Prognostic value of pinprick preservation in motor complete, sensory incomplete spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To assess sacral and lower-extremity pinprick preservation as prognostic indicators for ambulation in motor complete, sensory incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
Twenty-eight tertiary care centers in the United States and Canada.


METHODS
Subjects (N=131; mean age, 31.6y) with motor complete, sensory incomplete SCI.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Ambulation at 26 and 52 weeks postinjury (modified Benzel scale).


RESULTS
A higher percentage of subjects with sacral pinprick preservation at baseline were ambulating at 26 (39.4% vs 28.3%) and 52 weeks (53.6% vs 41.5%). This finding did not reach statistical significance. The presence of sacral pinprick preservation at 4 weeks postinjury was significant for predicting ambulation at 52 weeks postinjury (36.0% vs 4.4%, P =.011) and approached significance at 26 weeks (15.2% vs 0.0%, P =.056). Significant differences in ambulation rates were also observed between subjects, based on the presence of baseline lower-extremity pinprick preservation (>/=50% of lower-extremity L2-S1 dermatomes) at both 26 (50.0% vs 28.8%, P =.048) and 52 weeks (66.7% vs 40.3%, P =.023) after injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Baseline lower-extremity pinprick preservation and sacral pinprick preservation at 4 weeks postinjury are associated with an improved prognosis for ambulation.
Oleson
Christina V
CV
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. christinaoleson@msn.com
Burns
Anthony S
AS
Ditunno
John F
JF
Geisler
Fred H
FH
Coleman
William P
WP
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012677:Sensation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*