Lesões agudas da medula espinhal são de ocorrência comum em certas raças condrodistróficas como a Dachshund. Nessa raça, um desenvolvimento anormal do disco intervertebral causa uma precoce desidratação e mineralização do núcleo pulposo. Como conseqüência da degeneração discal, esses cães são propensos à extrusão discal aguda que resulta em lesão da medula espinhal contusiva e compressiva. A cirurgia descompressiva é o método de tratamento para cães com disfunção neurológica secundária à compressão da medula espinhal e o prognóstico para recuperação funcional é determinado principalmente pela severidade da lesão na medula espinhal. A perda da sensação de dor profunda em cães com doença do disco intervertebral indica lesão grave da medula espinhal e costuma ser considerada como um mau prognóstico. Existem poucos estudos com um número significativo de casos documentando a recuperação após cirurgia descompressiva em cães com ausência de percepção de dor profunda. A cirurgia raramente é recomendada se a percepção de dor profunda está ausente por mais de 48 horas, mas não foi comprovado um período de tempo mais preciso para tal recomendação. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a recuperação funcional dos membros pélvicos de cães da raça Dachshund paraplégicos com ausência de percepção de dor profunda por um período inferior e superior a 48 horas, devido à extrusão discal, submetidos à cirurgia descompressiva. Trinta cães paraplégicos foram distribuídos em dois grupos, sendo o primeiro formado por animais com ausência da sensação de dor profunda nos membros pélvicos por um período inferior a 48 horas e o segundo por um período superior a 48 horas. Em todos os pacientes foram realizados exame mielográfico e cirurgia descompressiva (hemilaminectomia). Posteriormente, esses animais foram submetidos a exame neurológico e avaliados quanto ao grau de locomoção e percepção de dor profunda. Apenas foram considerados recuperados os animais que demonstraram grau 3, 4 ou 5 de locomoção (paresia leve, ataxia ou exame neurológico normal). Os resultados comprovaram que pacientes com ausência de dor profunda devido à extrusão do disco intervertebral devem ser considerados candidatos à cirurgia descompressiva. O argumento de um prognóstico ruim, como afirmado em alguns estudos prévios, não se justifica baseado na duração da ausência de dor profunda antes do procedimento cirúrgico. O retorno da percepção de dor profunda dentro de 4 semanas pode ser associado com prognóstico favorável para retorno da locomoção (grau 3, 4 ou 5). A nova escala estabelecida dos graus de locomoção foi útil na avaliação da recuperação funcional de cães paraplégicos. / Acute lesions of spinal cord are a common occurrence in certain chondrodystrophic breeds such as Dachshund. In this race, an abnormal development of the intervertebral disc causes an early dehydration and mineralization of the pulposus core. As a result of disc degeneration, these dogs are prone to acute disc extrusion, resulting in a compressive and contusive spinal cord injury. Surgical decompression is the treatment method for dogs with neurological dysfunction secondary to spinal cord compression and the prognosis for functional recovery is mainly determined by the severity of spinal cord injury. The loss of deep pain perception in dogs with IVDD indicates severe injury of the spinal cord and is often considered as a bad prognosis. There are few studies with a good number of cases documenting the recovery after decompressive surgery in dogs with no deep pain perception (DPP). Surgery is rarely recommended if DPP is absent for more than 48 hours, but an exact period of time for such a recommendation has not been clearly established. This study aims to evaluate the functional recovery of pelvic limbs of paraplegic Dachshund breed dogs paraplegic with no deep pain perception for a period inferior and superior to 48 hours due to disc extrusion and submitted to surgical decompression. Thirty dogs were divided into two groups; the first consists of paraplegic dogs with no sense of deep pain in the pelvic limbs for less than 48 hours and the second, formed by dogs more than 48 hours. All patients underwent to myelographic examination and surgical decompression (hemilaminectomy). Thereafter, these animals were submitted to neurological examination and evaluated about their degree of movement and deep pain perception. Only were considered as recovered animals that reached locomotion grade 3, 4 or 5. The results showed that patients with absence of deep pain due to intervertebral disc extrusion should be considered candidates for decompressive surgery. The argument of a poor prognosis, as stated in some previous studies, was not justified based on duration of deep pain absence before surgery. The return of deep pain perception within 4 weeks may be associated with favorable prognosis for return of locomotion (grade 3, 4 or 5). The established grade of movement degrees was useful in evaluating the functional recovery of paraplegic dogs.

The aim of the study was to provide a platform for the male paraplegic to explore the implications of the disability on his sexuality. A qualitative research method was utilised. In-depth interviews were conducted during October 1995 and February 1996 using a sample often black male in-patients at the beginning of their rehabilitation program and during their initial hospitalisation at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria. The results of the study indicated that the newly injured person has a great need to talk about the impact of the injury on his life. Three major areas of concern emerged: physical appearance, loss of control and independence and relationships. All three areas were perceived to have an impact on sexuality. Rejection of the redefined intimacy by the able-bodied spouse, was perceived as a threat to sexual adjustment. / Social Work

The aim of the study was to provide a platform for the male paraplegic to explore the implications of the disability on his sexuality. A qualitative research method was utilised. In-depth interviews were conducted during October 1995 and February 1996 using a sample often black male in-patients at the beginning of their rehabilitation program and during their initial hospitalisation at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria. The results of the study indicated that the newly injured person has a great need to talk about the impact of the injury on his life. Three major areas of concern emerged: physical appearance, loss of control and independence and relationships. All three areas were perceived to have an impact on sexuality. Rejection of the redefined intimacy by the able-bodied spouse, was perceived as a threat to sexual adjustment. / Social Work

The master thesis deals with the engineering design and realization of a sports electric vehicle for disabled people. The first part of thesis summarize competitive vehicles on market and also the necessary theoretical knowledge for the design phase. After analyzing the research and determine the resulting vehicle concept follows the draft design. In this section based on calculations was chosen the solutions and necessary components for a vehicle. The following section describes the structure of the vehicle in implementing selected components. In conclusion, the evaluation of the proposed solution.