1/25. Radicular compression by lumbar intraspinal epidural gas pseudocyst in association with lateral disc herniation. role of the posterior longitudinal ligament.Among unusual abnormalities of the lumbar spine reported since the introduction of Computed tomography (CT), the presence of gas lucency in the spinal canal, known as vacuum phenomenon, is often demonstrated. On the contrary, epidural gas pseudocyst compressing a nerve root in patients with a lateral disc herniation has rarely been reported. We report a case of a 44-year-old man who experienced violent low back pain and monolateral sciatica, exacerbated by orthostatic position, one week before admission. A lumbosacral spine CT showed the presence of vacuum phenomenon associated with a degenerated disc material and a capsulated epidural gas collection with evidence of root compression. A microsurgical interlaminar approach was carried out and, before the posterior longitudinal ligament was entered, a spherical "bubble" compressing the nerve roots was observed. The capsulated pseudocyst was dissected out, peeled off and excised en bloc. A large part of the posterior longitudinal ligament and the lateral disc herniation were removed. Postoperatively the patient was completely free of symptoms. The mechanism of exacerbation of pain was probably due to the increased radicular compression in the upright posture and, besides the presence of a lateral disc herniation, could be related to a pneumatic squeezing of gas from the intervertebral space into the well capsulated sac by the solicitated L4-L5 motion segment. Histological study of the wall of the pseudocyst showed the presence of fibrous tissue identical to the ligament. We conclude that, in case of a lumbar disc herniation, it is recommended to perform a complete microdiscectomy and an accurate removal of the involved portion of posterior longitudinal ligament in order to prevent pseudocystic formations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/25. Radiculitis distress as a mimic of renal pain.It is the experience of the urological author that radiculitis secondary to costovertebral joint derangement is the most common cause of lower abdominal pain. However, this pain is sometimes made worse when the patient is subjected to a flank incision for presumed renal disease, since the aftermath of a flank incision may be a downward pull on a rib owing to detachments of muscles attached to its superior surface. Emotional problems, too, befall many patients with radiculitis-despondency over delayed diagnoses or sensitivity at having been told their complaints are psychosomatic. Most often theses difficulties disappear spontaneously once the pain is relived. Definitive diagnosis requires orthopedic techniques. Unfortunately, few orthopedists are well versed or interested in the syndrome of renal pain. When they are, erroneous diagnosis can be corrected and a course of conservative or surgical treatment prescribed, with excellent results.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/25. Examination of and intervention for a patient with chronic lateral elbow pain with signs of nerve entrapment.BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Lateral elbow pain has several causes, which can make diagnosis difficult. The purpose of this case report is to describe the examination of and the intervention for a patient with chronic lateral elbow pain who had signs of nerve entrapment. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 43-year-old woman who had right lateral elbow pain for about 4 months, which she attributed to extensive keyboard work on a computer. She had a reduction in joint passive range of motion during "neural tension testing," an examination procedure to detect nerve entrapment. This sign, in combination with other findings, suggested that the patient had a mild entrapment of the deep radial nerve (radial tunnel syndrome). The patient was treated 14 times over a 10-week period with "neural mobilization techniques," which are designed to free nerves for movement; ultrasound; strengthening exercises; and stretching. OUTCOMES: The patient had minimal symptoms at discharge, was pain-free, and had resumed all activities at a 4-month follow-up visit. DISCUSSION: Neural tension testing may be a useful examination procedure and mobilization may be useful for intervention for patients who have lateral elbow pain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/25. Suprascapular nerve entrapment secondary to a lipoma.Many causes of suprascapular nerve entrapment have been described including a small spinoglenoid notch, a tight ligament, boney spurs, and ganglion cysts. In the current patient, suprascapular nerve entrapment was caused by a lipoma in the suprascapular notch. The patient presented with painful shoulder motion that could have been attributed to rotator cuff and acromioclavicular joint disease. However, magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography were consistent with suprascapular nerve entrapment. Treatment of the rotator cuff disease and excision of the lipoma led to resolution of the patient's symptoms. This case is presented as an unusual cause of suprascapular nerve entrapment with a review of its course and anatomy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/25. Changes in nerve root motion and intraradicular blood flow during an intraoperative straight-leg-raising test.STUDY DESIGN: An intraoperative straight-leg-raising (SLR) test was conducted to investigate patients with lumbar disc herniation to observe the changes in intraradicular blood flow, which then were compared with the clinical features. OBJECTIVE: The legs of each patient were hung down from the operating table as a reverse SLR test during surgery, and intraradicular blood flow was measured. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: It is not known whether intraradicular blood flow changes during the SLR test in patients with lumbar disc herniation. methods: The subjects were 12 patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent microdiscectomy. The patients were asked to adopt the prone position immediately before surgery, so that their legs hung down from the operating table. A reverse SLR test was performed to confirm the angle at which sciatica developed. During the operation, the nerve roots affected by the hernia were observed under a microscope. Then the needle sensor of a laser Doppler flow meter was inserted into each nerve root immediately above the hernia. The patient's legs were allowed to hang down to the angle at which sciatica had occurred, and the change in intraradicular blood flow was measured. After removal of the hernia, a similar procedure was repeated, and intraradicular blood flow was measured again. RESULTS: Intraoperative microscopy showed that the hernia was adherent to the dura mater of the nerve roots in all patients. The intraoperative reverse SLR test showed that the hernia compressed the nerve roots, and that there was marked disturbance of gliding, which was reduced to only a few millimeters. During the test, intraradicular blood flow showed a sharp decrease at the angle that produced sciatica, which lasted for 1 minute. Intraradicular flow decreased by 40% to 98% (average, 70.6% /- 20.5%) in the L5 nerve root, and by 41% to 96% (average, 72.0% /- 22.9%) in the S1 nerve roots relative to the blood flow before the test. At 1 minute after completion of the test, intraradicular blood flow returned to the value obtained at baseline. After removal of the hernia, all thepatients showed smooth gliding of the nerve roots during the second intraoperative test, and there was no marked decrease in intraradicular blood flow. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the blood flow in the nerve root is reduced when the nerve root is compressed in vivo.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/25. Dislocation of the carpal scaphoid associated with median nerve compression: case report.Dislocation of the carpal scaphoid is a rare injury. A case of delayed diagnosis of scaphoid dislocation necessitating late treatment is described. The scaphoid was displaced anteromedially, causing compression of the median nerve in the carpal canal. Treatment consisted of carpal tunnel decompression and scapho-trapezium trapezoid fusion. Useful wrist motion without significant pain was restored.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/25. acupuncture treatment of compression neuropathy of the radial nerve: a single case report of "Saturday Night Palsy".PURPOSE: Evidence that acupuncture is effective for any type of motor nerve injury is limited to case reports and case series but these findings indicate benefit. observation that the radial nerve has the most rapid recovery of all peripheral nerves suggests that acupuncture might benefit treatment of "Saturday Night Palsy," a syndrome of radial-nerve compression. TREATMENT: A 41-year-old female with a 1-week history of inability to write or extend the right wrist received 1 acupuncture treatment utilizing the lung and Large Intestine meridians in the forearm, with the 2 meridians interconnected using the Luo and Yuan points. A cockup wrist splint was then applied. CONCLUSIONS: wrist motion with gravity neutralized returned immediately after treatment. As the day progressed, the patient reported increasing strength in wrist and finger extension. The next day, the patient cancelled the second acupuncture treatment, as her hand had recovered. Examination 4 months later revealed normal wrist and finger extension, sensation, and return of the brachioradialis reflex. The patient was symptom-free 1-year postinjury. acupuncture potentially facilitates recovery and may enhance treatment of peripheral motor nerve injury.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/25. Postoperative radial nerve paralysis caused by fracture callus.This is a case of late-onset (6 weeks) radial nerve paralysis following open reduction and internal fixation of a comminuted distal humerus fracture. A transected radial nerve within the callus was found at reoperation. The mechanism of transection was thought to be repetitive motion of the nerve across an edge of new bone. The nerve was repaired and tendon transfers done subsequently with less than full functional recovery at 16 months. No such case has been previously reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/25. Entrapment neuropathy contributing to dysfunction after birth brachial plexus injuries.Although surgical treatment of brachial plexus birth palsy has yielded encouraging results, persistent inability to abduct and elevate the shoulder is common even in children with excellent return of arm and hand function. The reason for deltoid weakness in the afflicted children is not completely understood and may be multifactorial. Clinical observations, including a pattern of position-dependent weakness, suggest that primary nerve damage may not be the sole cause. The authors performed a retrospective chart study to investigate the outcome of surgical treatment to augment shoulder function in a series of 10 children (ages 9 months to 8 years) with inadequate external rotation of the shoulder and inability to actively raise the arm beyond 90 degrees from a birth brachial plexus injury. At follow-up 6 months after surgery, increased shoulder range of motion was noticed in all, with significantly increased abduction/elevation in 8 of the 10 children. Analysis of data, including pre- and postoperative functional testing and intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring, led to the conclusion that secondary compression of the axillary nerve in the quadrangular space is a separate and common reason for impairment in children with brachial plexus birth palsy and persistent weakness of the deltoid muscle and may provide an important reason for early intervention.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/25. Heterotopic ossification and peripheral nerve entrapment: early diagnosis and excision.Heterotopic ossification can occur in neurologic disorders, burns, musculoskeletal trauma, and metabolic disorders. In addition to producing the complications of contracture, skin breakdown, and pain, it can cause peripheral nerve entrapment. Nerve entrapment due to heterotopic ossification may be misdiagnosed, and it is difficult to evaluate and treat without recurrence. Computed tomography is especially useful in localization before surgical release of the entrapped nerve. Resection of heterotopic ossification can be successful using disodium etidronate to decrease the risk of recurrence, and resection can improve range of motion and nerve function. Two case studies of nerve entrapment due to heterotopic ossification are presented with the results of computed tomography localization, successful resection, and long-term follow-up. Clinicians should be aware of this complication and the potential for rapid nerve injury. If heterotopic ossification is causing clinically significant peripheral nerve entrapment, early surgical treatment may be indicated, and may be successful.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = motion (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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