2019, Volume 12, Issue 2, pp 97 – 112

Initial researches on neuro-functional status and evolution in chronic ethanol consumers with recent traumatic spinal cord injury

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Authors and Affiliations

Corresponding Author: Simona Isabelle Stoica, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd., Bucharest, Romania 050474, Tel: +40724910275, E-mail: stoicasimonaisabelle@yahoo.com

Abstract

We found differences related to the neuro-functional deficiency and clinical progress, among non-consumers and chronic consumers of ethanol, with recent traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). We present a synthesis of related data on lesion mechanisms in post-traumatic myelogenous disorders, namely some of the alcohols and their actions on the nervous system, with details on the influences exerted, in such afflictions, by the chronic consumption of ethanol. The subject is not frequently approached – according to a literature review with systematic elements, which we have done before – thus constituting a niche that deserves to be further explored. The applicative component of the article highlights statistical data resulted from a retrospective study regarding the specialized casuistry from the Neuromuscular Recovery Clinic of the “Bagdasar Arseni” Emergency Clinical Hospital, following the comparative analysis of two groups of patients with recent SCI: non-consumers – the control group (n=780) – and chronic ethanol consumers – the study group (n=225) – with the addition of a prospective pilot component. Data processing has been achieved with SPSS 24. The American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) mean motor scores differ significantly (tests: Mann-Whitney and t) between the control and study group in favor of the second, both at admission (p<0.001) and at discharge (p<0.001). AIS mean sensitive scores differ between the two lots, and also in favor of the study, but statistically significant only at discharge (p=0.048); the difference at admission is not significant (p=0.51) – possibly because of alcoholic-nutritional polyneuropathy. These findings, with numerous related details, later presented in the text, are surprising, which requires further studies and attempts of understanding.

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About this article

PMC ID: 6685305
PubMed ID: 31406510
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2019-0026

Article Publishing Date (print): Apr-Jun 2019
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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