Reaching is a common daily activity requiring a range of humeral elevation that contributes to rotator cuff compression. The purpose of this study was to estimate supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon compression risk relative to the acromion and coracoacromial ligament during reaching by manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate 8 participants (7 males, median [range] age 36 y [23-61]). Electromagnetic motion capture recorded shoulder kinematics while participants reached for a can at 2 heights: low (0.91 m) and high (1.37 m). Using 1 set of computed tomographic-based bone models and individual glenohumeral kinematics, compression risk was evaluated as the percentage of the reach activity and number of seconds that tendon insertions were less than 5 mm from scapular landmarks. Reach conditions were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test (alpha = .05). Although not statistically significant, the supraspinatus and infraspinatus relative to the acromion had approximately 40% of the activity duration or 0.8 seconds more time under 5 mm in low versus high reach, indicating increased risk of compression. Compression risk estimates were consistent with prior publications on planar arm movements. Estimating the risk of tendon compression using absolute time may help with understanding cumulative exposure during day-to-day activity.

Objective The objective of this study was to compare the lexical sophistication of personal statements submitted by professional physical therapist education program applicants with those generated by OpenAI’s Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT). Methods Personal statements from 152 applicants and 20 generated by ChatGPT were collected, all in response to a standardized prompt. These statements were coded numerically, then analyzed with recurrence quantification analyses (RQAs). RQA indices including recurrence, determinism, max line, mean line, and entropy were compared with t-tests. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to examine discriminative validity of RQA indices to distinguish between ChatGPT and human-generated personal statements. Results ChatGPT-generated personal statements exhibited higher recurrence, determinism, mean line, and entropy values than did human-generated personal statements. The strongest discriminator was a 13.04% determinism rate, which differentiated ChatGPT from human-generated writing samples with 70% sensitivity and 91.4% specificity (positive likelihood ratio = 8.14). Personal statements with determinism rates exceeding 13% were 8 times more likely to have been ChatGPT than human generated. Conclusion Although RQA can distinguish artificial intelligence (AI)-generated text from human-generated text, it is not absolute. Thus, AI introduces additional challenges to the authenticity and utility of personal statements. Admissions committees along with organizations providing guidelines in professional physical therapist education program admissions should reevaluate the role of personal statements in applications. Impact As AI-driven chatbots like ChatGPT complicate the evaluation of personal statements, RQA emerges as a potential tool for admissions committees to detect AI-generated statements.

PURPOSE:We examined lexical sophistication of written personal statements from physical therapy applicants to determine whether recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) indices distinguish higher- versus lower-scored candidates and correlate with other admissions variables.METHODS:Written personal statements were extracted from 152 applications, coded numerically, and analyzed with RQA. Along with other RQA indices, determinism-representing predictability of words and phrases-was quantified. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine discriminative validity of RQA indices to distinguish between top-10 and bottom-10 candidates. Correlation coefficients between RQA indices and other admissions variables (grade point averages, standardized exam, behavioral interview, and cumulative admissions scores) were also examined.RESULTS:Determinism in personal statements was lower in top-scored (mean 7.38%) than bottom-scored candidates (mean 11.29%, p = 0.015), differentiated between them with 70% sensitivity (95% CI 34.8%-93.3%) and 100% specificity (95% CI 69.2%-100%), and correlated negatively with candidates' behavioral interview scores (r = -0.168, p = 0.039).DISCUSSION:The greater expressive lexical sophistication characterized by lower determinism in personal statements provides information about candidates' writing proficiency as a component of their communication abilities that may not otherwise be assessed in traditional admissions variables.

Background and Purpose: Physical therapists (PTs) in the acute care setting evaluate patients to determine discharge plans and perform mobility-based safety evaluations. When presented with a common problem different from the referral diagnosis, in this case, hip pain, the PT must use knowledge of palpation, range of motion, special tests, and outcome tools to evaluate the patient and identify possible sources of their pain. This case report aims to describe a patient's atypical presentation of hip pain that was ultimately diagnosed as metastatic bone disease. This report includes the description of differential diagnoses based on the patient examination, details of the subsequent events leading to her final diagnosis, and discussion of the importance of screening patients beyond their diagnosis in the acute care setting. Case Description: A 69-year-old woman was referred to physical therapy in the hospital following aortic surgery. During the initial evaluation, she described 10/10 hip pain that had gone undocumented thus far. Examination revealed pain with passive and active motion in all directions, increased pain with weight-bearing, and impaired mobility. Current evidence for the evaluation of hip pain was used to examine differential diagnoses aligned with the patient's symptoms. Based on the PT's evaluation, subsequent referrals and imaging were warranted and led to a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: Hip pain caused by sinister pathologies is unusual. In this case, a PT identified “red flag” symptoms during the initial evaluation and collaborated with other providers for further investigation. The skilled evaluation and timely referral led to the discovery of previously undiagnosed metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Arm use in manual wheelchair (MWC) users is characterized by a combination of overuse and a sedentary lifestyle. This study aimed to describe the percentage of daily time MWC users and able-bodied individuals spend in each arm use intensity level utilizing accelerometers. Arm use intensity levels of the upper arms were defined as stationary, low, mid, and high from the signal magnitude area (SMA) of the segment accelerations based on in-lab MWC activities performed by eight MWC users. Accelerometry data were collected in the free-living environments from forty MWC users and 40 sex- and age-matched able-bodied individuals. The SMA intensity levels were applied to the free-living data and the percentage of time spent in each level was calculated. The SMA intensity levels were defined as, stationary: ≤0.67 g, low: 0.671–3.27 g, mid: 3.27–5.87 g, and high: >5.871 g. The dominant arm of both MWC users and able-bodied individuals was stationary for most of the day and less than one percent of the day was spent in high intensity arm activities. Increased MWC user age correlated with increased stationary arm time (R = 0.368, p = 0.019). Five and eight days of data are needed from MWC users and able-bodied individuals, respectively, to achieve reliable representation of their daily arm use intensities.

Background: Upper extremity (UE) pain/pathology is commonly reported in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI); however, surveys account for much of the data and thus don't necessarily reflect frequency of diagnosis.Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the first instance of clinically diagnosed UE pain/pathology in individuals with traumatic SCI in Olmsted County, MN. Design: A retrospective chart review was completed using a medical record linkage system (the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) for Olmsted County, MN and surrounding areas) and associated medical records dating 1976-2016.Methods: Potential subjects were identified with SCI diagnosis codes occurring during the study period, 1976-2016.Traumatic SCI was confirmed by searching the REP and medical records.Time following confirmed SCI and within the study period was reviewed in the REP to identify clinical diagnoses suggesting UE pain/pathology not directly related to the traumatic event leading to SCI.The medical record was reviewed to confirm a diagnosis of UE pain/pathology.Primary outcomes include: (1) proportion of individuals with traumatic SCI who had a confirmed UE pain/pathology diagnosis during the study period and (2) median pain-free time following SCI determined by Kaplan Meier survival analysis.Results observed: Eighty-two individuals were confirmed to have traumatic SCI (median age: 34 years [range 18-84], 77% male).SCI was classified by neurological level of injury (39% with paraplegia, 61% with tetraplegia) and ASIA impairment scale grade (32% A, 16% B, 17% C, 30% D, and 5% unable to determine).Median follow-up time available after SCI was 10.7 years (range: 1 week to 38.8 years).Fifty percent of the cohort had clinical diagnoses of UE pain/pathology during the available follow-up period.Median pain-free time was 7.7 years (95% CI:4.5-13.7).Conclusions: Results of this study demonstrate the importance of healthcare providers screening for UE pain/ pathology in patients with traumatic SCI.It additionally provides context for when patients are likely to start experiencing difficulty, which can guide both prevention and timely diagnosis.

AbstractArm use in individuals with spinal cord injury who use manual wheelchairs (MWC) is complex, characterized by a combination of overuse and a sedentary lifestyle. This study aimed to calculate arm use intensity levels for MWC users, describe the percentage of daily wear time MWC users and able-bodied individuals spend in each arm use intensity level, and test the reliabilities of the measurements for both MWC users and able-bodied individuals.MWC users wore two inertial measurement units (IMUs) on their bilateral upper arms while performing six MWC-based activities in-lab. Video data were recorded and each second was coded as active or stationary. Acceleration-based signal magnitude area (SMA) ranges were defined for stationary, low, mid, and high arm use intensity levels. IMU data were also collected in the free-living environments for MWC users and able-bodied individuals for four days (3 weekdays and 1 weekend day). The SMA levels were applied to the free-living data from the dominant arm and the percentage of time spent in each level was calculated. The required number of days to achieve moderate, good, and excellent reliabilities was calculated.Eight adult MWC users with SCI participated in the in-lab data collection and SMA arm use intensity levels were defined as, stationary: ⩽ 0.67g, low: 0.671 – 3.27g, mid: 3.271 – 5.87, and high: > 5.871. Six MWC users and 15 able-bodied individuals completed the free-living data collection. The dominant arm of both MWC users and able-bodied individuals was stationary for the majority of the day. The reliability analysis indicated that at least five and eight days of data are needed from MWC users and able-bodied individuals, respectively, to achieve reliable representation of their overall daily arm use intensities throughout a week.Future research is needed to understand the recovery time associated with stationary arm use and if it differs between MWC users and matched able-bodied individuals. At least five days of data should be collected when utilizing these methods for MWC users. The methods presented here will contribute to understanding the mechanisms which cause increased shoulder pain and pathology for MWC users.

Background: Repetitive glenohumeral joint movement during manual wheelchair propulsion has been associated with shoulder pain in individuals with spinal cord injury. Clinical guidelines for shoulder health maintenance encourage semi-circular over arc propulsion to reduce loading frequency. This study aimed to determine the difference in estimated supraspinatus to acromion compression risk, and shoulder, thorax kinematics between (1) arc and semi-circular propulsion; and (2) self-selected and coached strategies. Methods: Shoulder and thorax kinematics were captured during wheelchair propulsion, noting individually self-selected styles. Participants were then coached to perform the other style(s) of interest, arc and/or semi-circular. CT bone models of the humerus and scapula were animated using glenohumeral kinematics to estimate the minimum distance between the supraspinatus humeral attachment and the acromion. Compression risk was defined as the proportion of each propulsion phase where the minimum distance fell below 5 mm. Comparisons were made between conditions evaluating compression risk, minimum distances and kinematics at events throughout propulsion. Findings: Ten individuals with spinal cord injury (9 male) participated. Arc and semi-circular propulsion did not significantly differ in compression risk or minimum distance across propulsion phases. Self-selected styles yielded lower compression risk and larger proximity values compared to coached styles. Glenohumeral horizontal abduction and thorax flexion differed between arc and semi-circular propulsion. Multiple glenohumeral and humerothoracic differences emerged between self-selected and coached conditions. Interpretation: Supraspinatus compression was observed during both arc and semi-circular propulsion, suggesting risk may be unavoidable in this task. Self-selected styles yield less risk, likely related to coached style unfamiliarity.

Shoulder pain is common in manual wheelchair (MWC) users. Overuse is thought to be a major cause, but little is known about exposure to activities of daily living (ADLs). The study goal was to develop a method to estimate three conditions in the field: (1) non-propulsion activity, (2) MWC propulsion, and (3) static time using an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Upper arm IMU data were collected as ten MWC users performed lab-based MWC-related ADLs. A neural network model was developed to classify data as non-propulsion activity, propulsion, or static, and validated for the lab-based data collection by video comparison. Six of the participants' free-living IMU data were collected and the lab-based model was applied to estimate daily non-propulsion activity, propulsion, and static time. The neural network model yielded lab-based validity measures >0.87 for differentiating non-propulsion activity, propulsion, and static time. A quasi-validation of one participant's field-based data yielded validity measures >0.66 for identifying propulsion. Participants' estimated mean daily non-propulsion activity, propulsion, and static time ranged from 158 to 409, 13 to 25, and 367 to 609 min, respectively. The preliminary results suggest the model may be able to accurately identify MWC users' field-based activities. The inclusion of field-based IMU data in the model could further improve field-based classification.

Quality of healthcare delivery is dependent on collaboration between professional disciplines. Integrating opportunities for interprofessional learning in health science education programs prepares future clinicians to function as effective members of a multi‐disciplinary care team. This study aimed to create a modified team‐based learning (TBL) environment utilizing ultrasound technology during an interprofessional learning activity to enhance musculoskeletal anatomy knowledge of first year medical (MD) and physical therapy (PT) students. An ultrasound demonstration of structures of the upper limb was incorporated into the gross anatomy courses for first‐year MD (n = 53) and PT (n = 28) students. Immediately before the learning experience, all students took an individual readiness assurance test (iRAT) based on clinical concepts regarding the assigned study material. Students observed while a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician demonstrated the use of ultrasound as a diagnostic and procedural tool for the shoulder and elbow. Following the demonstration, students worked within interprofessional teams (n = 14 teams, 5–6 students per team) to review the related anatomy on dissected specimens. At the end of the session, students worked within interprofessional teams to complete a collaborative clinical case‐based multiple choice post‐test. Team scores were compared to the mean individual score within each team with the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. Students scored higher on the collaborative post‐test (95.2 ±10.2%) than on the iRAT (66.1 ± 13.9% for MD students and 76.2 ±14.2% for PT students,P < 0.0001). Results suggest that this interprofessional team activity facilitated an improved understanding and clinical application of anatomy. Anat Sci Educ 11: 94–99. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.

Shoulder pain from overuse of the arm is common after spinal cord injury (SCI). This pain can be difficult to eliminate. There are many other complications after SCI; therefore, shoulder pain is sometimes not the first priority. However, if neglected for too long, shoulder pain could mean that more serious problems are happening inside the shoulder joint. Here we present the options available when treatment for shoulder pain is needed.

Objective: To quantify and compare spinal curvature and shoulder kinematics throughout the manual wheelchair (MWC) propulsion cycle for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who were seated at 2 different seat dump angles. Design: Single-group, repeated-measures study. Setting: Academic medical center. Participants: Individuals (N=28) with SCI or spinal cord disease who used MWCs completed a telephone screening, and 21 of them were eligible and completed the study. Interventions: Participants' personal MWCs were modified to have seat dump angles of 0 or 14, with a vertical backrest. Participants completed at least 3 propulsion cycles in each condition, during which spine and shoulder motion data were collected with fiberoptic and electromagnetic sensors, respectively. Main Outcome Measures: Thoracolumbar spinal curvature, glenohumeral kinematics, and scapulothoracic kinematics at the start of push (SP), mid-push (MP), end of push (EP), and mid-recovery. Results: Participants had significantly less lordosis in the 14 condition for all propulsion events. Median differences ranged from 2.0 to 4.6. Lordosis differences were more pronounced in those with low SCI. Scapulothoracic internal rotation was increased in the 14 condition at SP and MP (mean differences, 2.5 and 2.7, respectively). Relative downward rotation increased in the 14 condition at SP and MP (mean differences, 2.4 and 2.1, respectively). Scapulothoracic differences were more pronounced in those with high SCI. No glenohumeral rotations were significantly different between the conditions. Conclusions: Scapulothoracic kinematics and spinal curvature differences during propulsion may be associated with the position of other body segments or postural stability. Because no differences were observed at the glenohumeral joint, the risk of subacromial impingement may not be affected by this seat angle change. (C) 2017 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Recently many medical schools have introduced ultrasound education, with several institutions adopting formal teaching of ultrasound into their anatomy curricula. Additionally, medical schools nationwide have begun to incorporate various forms of interprofessional education (IPE) into their programs to prepare medical students for the teamwork necessary to serve as physicians. The Anatomy course at Mayo Medical School incorporated several IPE sessions with physical therapy students. Since the course is integrated with radiology, ultrasound imaging was recently added to complement static images and visualize living anatomy. Due to the success of prior IPE endeavors in anatomy, a new elective experience for hands‐on ultrasound practice sessions was offered to both medical and physical therapy students. The aim of this study was to assess student perception of elective ultrasound practice sessions as an opportunity for interprofessional peer‐learning. Practice sessions were scheduled once a week for 4 hours and a trained teaching assistant was available during the sessions. Students were encouraged to discuss different techniques and anatomical knowledge based on their respective experiences. A sign‐in sheet was kept to monitor how many students from both groups attended. Students were asked to fill out a survey at the end of 4 weeks to assess perceptions of the interprofessional experience. Preliminary results indicate that students appreciated the diversity of an interprofessional approach to learning ultrasound skills and enjoyed teaching each other anatomy through ultrasound.

Background Rates of shoulder pain in individuals who use manual wheelchairs (MWCs) as their primary means of mobility have been reported to be as high as 70% during activities of daily living. Current prevailing thought is that mechanical impingement of the soft tissues that reside within the subacromial space between the humeral head and coracoacromial arch is a major contributor to the shoulder pain in users of MWCs. The subacromial space size is directly related to the kinematics at the shoulder joint. Yet to be answered are questions about which common daily tasks are characterized by the most potentially detrimental kinematics. Objective The purpose of this analysis was to quantify and compare potentially detrimental kinematics in three common tasks performed by individuals with spinal cord injury and shoulder pain. These data will add to the body of knowledge and test common assumptions about relative risk of tasks. Design A cross-sectional study of 15 MWC users with shoulder pain. Methods Electromagnetic surface sensor measures of mean and peak scapulothoracic (ST) internal and downward rotation, anterior tilt, and glenohumeral (GH) internal rotation were compared across propulsion, weight relief, and scapular plane abduction tasks using one-way repeated-measure ANOVA. Results Statistical differences were observed between the tasks for all rotations. Mean ST anterior tilt was greater in weight relief and propulsion than during scapular plane abduction (24°, 23°, and 13° of anterior tilt, respectively). Mean GH axial rotation during weight relief was more internally rotated than during propulsion and scapular plane abduction (9°, 26°, and 51° of external rotation, respectively). Limitations Surface-based measures of kinematics are subject to skin motion artifact, especially in translation which was not addressed in this study. Conclusion Each task presented with specific variables that might contribute to risk of developing shoulder “impingement” and pain. These data may assist therapists in their assessment of movement contributions to shoulder pain in this population, as well as in subsequent treatment planning.

Spinal posture affects how individuals function from a manual wheelchair. There is a need to directly quantify spinal posture in this population to ultimately improve function. A fiber optic system, comprised of an attached series of sensors, is promising for measuring large regions of the spine in individuals sitting in a wheelchair. The purpose of this study was to determine the agreement between fiber optic and optoelectronic systems for measuring spinal curvature, and describe the range of sagittal plane spinal curvatures in natural sitting. Able-bodied adults (n = 26, 13 male) participated. Each participant assumed three sitting postures: natural, slouched (accentuated kyphosis), and extension (accentuated lordosis) sitting. Fiber optic (ShapeTape) and optoelectronic (Optotrak) systems were applied to the skin over spinous processes from S1 to C7 and used to measure sagittal plane spinal curvature. Regions of kyphosis and lordosis were identified. A Cobb angle-like method was used to quantify lordosis and kyphosis. Generalized linear model and Bland-Altman analyses were used to assess agreement. A strong correlation exists between curvature values obtained with Optotrak and ShapeTape (R(2) = 0.98). The mean difference between Optotrak and ShapeTape for kyphosis in natural, extension, and slouched postures was 4.30° (95% LOA: -3.43 to 12.04°), 3.64° (95% LOA: -1.07 to 8.36°), and 4.02° (95% LOA: -2.80 to 10.84°), respectively. The mean difference for lordosis, when present, in natural and extension postures was 2.86° (95% LOA: -1.18 to 6.90°) and 2.55° (95% LOA: -3.38 to 8.48°), respectively. In natural sitting, the mean ± SD of kyphosis values was 35.07 ± 6.75°. Lordosis was detected in 8/26 participants: 11.72 ± 7.32°. The fiber optic and optoelectronic systems demonstrate acceptable agreement for measuring sagittal plane thoracolumbar spinal curvature.

OBJECTIVE:To test the effectiveness of a high-dose home exercise/telerehabilitation program for manual wheelchair users who have a spinal cord injury (SCI) by determining whether the intervention would reduce pain and increase function, as we hypothesized.DESIGN:A pre-post trial with outcomes measured at 3 time points: baseline, postintervention (12wk), and follow-up (>24 wk).SETTING:Subjects performed an exercise program at their homes using telerehabilitation for therapist monitoring of technique and exercise advancement. Baseline and postintervention data were collected at a motion analysis laboratory in a tertiary medical center.PARTICIPANTS:A convenience sample of manual wheelchair users (N=16, 3 women; average age, 41y; average time in a wheelchair, 16y) with shoulder pain (average pain duration, 9y) and mechanical impingement signs on physical examination.INTERVENTIONS:A 12-week home exercise program of rotator cuff and scapular stabilization exercises was given to each participant. The program included a high dose of 3 sets of 30 repetitions, 3 times weekly, and regular physical therapist supervision via videoconferencing.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Primary outcomes of pain and function were measured with the Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Index, and Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (SRQ). Secondary outcomes of strength were measured with isometric strength tests of scapulothoracic and glenohumeral muscles, and a static fatigue test of the lower trapezius.RESULTS:Pain was reduced and function improved after the intervention. There was a significant main effect for pain and function between the 3 time points based on the Friedman signed-ranked test, WUSPI (χ(2)2=5.10, P=.014), DASH Index (χ(2)2=5.41, P=.012), and SRQ (χ(2)2=23.71, P≤.001). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests demonstrated that isometric strength measurements of the serratus anterior and scapular retractors increased after the exercise intervention ([t=2.42, P=.04] and [t=4.67, P=.003], respectively). Muscle impulse produced by the lower trapezius during a fatigue task also improved (t=2.2, P=.02). No differences were measured in isometric strength for the lower trapezius, glenohumeral rotators, and abductors between the baseline and 12-week time points.CONCLUSIONS:A high-dose scapular stabilizer and rotator cuff strengthening program using telerehabilitation for supervision holds promise for shoulder pain treatment in manual wheelchair users with SCI. Additional work is needed to determine the effectiveness compared with other interventions, as well as the potential for earlier intervention to prevent development of shoulder pain.

Skeletal muscle is a very dynamic tissue, thus accurate quantification of skeletal muscle stiffness throughout its functional range is crucial to improve the physical functioning and independence following pathology. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an ultrasound-based technique that characterizes tissue mechanical properties based on the propagation of remotely induced shear waves. The objective of this study is to validate SWE throughout the functional range of motion of skeletal muscle for three ultrasound transducer orientations. We hypothesized that combining traditional materials testing (MTS) techniques with SWE measurements will show increased stiffness measures with increasing tensile load, and will correlate well with each other for trials in which the transducer is parallel to underlying muscle fibers. To evaluate this hypothesis, we monitored the deformation throughout tensile loading of four porcine brachialis whole-muscle tissue specimens, while simultaneously making SWE measurements of the same specimen. We used regression to examine the correlation between Young′s modulus from MTS and shear modulus from SWE for each of the transducer orientations. We applied a generalized linear model to account for repeated testing. Model parameters were estimated via generalized estimating equations. The regression coefficient was 0.1944, with a 95% confidence interval of (0.1463–0.2425) for parallel transducer trials. Shear waves did not propagate well for both the 45° and perpendicular transducer orientations. Both parallel SWE and MTS showed increased stiffness with increasing tensile load. This study provides the necessary first step for additional studies that can evaluate the distribution of stiffness throughout muscle.

Imaging, as well as cadaveric and animal studies, implicate subacromial space narrowing (that results in mechanical impingement of the interposed rotator cuff tendons) as a primary mechanism for the shoulder pain in this population. Previous reports have used assumed at-risk scapular and glenohumeral angular kinematics (scapular anterior tilt and internal rotation, glenohumeral internal rotation) to assess risk of subacromial space narrowing. A model-based approach was used in this study to predict the proximity of the rotator cuff insertions on the humerus to the underside of the coracoacromial arch. The goal of this project was to compare the risk between three tasks (wheelchair propulsion, weight relief raises, and scapular plane abduction) using both the modeling approach, as well as assumed at-risk angular kinematics, in a population of wheelchair users with reported shoulder pain.

Techniques used to produce partial spinal cord injuries in animal models have the potential for creating variability in lesions. The amount of tissue affected may influence the functional outcomes assessed in the animals. The recording of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) may be a valuable tool for assessing the extent of lesion applied in animal models of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Intraoperative tibial SSEP recordings were assessed during surgically induced lateral thoracic hemisection SCI in Sprague-Dawley rats. The transmission of SSEPs, or lack thereof, was determined and compared against the integrity of the dorsal funiculi on each side of the spinal cord upon histological sectioning. An association was found between the presence of an SSEP signal and presence of intact dorsal funiculus tissue. The relative risk is 4.50 (95% confidence interval: 1.83-11.08) for having an intact dorsal funiculus when the ipsilateral SSEP was present compared to when it was absent. Additionally, the amount of spared spinal cord tissue correlates with final functional assessments at nine weeks post injury: BBB (linear regression, R²=0.618, p<0.001) and treadmill test (linear regression, R²=0.369, p=0.016). Therefore, we propose intraoperative SSEP monitoring as a valuable tool to assess extent of lesion and reduce variability between animals in experimental studies of SCI.