The Selection of the Appropriate Computer Interface Device for Patients With High Cervical Cord Injury
Case 2 was a 41-year-old man who had a cervical cord injury from a diving accident 2 years ago. On the ASIA-A, this patient had a neurological level of C3, and a motor level and sensory level of C3/4. The muscle power of the surviving forearms was grade 1 on the right C5, grade 1 on the left C5, and forearm spasticity was MAS 0 for both forearms. The computer interface device sensing movements of specific body parts was applied rather than devices operated with the mouth, because he had been a used car dealer requiring the use of computer and consultation before the accident.\nThere was no difficulty in moving the cursor with the Camera Mouse and webcam, but there was difficulty when selecting a function of the mouse button using MintoClick 1.0 because of the vibrating tracking point. In the case of the Head Z mouse, the vibration of the tracking point was more stable compared to the Camera Mouse and webcam, but it was difficult to use consistently as a result of dizziness and increase in fatigue induced by the need for taking frequent breaths when selecting a mouse button. It was possible to click, double click and drag stably with the SmartNav 4AT, and cursor movement was the most stable with this device, and vibration of the tracking point was the least when selecting a function of the mouse buttons through its program (Dwell Clicking; NaturalPoint) ().\nTyping practice with short sentences was performed twice, resulting in a typing speed of 22 wpm with 100% accuracy by using SmartNav 4AT and screen keyboard (), and he successfully returned to his previous job as a used car dealer.\nLike this case, quadriplegics with motor level C4 can typically control the movement of the head, and SmartNav 4AT is considered to be the most suitable interface device when using computers.