‘Wondering and waiting’ after obstetrical brachial plexus injury: Are we underestimating the effects of the traumatic experience on the families?

BACKGROUND:

Obstetrical brachial plexus injury (OBPI) in children can cause great distress to a family due to uncertain recovery, variability in spontaneous recovery and unclear indicators for surgery.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the impact of having a child with OBPI on the family and whether the Impact on Family Scale (IoFS) can assist in addressing family concerns.

METHODS:

A mixed-method (cross-sectional survey and semistructured interviews) study design was used.

RESULTS:

Thirty-eight families of children with OBPI completed the IoFS. Surgery significantly predicted a higher IoFS total impact score (P=0.02). No statistically significant association between the total impact score and severity or age was found, suggesting that impact on family was not dependent on these factors. Themes that emerged from the interviews included traumatic birthing experience, wondering and waiting, and experiencing surgery.

CONCLUSION:

All families should receive support and acknowledgement of the widespread impact of OBPI.     

An early shoulder repositioning program in birth-related brachial plexus injury: a pilot study of the Sup-ER protocol

Background

Birth-related brachial plexus injury (BRBPI) occurs in 1.2/1,000 births in British Columbia. Even in children with “good” recovery, external rotation (ER) and supination (Sup) are often weaker, and permanent skeletal imbalance ensues. A preventive early infant shoulder passive repositioning program was created using primarily a novel custom splint holding the affected arm in full ER and Sup: the Sup-ER splint. The details of the splint and the shoulder repositioning program evolved with experience over several years. This study reviews the first 4 years.

Methods

A retrospective review of BCCH patients managed with the Sup-ER protocol from 2008 to 2011 compared their recovery scores to matched historical controls selected from our database by two independent reviewers.

Results

The protocol was initiated in 18 children during the study period. Six were excluded due to the following: insufficient data points, non-compliance, late splint initiation, and loss to follow-up. Of the 12 matches, the Sup-ER group final score at 2 years was better than controls by 1.18 active movement scale (AMS) points (p = 0.036) in Sup and 0.96 AMS points in ER (but not statistically significant (p = 0.13)). Unexpectedly, but importantly, during the study period, zero subjects were assessed to have the active functional criteria to indicate brachial plexus reconstruction, where previously we operated on 13 %.

Conclusions

Early application of passive shoulder repositioning into Sup and ER may improve outcomes in function of the arm in infants with BRBPI. A North American multi-site randomized control trial has been approved and has started recruitment.     

超声引导下较低容量左布比卡因臂丛神经阻滞的术后镇痛效果

目的观察超声引导下较低容量左布比卡因腋路臂丛神经阻滞的术后镇痛效果。方法将ASAⅠ~Ⅲ级的60例患者随机分成两组,即超声引导下神经阻滞组和全身麻醉组,每组各30例。阻滞局麻药使用0.25%左布比卡因,在超声引导定位下,分别阻滞正中、尺、桡以及肌皮神经,总量20mL。疼痛评分采用视觉模拟评分（VAS评分）,观察术后1、2、4、12、24h的疼痛情况。结果与全身麻醉组比较,超声引导下神经阻滞组患者术后1、2、4h均获得较低的VAS评分（均为P〈0.001）。结论超声引导下使用20mL的0.25%左布比卡因行腋路臂丛神经阻滞,术后镇痛效果优于全身麻醉。     

Snuffbox approach for balloon aortic valvuloplasty: A case series

In the era of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the spectrum of indications for balloon aortic valvuloplasty is growing, especially in old and frail patients. Mini-invasive approaches via radial access reduce vascular complications and length of hospital stay. The snuffbox approach has never been described for Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV). We performed a review of patients who underwent BAV using distal radial access between January 2019 and December 2019 in a single Italian Centre. All patients received a 30-day follow-up. The procedure was successfully conducted by anatomical snuffbox in all reported cases. All patients were mobilized within 10 h from the procedure without vascular access-related complications. Thirty-day color Doppler ultrasound showed distal radial artery patency in 89% of cases. In our case series, the snuffbox approach for balloon aortic valvuloplasty appeared to be safe and feasible. This approach could be a valid alternative especially in old and frail adults waiting for TAVR.     

The ankle–brachial index and risk of incident stroke in Chinese hypertensive population without atrial fibrillation: A cross‐sectional study

We aimed to evaluate the relation of the ankle–brachial index (ABI) with the prevalence of stroke and to examine any possible effect modifiers among hypertensive patients without atrial fibrillation. A total of 10 750 subjects with hypertension aged 27‐96 years were included in the current study. The outcome was a stroke. Odds ratios of stroke concerning ABI were calculated using multivariate logistic regression models. Among 10 750 hypertensive participants, 690 (6.42%) had a stroke. Multivariate logistic analyses showed that ABI was negatively correlated with the prevalence of stroke (per SD increment; adjusted OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82‐0.94). Compared with participants in Q 1, the odds ratios (95% CI) for those in the Q2 (1.05 to 1.10), Q3 (1.10 to 1.15), and Q4 (≥1.15) were 0.71 (0.56, 0.90), 0.87 (0.70, 1.08), and 0.81 (0.65, 1.01), respectively. However, compared with higher ABI value, lower ABI value (<1.05) would significantly increase the odds of stroke (OR: 1.26, 95% CI [1.05‐1.50]), especially in the elderly over 65 years old. A generalized additive model and a smooth curve fitting showed that there existed an L‐shaped association between ABI and the prevalence of stroke. Our results suggest that an L‐shaped association between ABI and the prevalence of stroke was found in general hypertensive patients, with a turning point at about 1.05. Compared with higher ABI value, lower ABI value (<1.05) would significantly increase the prevalence of stroke (OR: 1.26, 95% CI [1.05‐1.50]), especially in the elderly over 65 years old.     

喙突下臂丛神经阻滞用于骨科上肢手术的效应观察

目的观察用神经刺激仪定位喙突下臂丛神经阻滞的临床效应。方法将80例ASAⅠ~Ⅱ级骨科肘关节以下部位择期手术患者按照随机数字表达法分为喙突下组(A组)和腋路组(B组),每组40例。分别应用神经刺激仪进行喙突下和腋路途径施行臂丛神经阻滞。记录两组阻滞起效时间和维持时间;比较臂丛阻滞效果及感觉阻滞成功率;记录副作用;评价综合满意度。结果同样浓度容量的局麻药,阻滞起效时间A组较B组短(P0.05);维持时间两组间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。桡神经、肌皮神经、腋神经、前臂内侧皮神经、正中神经感觉完全阻滞率A组为93.3%~100%,明显高于B组的60.0%~86.7%(P0.05);两组尺神经感觉完全阻滞率均为100%。两组均无副作用发生;综合满意度A组较B组高(P0.05)。结论用神经刺激仪定位喙突下臂丛阻滞操作简便,阻滞起效时间短,阻滞成功率高,效果确切。     

Electrodiagnostic features of true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome

Introduction: We report the electrodiagnostic (EDX) features of 32 patients with surgically verified true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TN‐TOS). Methods: Retrospective record review. Results: We found uniform EDX evidence of a chronic axon loss process that affected the lower portion of the brachial plexus and disproportionately involved the T1 more than the C8 sensory and motor fibers. Because of this relationship, the medial antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve (T1) and median motor (T1 > C8) study combination was abnormal in 89%, whereas response combinations that primarily assessed the C8 fibers were less frequently affected. Conclusions: The characteristic EDX features of TN‐TOS are T1 > C8 nerve fiber involvement. A comprehensive EDX examination of the lower plexus with contralateral comparison studies is imperative to diagnose this disorder accurately. Muscle Nerve 49 : 724–727, 2014     

Association between nutrition and peripheral artery disease in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Objective To investigate the association between nutrition and peripheral artery disease (PAD) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Methods One hundred and two stable CAPD patients from a single center were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Automatic ankle-brachial index (ABI) measuring system was applied to examine ABI. Patients were divided into PAD group (ABI＜0.9) and non-PAD group (ABI≥0.9). Clinical data were collected. Biochemical parameters were detected. Nutritional status was evaluated by serum albumin, handgrip strength (HGS) and subjective global assessment (SGA). Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association of PAD with each nutritional marker as well as other potential risk factors. Results The incidence of PAD was 23.53% (24/102). ABI was significantly lower in patients with malnutrition as compared to those without malnutrition [(0.72±0.21) vs (1.04±0.14), P＜0.01]. Compared with non-PAD patients, serum albumin (P＜0.01), HGS (P＜0.01), diastolic blood pressure (P＜0.05), serum creatine (P＜0.05)、blood urine nitrogen (P＜0.01) were significantly decreased, but age (P＜0.01), the incidence of malnutrition [SGA, P＜0.01], diabetic status (P＜0.01), cardiovascular disease history (P＜0.01) were significantly increased in PAD patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that serum albumin (OR=0.762, 95％CI：0.611-0.948, P=0.015), HGS (OR=0.988, 95％CI：0.979-0.997, P=0.013) were independent protective factors for PAD, malnutrition [(SGA), OR=21.101, 95％CI：5.008-88.901, P＜0.01] was independent risk factor for PAD in CAPD patients. Conclusions The PAD incidence of CAPD patients in our center is 23.53%. Nutrition is independent factor associated with PAD in CAPD patients.     

Thoracic outlet: An anatomical redefinition that makes clinical sense

The diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is intrinsically difficult, and the literature about it is full of confusing terminology. Symptoms may arise due to compression of neural and/or vascular elements in one or more of three different locations. A number of tests were developed during the early part of this century, and a variety of syndromes have been described that relate to these tests, all of which are now considered to be subtypes of the thoracic outlet syndrome. Yet anatomists and clinicians fail to agree on even the definition of the thoracic outlet. It is proposed that anatomists not use the term thoracic inlet as a synonym for the superior thoracic aperture, nor thoracic outlet for the inferior thoracic aperture. What many clinicians call the thoracic outlet should be called the scalene triangle by both anatomists and clinicians, divisible into a lower portion to be called the thoracic outlet (for subclavian vessels and nerve roots C.8 and T.1) and an upper portion, the cervical outlet (for nerve roots C.5, C.6, and normally C.7). What is currently called thoracic outlet syndrome should be renamed the cervico-axillary syndrome (CAS), divisible into three subtypes: thoracic outlet, costoclavicular, and pectoralis minor syndromes. Compression of the upper roots of the brachial plexus between the anterior and middle scalene muscles should be recognized as cervical outlet syndrome, and all terms containing the word scalenus should be discarded. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.