Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery: Report of patient satisfaction

Abstract

Recently, a trend has developed to use an endoscope to achieve carpal tunnel release. Proponents of the endoscopic technique believe it has benefits to patients that include minimal incision, minimal pain and scarring, a shortened recovery period and a high level of patient satisfaction. To test these beliefs, a retrospective analysis of the first 42 cases that were done between May 1997 and June 1998 was completed. Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery was performed on patients with the classical clinical and neurophysiological findings of carpal tunnel syndrome. The procedure was performed in an outpatient surgery center under primarily local anesthesia and by the same neurosurgeon (RG), who was blind to data analysis. The biportal technique (Instratek Inc., Houston, TX, USA) was used as described by Brown. The first 42 patients (n = 35, seven patients had bilateral surgeries) were sent a survey (modified Health Outcomes Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, Health Outcomes, Bloomington, MN, USA) that measured a wide spectrum of variables, with a year follow-up. Patient demography indicated wide patient selection. All subjects (100%) had claimed work-related injury. Patient satisfaction was reported in 86%. No or mild incisional pain, night pain, absent tingling, and improved grip strengthening were reported in 100%, 95%, 81%, and 85% respectively. The mean for return to daily activity and work was 14 and 25 days respectively. No recurrent hematoma, infection, or structure injury was reported. Endoscopic carpal tunnel release can be done safely and effectively with excellent self-reports of patient satisfaction. Reduced recovery period and hospitalization with minimal tissue violation and incisional pain can be expected. [Neurol Res 2000; 22: 551-555]     

Ureteroscopic treatment of multiple distal-ureteral stones

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ureteroscopic intracorporeal lithotripsy for solitary distal-ureteral stones may be considered a first-line therapy. However, few reports that mention ureteroscopic procedures for multiple ureteral stones were found in the literature. Retrospectively, we reviewed our patients who were treated by ureteroscopy for multiple distal-ureteral stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy for unilateral multiple distal-ureteral stones. Ten patients had two stones, four patients had three stones, and another patient had five stones. The average stone number per ureteral unit was 2.44, and the average stone size was 9.7 mm (range 3-23 mm). RESULTS: Eighty percent of the patients (12/15) who had unilateral stones were stone free after the first session of ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy. Two patients underwent a second ureteroscopy procedure for the remaining stone or failure of ureteral access. Overall, 93.3% of the patients (14/15) were stone free. Ureteral perforation as a major complication occurred in one patient (6.6%), who was treated by open surgery. We did not routinely use Double-J ureteral stents after ureteroscopy. Only one patient required stenting because of failure of ureteral access. Steinstrasse was observed in three patients, but it resolved spontaneously in the early postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy has a high success rate with few complications for the treatment of unilateral multiple distal-ureteral stones. Ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy seems very effective for such stones.     

First case report of empyema caused by Beauveria bassiana

Infections with Beauveria bassiana are extremely rare in humans. A 51-year-old man was admitted to hospital with the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. Thoracic wall resection with lobectomy was applied and empyema has developed after prolonged air leakage. B. bassiana was isolated in pleural fluid. The patient improved without antifungal therapy after thoracotomy with securing of air leakage.     

A randomised clinical trial of radiotherapy plus cisplatin versus radiotherapy alone in stage III non-small cell lung cancer

This study was designed to compare high-dose fractionated radiotherapy alone versus the same radiotherapy plus cisplatin in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We randomly assigned 176 patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer to one of two treatments; fractionated radiotherapy alone at dose of 64 Gy for 6-7 weeks (2 Gy given 32 times, in five fractions a week) or radiotherapy in the same schedule, combined with 20mg/m2 cisplatin 1 h before radiotherapy, given on days 1-5 of the second and sixth treatment weeks. The frequency of loco-regional progression was 68% among the patients who received radiotherapy plus cisplatin and 86% among those who received radiotherapy alone (P = 0.0001). The probability of survival free of disease after 3 years was 10% among the patients assigned to radiotherapy plus cisplatin and 0% among those treated only with radiotherapy (P = 0.0006). Overall survival at 3 years was 10% among those given radiotherapy plus cisplatin and 2% among those who received radiotherapy alone (P = 0.00001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that radiotherapy plus cisplatin significantly improved loco-regional progression-free survival and overall survival, irrespective of radiation dose. The addition of cisplatin to fractionated radiotherapy prolongs loco-regional progression-free interval and survival in stage III non-small cell lung cancer.     

Preventing stem cell incorporation into choroidal neovascularization by targeting homing and attachment factors

PURPOSE: The primary cause of vision loss in people more than 50 years of age in developed nations is age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The wet form of ARMD is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A prior study has shown that adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) contribute to approximately 50% of newly formed vasculature in CNV. Stromal-derived factor (SDF)-1 is involved with homing of HSCs from bone marrow to target tissue. Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin, or CD144) is involved in endothelial cell adhesion. Preventing homing and/or adhesion of progenitor cells to damaged choroid could reduce CNV. METHODS: Adult C57BL/6J mice were lethally irradiated, and then received a transplant of purified c-kit+Sca-1+ HSCs from the bone marrow of green fluorescent protein (gfp) homozygous donor mice. Bruch's membrane rupture by laser photocoagulation was used to induce CNV. Animals were injected subretinally with anti-SDF-1, anti-CD144, or control, before or after laser photocoagulation. The eyes were enucleated, and the neural retinas were separated from the RPE/choroid/sclera complex. All tissues were flatmounted and qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: CNV lesions from eyes treated with anti-CD144 showed significantly less incorporation of gfp+ cells compared with those treated with anti-SDF-1. Antibody treatment generally reduced the degree of gfp+ stem cell recruitment and incorporation into the CNV lesions, compared with the control. Treatment with either antibody also significantly reduced the size of the CNV lesions. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that homing and adhesion of progenitor cells to CNV may be targeted differentially or in combination to prevent CNV.     

Analysis of chest injuries sustained during the 1999 Marmara earthquake

Purpose: The chest injury pattern after a major earthquake is not well understood because data on the type of trauma and surgical intervention are limited. This study was conducted to analyze patients who sustained chest injury during the Marmara earthquake that struck Turkey on August 17, 1999 registering 7.4 on the Richter scale. Methods: The medical reports of 528 patients transported to a military hospital in the first 48 h after the earthquake were reviewed. Two chest surgeons examined these 528 patients, 19 of whom (4%) had suffered a major chest injury. We retrospectively evaluated the injury pattern, Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) in these 19 patients. Results: Eight patients (42%) had isolated chest injuries and 11 (58%) had suffered injury to more than one organ system, including chest trauma. The mean AIS and ISS were assigned as 2.9 (SD: 1) and 22 (SD: 7), respectively. Three (16%) of the 19 patients died, all of whom had suffered multiple injuries. The mean ISS of these three patients was 28.7 (range 25–34). Chest injury after a major earthquake was associated with an overall mortality rate of 16%, but chest injury with multiple injuries and an ISS over 25 was associated with a mortality rate of 60%. All patients with isolated chest injuries survived. Conclusion: Coexistent trauma with chest injury and an ISS over 25 were defined as poor prognostic factors for patients rescued after a major earthquake. Received: April 16, 2001 / Accepted: March 5, 2002