Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

Place et modalités de l’irradiation postopératoire dans la prise en charge des métastases cérébrales

Metastases are the most common brain tumors. After surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of the resection cavity is the standard of care. Data from two randomized trials indicate that SRT to the surgical bed is an effective treatment in reducing local failure as compared with observation, while reducing the risk of cognitive deterioration and maintaining quality of life as compared with whole brain radiation therapy. Local control appears higher after hypofractionated SRT compared to single-fraction SRT. Several questions such as target volumes, the optimal regimen in particular for large tumor bed, strategies to reduce the risk of lepto-meningeal recurrence, and the treatment sequence still need to be answered.     

脑电仿生电刺激对脑梗死后认知功能障碍的影响

目的观察脑电仿生电刺激小脑顶核对脑梗死后认知功能障碍的影响,并探讨其可能的机制。方法选取脑梗死后并发认知功能障碍患者50例,随机分成治疗组与对照组各25例。2组患者均接受康复治疗及认知功能训练,治疗组同时加用脑电仿生电刺激进行干预。2组患者分别于治疗前后应用蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)、简易精神状态量表(MMSE)评定认知功能变化,采用经颅多普勒超声(TCD)评估颅内动脉血流动力学改变。结果治疗后2组患者MoCA评分、MMSE评分均较组内治疗前提高(P<0.05),且治疗组评分明显较对照组高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后2组患者颅内动脉血流动力学较组内治疗前改善(P<0.05),且治疗组较对照组改善更显著,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组与对照组总有效率分别为92%和64%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论脑电仿生电刺激小脑顶核可有效改善脑梗死患者的认知功能,其可能机制是通过改善患者的脑循环进一步改善认知功能。