are reported. Improvements occurred in upper limb ROM (shoulder and elbow), muscle strength (right elbow extensors), fatigue and functional status. Whether the results in this patient with the Diego were the same or better than standard care could not be determined. Preliminary findings suggest that the Diego was feasible for rehabilitation in an acute setting in our patient. However, it may not be suitable for all patients and a large comparative study with other therapies is needed. A limitation in the use of the Diego relates to the initial cost of the device ($A150 000).

  • Spinal cord
  • Rehabilitation medicine

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-253570

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @mac_lynette

    • Contributors LM designed the study, analysed the data, wrote the draft manuscript and submitted the manuscript. ET designed the study, conducted the clinical sessions, collected the data, analysed the data and contributed to the draft manuscript. LB designed the study, conducted the clinical sessions, collected the data, analysed the data and contributed to the draft manuscript. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: ET, LB and LM.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.