Rehabilitation of Paraplegia Secondary to Giant cell Tumor of Bone Case Report

Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports, 2022 · DOI: 10.13107/jocr.2022.v12.i09.2996 · Published: September 1, 2022

Simple Explanation

This paper describes the rehabilitation outcome in a patient with paraplegia caused by giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) located at D11 level of spine. The patient, a 26-year-old Chinese man, had a history of back pain complicated by paraplegia and was found to have a giant cell tumor that was surgically removed. An individual rehabilitation program aimed to recovery walking autonomy was proposed to the patient. The case report highlights that the patient recovered a good grade of autonomy in walking function and returned to daily activities.

Study Duration

6 Months

Participants

1 Chinese man, 26 years old

Evidence Level

Case Report

Key Findings

1
The patient, initially with paraplegia (ASIA B), regained walking ability through an individual rehabilitation program.
2
Improvements were observed in both the Time Walking Test (TWT) and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCII), indicating enhanced walking endurance and independence.
3
The patient progressed from requiring a tilt-table for verticalization to walking independently with Canadian style canes within a 6-month rehabilitation period.

Research Summary

This case report describes the rehabilitation of a 26-year-old male with paraplegia secondary to a giant cell tumor of the D11 vertebra. The patient underwent surgical decompression and tumor resection followed by an individual rehabilitation program focused on motor performance, pain and spasticity control, and walking training. The rehabilitation program resulted in significant improvements in walking ability, as measured by the Time Walking Test (TWT) and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCII), ultimately enabling the patient to walk independently with assistive devices and return to daily activities.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Potential

Patients with SCI secondary to neoplastic conditions, such as GCTB, can achieve significant functional gains through structured rehabilitation programs.

Individualized Approach

Rehabilitation programs should be tailored to the individual patient's needs and level of injury to maximize recovery potential.

Importance of Early Intervention

Early verticalization and walking training are important factors in the rehabilitation of patients with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Single case report limits generalizability.
2
The atypical site of GCTB makes it difficult to extrapolate findings to more common locations.
3
Lack of a control group for comparison.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Oncology