Lance L. Goetz

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury: Clinical evaluation and rehabilitative management

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is one of many impairments that result from spinal cord injury (SCI). The experience of persons with SCI reveals that the risk and occurrence of fecal incontinence and difficulty with evacuation are particularly significant life-limiting problems. This review relates the anatomy and physiology of colon function to the specific pathophysiology that detracts from the quality of life of persons after SCI. There are two patterns of NBD after SCI: the upper motor neuron bowel, which results from a spinal cord lesion above the sacral level, and the lower motor neuron bowel, which results from a lesion to the sacral spinal cord, roots, or peripheral nerve innervation of the colon. Rehabilitation evaluation consists of a comprehensive history and examination to define impairments, disabilities, and handicaps pertinent to NBD. Rehabilitation goals include continence of stool, simple willful independent defecation, and prevention of gastrointestinal complications. Intervention consists of derivation and implementation of an individualized person-centered bowel program, which may include diet, oral/rectal medications, equipment, and scheduling of bowel care. Bowel care is a procedure devised to initiate defecation and accomplish fecal evacuation. Digital-rectal stimulation is a technique utilized during bowel care to open the anal sphincter and facilitate reflex peristalsis. Recent advances in rehabilitation practices, equipment, pharmacology, and surgery have offered patients new bowel program alternatives. Interdisciplinary development of solutions for problems of NBD are evolving rapidly.

Effectiveness of Supported Employment for Veterans With Spinal Cord Injuries: Results From a Randomized Multisite Study

OBJECTIVE To examine whether supported employment (SE) is more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) in returning veterans to competitive employment after spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled, multisite trial of SE versus TAU for vocational issues with 12 months of follow-up data. SETTING SCI centers in the Veterans Health Administration. PARTICIPANTS Subjects (N=201) were enrolled and completed baseline interviews. In interventional sites, subjects were randomly assigned to the SE condition (n=81) or the TAU condition (treatment as usual-interventional site [TAU-IS], n=76). In observational sites where the SE program was not available, 44 subjects were enrolled in a nonrandomized TAU condition (treatment as usual-observational site [TAU-OS]). INTERVENTIONS The intervention consisted of an SE vocational rehabilitation program called the Spinal Cord Injury Vocational Integration Program, which adhered as closely as possible to principles of SE as developed and described in the individual placement and support model of SE for persons with mental illness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary study outcome measurement was competitive employment in the community. RESULTS Subjects in the SE group were 2.5 times more likely than the TAU-IS group and 11.4 times more likely than the TAU-OS group to obtain competitive employment. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and only controlled study of a specific vocational rehabilitation program to report improved employment outcomes for persons with SCI. SE, a well-prescribed method of integrated vocational care, was superior to usual practices in improving employment outcomes for veterans with SCI.

Methods of a multisite randomized clinical trial of supported employment among veterans with spinal cord injury

This article compares the methods of a randomized multisite clinical trial of evidence-based supported employment with conventional vocational rehabilitation among veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). The primary hypothesis is that, compared with conventional vocational rehabilitation (i.e., standard care), evidence-based supported employment will significantly improve competitive employment outcomes and general rehabilitation outcomes. The secondary hypothesis is that evidence-based supported employment in SCI will be more cost-effective than standard care. The current article describes the clinical trial and presents baseline data. The present sample includes 301 veterans with SCI, which includes paraplegia (50%), high tetraplegia (32%), and low tetraplegia (18%). Baseline data indicate that 65% of this sample of employment-seeking veterans with SCI had never been employed postinjury, despite the fact that nearly half (41%) had received some type of prior vocational rehabilitation. These rates of unemployment for veterans with SCI are consistent with the rates reported for community samples of persons with SCI. Forthcoming outcome data will provide much needed insights into the best practices for helping these veterans restore vocational goals and improve overall quality of life.

Synchronous stimulation and monitoring of soleus H reflex during robotic body weight-supported ambulation in subjects with spinal cord injury.

We evaluated the accuracy of a novel method for recording the soleus H reflex at specific points in the gait cycle during robotic locomotor training in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI). Hip goniometric information from the Lokomat system defined midstance and midswing points within the gait cycle. Soleus H reflex stimulation was synchronized to these points during robotic-assisted ambulation at 1.8 and 2.5 km/h. Motor stimulus intensity was monitored and adjusted in real time. Analysis of 50 H reflex cycles during each speed and gait phase showed that stimulation accuracy was within 0.5 degrees of the defined hip joint position and that >85% of the H reflex cycles met the +/-10% M wave criterion that was established during quiet standing. This method allows increased consistency of afferent information into the segmental spinal and supraspinal circuitry and, thus, evaluation of H reflex characteristics during robotic ambulation in subjects with SCI.

Implementation of clinical practice guidelines for prevention of thromboembolism in spinal cord injury.

Abstract Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether publication of the “Prevention of Thromboembolism in Spinal Cord Injury” clinical practice guideline (CPG) changed patient management and whether adherence to CPG recommendations improved after a targeted implementation strategy. Methods: Data were abstracted from medical records of 1 34 and 520 patients with acute and chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), respectively, from 6 Veterans Affairs medical centers over 3 time periods: prepublication (T1 ), pre implementation (T2), and postimplementation (T3) of the CPG. Targeted interventions were developed to address provider-perceived barriers to guideline adherence, based on findings from focus groups conducted at each site. The interventions incorporated two implementation strategies: standardized documentation templates/standing orders and social marketing /outreach visits. Results: Use of the specified duration for pharmacologic prophylaxis increased from 60% to 65% to 75% of patients with acute SCI in T1, T2, and T3, respectively (P = 0.060 and 0.041 for T1 vs T2 and T2 vs T3, respectively). Rates of use for individual pharmacologic prophylaxis agents changed significantly over the course of the study, with use of low-molecular-weight heparin increasing from 7% in T1 to 42% in T3. Physical assessments for thrombosis on hospitalization days 1 and 30 improved between T2 and T3. Use of prophylaxis in chronically injured patients with new risk factors for thromboembolism increased from 16% to 31% to 34% during T1, T2, and T3 (P = 0.001 and 0.87, respectively). Conclusions: The CPG publication had only a modest effect on practice. Use of structured implementation further increased the adherence to some CPG recommendations for thromboembolism prophylaxis. Similar implementation strategies should be considered for CPG recommendations with low adherence and high potential for morbidity and mortality.

A comparison of patient outcomes and quality of life in persons with neurogenic bowel: standard bowel care program vs colostomy.

Abstract Background/Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare patient outcomes and quality of life for people with neurogenic bowel using either a standard bowel care program or colostomy. Methods: We analyzed survey data from a national sample, comparing outcomes between veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) who perform bowel care programs vs individuals with colostomies. This study is part of a larger study to evaluate clinical practice guideline implementation in SCI. The sample included 1,503 veterans with SCI. The response rate was 58.4%. For comparison, we matched the respondents with colostomies to matched controls from the remainder of the survey cohort. A total of 74 veterans with SCI and colostomies were matched with 296 controls, using propensity scores. Seven items were designed to elicit information about the respondents satisfaction with their bowel care program, whereas 7 other items were designed to measure bowel-related quality of life. Results: No statistically significant differences in satisfaction or quality of life were found between the responses from veterans with colostomies and those with traditional bowel care programs. Both respondents with colostomies and those without colostomies indicated that they had received training for their bowel care program, that they experienced relatively few complications, such as falls as a result of their bowel care program, and that their quality of life related to bowel care was generally good. However, large numbers of respondents with colostomies (n = 39; 55.7%) and without colostomies (n = 113; 41.7%) reported that they were very unsatisfied with their bowel care program. Conclusion: Satisfaction with bowel care is a major problem for veterans with SCI.

Effectiveness of Supported Employment for Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury: 2-Year Results

OBJECTIVE To examine if supported employment (SE) remains more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) in returning veterans to competitive employment after spinal cord injury (SCI) at 2-year follow-up. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled, multisite trial of SE versus TAU with 24 months of follow-up. SETTING SCI centers. PARTICIPANTS Subjects (N=201) were enrolled and completed baseline interviews. At interventional sites, subjects were randomized to SE (n=81) or TAU (n=76). At observational sites, 44 subjects were enrolled in a nonrandomized TAU condition. INTERVENTION The intervention was a SE program called the SCI Vocational Integration Program, which followed the principles of the individual placement and support model of SE for persons with mental illness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Competitive employment in the community within 2 years. RESULTS For the entire 2-year follow-up period, SE subjects were significantly more likely to achieve employment (30.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21.8-41.6) than either the TAU subjects at the intervention sites (10.5%; 95% CI, 5.2-19.7; P<.001) or the TAU subjects at the observational sites (2.3%; 95% CI, 0.0-12.9; P<.002). Most subjects who obtained competitive employment did so in year 1, and the average time to first employment was about 17 weeks. CONCLUSIONS SE was better than usual practices in improving employment outcomes for veterans with SCI across a 2-year follow-up period. Although SE continued to be superior to traditional practices over the entire study, the first year of participation in SE may represent a critical window for achieving employment after SCI.

Occurrence of candiduria in a population of chronically catheterized patients with spinal cord injury

Study design:Prospective data collection.Objectives:To evaluate occurrence and characteristics of candiduria in a population of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic catheter usage. Candiduria, or presence of Candida species in the urine, is a common clinical problem. It is most frequently seen in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Many patients have these catheters in place chronically. Previous studies have shown that despite therapy, most patients with candiduria will develop the infection again and that complications such as invasive candidiasis are rare. However, there are no studies that specifically examine the role of candiduria in patients with SCI and long-term catheter use.Setting:Inpatients and outpatients in a US Veterans Affairs spinal cord injury center.Methods:Urinalysis, culture, patient demographic and clinical characteristics through chart review.Results:Of 100 total patients, 52 had paraplegia, 45 tetraplegia and 3 MS. Overall, 17 (17%) patients had candiduria, which was observed in urine culture. Antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk of developing candiduria. Indwelling catheter (urethral or suprapubic) usage was also significantly associated with candiduria; only one person on intermittent catheterization developed candiduria, which was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes.Conclusions:Antibiotic usage and indwelling catheterization were associated with candiduria. No participant in our study population developed invasive candidiasis, and persistence of candiduria was not frequent.

Strategies for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

In this article, the problem of urinary tract infections (UTIs) after spinal cord injury and disorders is defined, the relationship of bladder management to UTIs is discussed, and mechanical and medical strategies for UTI prevention in spinal cord injury and disorders are described.

Vocational Rehabilitation in Spinal Cord Injury: What Vocational Service Activities Are Associated with Employment Program Outcome?

BACKGROUND Designing effective vocational programs for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) is essential for improving return to work outcome following injury. The relationship between specific vocational services and positive employment outcome has not been empirically studied. OBJECTIVE To examine the association of specific vocational service activities as predictors of employment. METHOD Secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled trial of evidence-based supported employment (EBSE) with 12-month follow-up data among 81 Veteran participants with SCI. RESULTS Primary activities recorded were vocational counseling (23.9%) and vocational case management (23.8%). As expected, job development and employment supports were the most time-consuming activities per appointment. Though the amount of time spent in weekly appointments did not differ by employment outcome, participants obtaining competitive employment averaged significantly more individual activities per appointment. Further, for these participants, job development or placement and employment follow-along or supports were more likely to occur and vocational counseling was less likely to occur. Community-based employment services, including job development or placement and employment follow-along or supports as part of a supported employment model, were associated with competitive employment outcomes. Office-based vocational counseling services, which are common to general models of vocational rehabilitation, were associated with a lack of employment. CONCLUSIONS Vocational services that actively engage Veterans with SCI in job seeking and acquisition and that provide on-the-job support are more likely to lead to employment than general vocational counseling that involves only job preparation.