Acetyl Salicylic Acid Locally Enhances Functional Recovery after Sciatic Nerve Transection in Rat

Local effect of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) on peripheral nerve regeneration was studied using a rat sciatic nerve transection model. Forty-five male healthy White Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 15), randomly: Sham-operation (SHAM), control (SIL), and ASA-treated (SIL/ASA) groups. In SHAM group after anesthesia left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis the muscle was sutured. In SIL group the left sciatic nerve was exposed the same way and transected proximal to tibio-peroneal bifurcation leaving a 10-mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone tube and filled with 10 μl phosphate buffered solution. In SIL/ASA group defect was bridged using a silicone tube filled with 10 μl acetyl salisylic acid (0.1 mg/ml). Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of five animals each and were studied 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. Data were analyzed statistically by factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Bonferroni test for pair-wise comparisons. Functional study confirmed faster and better recovery of regenerated axons in SIL/ASA than in SIL group (p < 0.05). Gastrocnemius muscle mass in SIL/ASA was significantly more than in SIL group. Morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed that the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in SIL/ASA were significantly higher than in control group. In immuohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in SIL/ASA was clearly more positive than in SIL group. Response to local treatment of ASA demonstrates that it influences and improves functional recovery of peripheral nerve regeneration.     

Compression du rameau superficiel du nerf radial par un kyste synovial du coude (À propos d’un cas et revue de littérature)

Compression of the radial nerve at the elbow is quite rare; entrapment of its superficial branch is exceptional. Extrinsic compression is the most frequent etiology. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a major role in the diagnosis, and early surgical excision or echoguided drainage – in case of synovial ganglion – allows a total recovery. The authors report the case of a compression of the superficial branch of radial nerve by an elbow synovial cyst treated by surgical resection.     

Systemic Administration of Rolipram Increases Medullary and Spinal cAMP and Activates a Latent Respiratory Motor Pathway After High Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Background/Objective: High cervical spinal cord hemisection interrupts descending respiratory drive from the rostral ventral respiratory group in the medulla to the ipsilateral phrenic motoneurons. Hemisection results in the paralysis of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm. Chronic administration of rolipram, a specific phosphodiesterase-IV inhibitor, promotes synaptic plasticity and restores phrenic nerve function after a high cervical spinal cord lesion. Here, we test the hypothesis that an acute administration of rolipram will increase spinal and medullary levels of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and induce phrenic nerve recovery after cervical (C2) spinal cord hemisection.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to left C2 hemisection surgery 1 week before experimentation. Bilateral phrenic nerve activity was recorded in anesthetized, vagotomized, and pancuronium paralyzed rats, and rolipram was intravenously applied (2 mg/kg).

Results: Intravenous administration of rolipram increased phrenic nerve output in uninjured control and left C2 spinal cord-hemisected rats. In addition, rolipram restored respiratory-related activity to the left phrenic nerve made quiescent by the hemisection. In both uninjured and hemisected rats, rolipram significantly enhanced phrenic inspiratory burst amplitude and burst area compared with predrug values. Also, rolipram concomitantly increased spinal and medullary cAMP.

Conclusions: These results suggest that a phosphodiesterase inhibitor capable of elevating cAMP levels can enhance phrenic nerve output and restore respiratory-related phrenic nerve function after high cervical spinal cord injury. Thus, targeting the cAMP signaling cascade can be a useful therapeutic approach in promoting synaptic efficacy and respiratory recovery after cervical spinal cord injury.     

Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures for cervical pain

Ultrasound is a particularly valuable imaging technique when performing nerve blocks at the cervical level. High-frequency probes provide high-quality resolution and are safe in skilled hands. Typically, interventions performed at the cervical level have been carried out with the help of x-rays, with the corresponding disadvantages such as the exposure to radiation and the inherent inability to observe radiotransparent structures such as blood vessels and nerves. Ultrasound allows us to visualize soft tissues and guide the tip of the needle to our target, without harming particularly delicate structures found in the path of the needle. This is important in nerve root blocks where the identification of periradicular nerves is crucial for the safety of the block itself. Likewise, ultrasound allows us to manipulate the needle with greater precision in the correct location; as is the case in cervical sympathetic nerve block where we can observe the injection of the liquid behind the prevertebral fascia and in front of the fascia of the longus colli muscle. In this article, we describe the most frequent techniques used in the pain clinic to treat headache and cervical pain, with special emphasis on the safety of the procedure.     

Contralateral electrodiagnosis in patients with abnormal median distal sensory latency

Background

We hypothesized that electrodiagnostic evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) on the contralateral, less-severe side correlates with disease severity.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 285 adults that had bilateral electrodiagnostic testing and a median distal sensory latency (DSL) greater than 3.6 ms on at least one side. Variables associated with abnormal contralateral median DSL were analyzed in bivariable and multivariable analysis.

Results

Patients with a nonrecordable median DSL on the worst side were significantly more likely to have electrodiagnostic evidence of contralateral CTS compared to patients with a prolonged DSL on the worst side (90 versus 65 %, respectively; p < 0.001). Bilateral symptoms were reported by 75 % of patients. The best logistic regression model for electrodiagnostic evidence of contralateral CTS included nonrecordable median DSL of the worst side and polyneuropathy (p < 0.001 and p = 0.14, respectively).

Conclusions

The finding that disease severity relates to the probability of contralateral abnormalities is consistent with the concept that CTS is typically bilateral. Patients with CTS on one side should be advised of the likelihood that it can be present or may develop on the other side.     

尺神经沟置针术式治疗儿童GartlandⅢ型肱骨髁上骨折

背景：交叉克氏针内固定是目前治疗儿童GartlandⅢ型肱骨髁上骨折的首选方法,但仍未从根本上解决并发症发生问题。目的：评价尺神经沟置针术式治疗儿童GartlandⅢ型肱骨髁上骨折的可行性及疗效。 方法：1998年1月到2010年10月采用尺神经沟置针术式治疗儿童GartlandⅢ型肱骨髁上骨折患儿144例,随访时检查环小指运动及感觉情况,测量双上肢长度、肘关节活动度,摄双肘正位片测量Baumann角或提携角。采用HSS肘关节功能评价法评分标准进行肘关节功能评定。 结果：144例患儿,随访14~85个月,平均60个月,根据HSS肘关节功能评定法行功能评价：优140例,良4例,无肘内翻和肘外翻畸形发生,无继发尺神经损伤,肢体无短缩。 结论：尺神经沟置针术式治疗儿童GartlandⅢ型肱骨髁上骨折可获得良好的肘关节功能及外观,预防了肘内翻畸形及继发尺神经损伤,且对骨骺生长发育无明显影响。