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Theme: Cancer Rehabilitation
Brittany Snider, DO
Clinical Chief of Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury Services
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Florham Park, New Jersey
Disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
.jpg "Ronald Reeves, MD photo")
Ronald Reeves, MD
Associate Professor of PM&R
Mayo Clinic of Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota
Disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Michael Stubblefield, MD
Medical Director for Cancer Rehabilitation
Kessler/Select Medical
West Orange, New Jersey
Disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Keara McNair, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP
Advanced Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
West Orange, New Jersey
Disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Spine and spinal cord tumors are a common cause of myelopathy, accounting for up to 1/3 of non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) inpatient rehabilitation admissions. As the general population ages, the incidence of cancer-related myelopathy is expected to increase. Additionally, improved cancer treatments have led to marked life expectancy increases and a greater need for coordinated cancer care. Rehabilitation service delivery must continue to evolve to keep pace with the newest cancer treatments and management of cancer survivors with chronic SCI. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation services have been shown to improve outcomes (i.e. higher functional scores, increased survival, fewer SCI complications) for patients with cancer-related myelopathy. However, there are rehabilitation barriers and challenges unique to this clinical population. Neurological impairment, oncologic prognosis/life expectancy, cancer treatments and treatment side effects, medical comorbidities, pain, and social support are factors that influence rehabilitation decisions and guide management.
This 75-minute Clinical and Practice Symposium will provide a practice update in the management of persons with cancer-related myelopathy. Epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes will be reviewed. Standard and novel tumor treatments will be discussed. A primary focus of this session will be on complications of spinal cord tumors and cancer treatments as well as practical considerations when caring for this patient population. This course will also discuss best practices for determining prognosis, navigating difficult conversations, and enhancing communication with patients and the multidisciplinary treatment team. By addressing these complex issues, we hope the symposium and care delivery model will empower rehabilitation professionals to serve patients with cancer-related myelopathy as effectively as possible.
This session is endorsed by the American Spinal Injury Association Education Committee.
Agenda:
Introduction (3 min) – Ron Reeves, MD
Epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes (10 minutes) – Brittany Snider, DO
Current treatment options (10 minutes) – Ron Reeves, MD
Complications of spinal cord tumors and tumor treatments (12 minutes) – Michael Stubblefield, MD
Prognosis (20 min) – Michael Stubblefield, MD and Keara McNair, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP
Practical considerations and multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions (15 minutes) – Keara McNair, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP
Discussion/Questions (5 minutes) – All faculty
Speaker: Brittany A. Snider, DO – Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Speaker: Ronald K. Reeves, MD – Mayo Clinic of Rochester
Speaker: Michael D. Stubblefield, MD – Kessler/Select Medical
Speaker: Keara McNair, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP – Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation