A STUDY OF RELATION OF LOWER LIMB SPASTICITY WITH LIPID PROFILE AND FASTING PLASMA GLUCOSE LEVELS IN CHRONIC MOTOR COMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY PATIENTS.

Background: Most common cause of spinal cord injury in India is fall from height followed by road accidents which may lead to incomplete or complete disruption of neural signal transmission across and below the level of injury. Spasticity is a common but not an inevitable complication following spinal cord injury. Study Objective: The present study tried to explore the correlation between the lower limb spasticity following spinal cord injury and the metabolic markers. Study design: Hospital-based cross-sectional study. Material and Methods: Fifty patients recruited from Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur (Raj.), were categorized into mild (16),moderate (11), and severe (23)spastic groups based on assessment of  ankle/knee extensor muscle group spasticity using the modified Ashworth scale. The metabolic profile markers such as Total Cholesterol (TC), Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Triglyceride (TG) and Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) were estimated and compared between the three groups. Results: The triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins and the fasting plasma glucose level were significantly negatively correlated with the grading of spasticity in lowerlimbs (P <0.001). The high density lipoproteins level was higher in a severe spastic group as compared to the mild and moderate spastic groups; but this result was statistically non-significant (P=0.14). Conclusion: Spasticity in motor complete SCI may have beneficial effects in preserving glucose homeostasis and defending rise in adiposity, rationalizing the need for its judicious management to maintain the crucial balance between its beneficial and problematic effects. Keywords: Spasticity, Modified Ashworth score, Spinal cord injury, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose.