Utilization of a comprehensive sensory stimulation program with a comatose tetraplegic patient

To date, there has been a relative absence of studies which have examined the utility and effectiveness of sensory stimulation procedures in comatose, spinal-cord-injured patients. This report describes the interdisciplinary utilization (within an acute care setting) of a comprehensive sensory stimulation programme with a 21-year-old, comatose, tetraplegic male patient. To promote behavioural arousal, multiple sensory stimulation sessions were conducted with the patient daily. Within each session (and across sensory modalities), the effectiveness of sensory stimulation procedures was evaluated via use of A-B-A within-subject designs. Results indicated that the patient exhibited significantly greater behavioural arousal during sensory stimulation (B1), as compared to pre-(A1) and post-(A2) treatment baselines. There was also a non-significant trend of increased behavioural arousal during the post- as compared to the pre-treatment baselines (i.e. carry-over effect). By termination of this programme, the patient exhibited an overall increased level of arousal/behavioural responsiveness (i.e. decreased coma) as compared to his level at the initiation of this programme. These findings are discussed in light of factors that may affect the effectiveness and implementation of such sensory stimulation programmes with comatose, tetraplegic patients in acute care settings.