Treatment of the Paretic Hand with a Robotic Glove Combined with Physiotherapy in a Patient Suffering from Traumatic Tetraparesis: A Case Report

Sensors, 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/s23073484 · Published: March 27, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This case report explores using a robotic glove (Gloreha Sinfonia) alongside standard physiotherapy to improve hand function in a patient with tetraparesis due to a spinal cord injury. The patient underwent 15 rehabilitation sessions, with evaluations before, after, and two months post-treatment, assessing range of motion, strength, dexterity, and hand function using various clinical scales and virtual reality games. The study found short-term benefits in hand functionality and dexterity, suggesting that combining robotic hand treatment with physical therapy can be a useful approach for tetraparetic patients.

Study Duration

6 Weeks

Participants

1 Male patient with incomplete spinal cord injury (ASIA B) level C6, resulting in tetraparesis

Evidence Level

Case Report

Key Findings

1
The patient reported greater ability to use hands with less compensation at T1 and T2 assessments.
2
Improvements in clinical scales were reported in both hands at T1, however, at T2 only did the dominant hand show further improvement.
3
The maximum force exerted increased from T0 to T2 in both hands, suggesting an improvement in grip strength.

Research Summary

This case report investigated the effectiveness of combining robotic hand treatment with Gloreha Sinfonia and conventional physiotherapy on a patient with traumatic tetraparesis. The study found short-term improvements in hand functionality, dexterity, and grip strength following the six-week intervention. The results suggest that this combined approach may be a beneficial strategy for improving hand function in tetraparetic patients, though further research is needed.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategy

Combining robotic hand treatment with conventional physiotherapy can be considered as a rehabilitation strategy to improve upper limb functionality and dexterity in patients with tetraparesis.

Personalized Therapy

Robotic devices like Gloreha Sinfonia can be tailored to individual patient's needs and abilities, providing personalized and intensive rehabilitation.

Further Research

Long-term studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the benefits and identify the most effective modalities of robotic rehabilitation for spinal cord injury patients.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size (single case report) limits the generalizability of the findings.
2
Short-term follow-up may not capture the long-term effects of the intervention.
3
Lack of a control group makes it difficult to isolate the effects of the robotic intervention from the physiotherapy.

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