Effect on functional outcome of robotic assisted rehabilitation versus conventional rehabilitation in patients with complete spinal cord injury: a prospective comparative study

Study design Prospective Comparative Study. Objective This study aims to compare the functional outcomes of Robotic-assisted rehabilitation by Lokomat system Vs. Conventional rehabilitation in participants with Dorsolumbar complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting University level teaching hospital in a hilly state of northern India. Methods 15 participants with Dorsolumbar SCI with ASIA A neurology were allocated to robotic rehabilitation and 15 participants to conventional rehabilitation after an operative procedure. Pre-and Post-rehabilitation parameters were noted in terms of ASIA Neurology, Motor and sensory function scores, WISCI II score (Walking Index in SCI score), LEMS (Lower Extremity Motor Score), SCI M III score (Spinal Cord Independence Measure III score), AO Spine PROST (AO Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma), McGill QOL score (Mc Gill Quality of Life score), VAS score (Visual Analogue Scale) for pain and Modified Ashworth scale for spasticity in lower limbs. Results On comparing robotic group with conventional group there was a statistically significant improvement in Robotic-assisted rehabilitation group in terms of Motor score ( p = 0.034), WISCI II score ( p = 0.0001), SCIM III score ( p = 0.0001), AO PROST score ( p = 0.0001), Mc GILL QOL score ( p = 0.0001), Max velocity ( p = 0.0001) and Step length ( p = 0.0001). Whereas LEMS score ( p = 0.052), ASIA neurology ( p = 0.264 (ASIA A); 1.000 (ASIA B); 0.053 (ASIA C)), VAS score ( p = 0.099), Sensory score ( p = 0.422) and Modified Ashworth scale for spasticity ( p = 0.136) were not statically significant when comparing between two groups. Conclusion Robot-assisted rehabilitation is superior than conventional rehabilitation in people living with SCI with AIS A neurology. Differences in the patient group, type of a lesion its and severity, duration from onset to initiation of rehabilitation, devices employed, administration of the therapies and regulation of interventions are likely the cause of variations in the findings seen in the literature for robotic assisted training. Level of Evidence: III.