Article

OBJECTIVE: To identify functional outcomes that could justify the need for a
rehabilitation care program for patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord
compression (MESCC) and paraplegia. DATA SOURCES: Publications from 1950 to
January 2010 selected from 3 databases. STUDY SELECTION: Original articles
dealing with outcome data for functional status, pain, and bladder dysfunction.
DATA EXTRACTION: Standardized reading grid. DATA SYNTHESIS: The data are
dominated by retrospective studies for even functional-related data, and studies
from rehabilitation teams are rare. They report a functional evolution similar to
a population with traumatic spinal cord injury for the first 3 months. Patients
who were ambulatory before treatment retained their ability to walk, and patients
who were nonambulatory before treatment could regain gait abilities. Data also
showed a positive impact on pain and bladder and/or bowel dysfunction.
CONCLUSIONS: By restricting physical medicine and rehabilitation therapeutic care
to a short time (1-2mo), the progression margin is possible in the short term and
implies a voluntary and active therapeutic care approach for patients with
paraplegia after MESCC on the basis of a codified and standardized program with
clinical indicators, as well as patients' comfort indicators.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS