Nerve ultrasound in a case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is the most common acquired immune‐mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system. The diagnosis is based mainly on the clinical presentation and electrophysiological detection of demyelination. Methods: Several MRI studies have demonstrated hypertrophy and abnormal enhancement of spinal nerve roots or brachial plexus in CIDP, but there have been only anecdotal reports of similar sonographic findings. Results: This article reports the sonographic findings of a CIDP case and includes a review of the literature and previously reported cases. Conclusions: This case report highlights the importance of sonography in the localization and recognition of focal nerve enlargements in patients with CIDP. This method could be a helpful tool in the diagnosis of conduction block in CIDP, especially in cases where a nerve segment cannot be explored easily with the inching technique. Systematic data are needed to confirm this observation. Muscle Nerve 47:443‐446, 2013     

Utility of ultrasound‐guided near‐nerve needle recording for lateral femoral cutaneous sensory nerve conduction study: Does it increase reliability compared with surface recording?

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of a near‐nerve needle recording technique in lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS). Methods: Bilateral LFCN sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) were recorded from 10 healthy volunteers using surface and near‐nerve needle recording electrodes. Absolute amplitudes were compared side‐to‐side in each subject and between the 2 techniques. Results: Near‐nerve needle electrode recording amplitude was significantly higher when compared with surface electrode recording (surface 9 μV, needle 58 μV; P < 0.0001), whereas side‐to‐side variability did not differ (surface 37%, needle 37%; P = 0.94). Conclusions: We propose that near‐nerve needle recording is a simple technique to employ for clinicians with experience in ultrasound‐guided needle placement, especially when evaluation is critical and responses are difficult to obtain. However, given the degree of side‐to‐side variability in healthy subjects, we recommend caution when interpreting side‐to‐side differences. Muscle Nerve, 2013     

Ultrasound as visual feedback in speech habilitation: Exploring consultative use in rural British Columbia,Canada

Ultrasound has shown promise as a visual feedback tool in speech therapy. Rural clients, however, often have minimal access to new technologies. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate consultative treatment using ultrasound in rural communities. Two speech‐language pathologists (SLPs) trained in ultrasound use provided consultation with ultrasound in rural British Columbia to 13 school‐aged children with residual speech impairments. Local SLPs provided treatment without ultrasound before and after the consultation. Speech samples were transcribed phonetically by independent trained listeners. Eleven children showed greater gains in production of the principal target // after the ultrasound consultation. Four of the seven participants who received more consultation time with ultrasound showed greatest improvement. Individual client factors also affected outcomes. The current study was a quasi‐experimental clinic‐based study. Larger, controlled experimental studies are needed to provide ultimate evaluation of the consultative use of ultrasound in speech therapy.     

糖尿病病程对糖尿病下肢周围神经病变的影响

目的探讨糖尿病（DM）病程对糖尿病周围神经病变（DPN）严重程度及下肢周围神经显微减压术疗效的影响,以及糖尿病周围神经病变早期诊断、早期手术的意义。方法以5年糖尿病痛程作为标准,将我科近年收治的1526例糖尿痛周围神经病患者分为短DM病程组和长DM病程组,按Dellon术式对卡压的神经进行下肢周围神经显微减压术。所有患者术前、术后1.5年进行神经高频超声、定量感觉检查（QST）、神经感觉传导速度（NCV）检测,并选取50例正常人群作为对照组检测相同指标。结果与对照组相比,DPN患者的NCV、冷感觉阈值较低,热感觉阈值、振动觉阈值及神经横断面积（CSA）较高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。患者术后各项指标明显改善,与术前相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。短DM病程DPN患者术前和术后各指标均优于长DM病程DPN患者,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。短DM病程DPN患者NCV阳性检测率为71．5％,QST阳性检测率为93．7％;长DM病程DPN患者NCV阳性检测率为90．3％,QST阳性检测率为95．3％。结论糖尿病痛程对DPN患者发病时的严重程度至关重要,同时也对DPN患者的手术疗效和预后产生影响。DPN的早期诊断、早期手术具有重要临床价值。     

超声引导下骶管阻滞麻醉在肛肠手术中的应用

 目的 探讨超声引导下骶管阻滞麻醉在肛肠手术中应用效果。方法 选取2017-01至2018-03医院行肛肠手术患者208例,随机分为超声组和对照组,每组104例。 超声组予以超声引导定位骶管阻滞麻醉,对照组以传统解剖定位骶管阻滞麻醉。分别记录两组患者的穿刺情况(穿刺时间、穿刺针调整次数、麻醉起效时间和痛觉消失时间)、麻醉成功率及患者满意度和麻醉后并发症情况。结果 超声组穿剌针调整(2.50±0.50)次,明显少于对照组的(5.00±1.00)次,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);麻醉起效时间(2.85±1.30)min,明显短于对照组的(4.88±0.92)min;痛觉消失时间(4.85±1.24)min,明显短于对照组的(7.86±2.12)min,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);超声组麻醉Ⅰ级比率及麻醉成功率均明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。超声组麻醉Ⅲ级比率明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。超声组出现血肿、出血和神经损伤相关并发症明显少于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 超声引导下骶管阻滞麻醉在肛肠手术中可准确定位,提高阻滞麻醉成功率,减少并发症,提高患者满意度。     

高频超声对膝关节半月板急慢性损伤的诊断价值分析

目的分析探讨高频超声对膝关节半月板急慢性损伤的诊断价值。方法选取2017年1月至2018年2月牡丹江医学院第二附属医院收治的50例膝关节半月板急慢性损伤患者(设为研究组)及50例健康体检者(设为对照组)作为研究对象,应用高频超声检测其膝关节滑膜厚度、髌上囊积液深度及滑膜血流状况,并予以对比。结果研究组患者膝关节半月板在基线外侧较为突出且可见点状或条状强回声区,内侧副韧带变形,部分患者伴有不同程度的水肿,滑膜厚度为(6.25±2.20) mm,髌上囊积液深度为(7.35±1.45) mm,滑膜血流为0级者23例、Ⅰ级者12例、Ⅱ级者12例、Ⅲ级者3例;对照组研究对象膝关节半月板回声强度中等且均匀,边缘清晰,滑膜厚度为(1. 10±0.46) mm,髌上囊积液深度为(2. 12±0.43) mm,滑膜血流为0级者38例、Ⅰ级者12例。两组研究对象膝关节滑膜厚度、髌上囊积液深度及滑膜血流状况对比,P均0.01,差异具有统计学意义。结论高频超声对膝关节滑膜厚度、髌上囊积液及滑膜血流均较敏感,在膝关节半月板急慢性损伤的诊断中特异性较高,且操作简便,可作为膝关节半月板急慢性损伤的首选诊断方法予以推广、普及。     

Comparison of electrodiagnosis,neurosonography and MR neurography in localization of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

IntroductionIn patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) the precise determination of the site of lesion is important for subsequent differential diagnostic considerations and therapeutic management. Due to a paucity of comparable data, to better define the role of different diagnostic tests, we performed the first prospective study comparing the diagnostic accuracy of short segment nerve stimulation, nerve ultrasonography, MR neurography (MRN), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients with UNE.MethodsUNE was clinically diagnosed in 17 patients with 18 affected elbows. For all 18 affected elbows in patients and 20 elbows in 10 healthy volunteers, measurements of all different diagnostic tests were performed at six anatomical positions across the elbow with measuring points from distal (D4) to proximal (P6) in relation to the medial epicondyle (P0). Additional qualitative assessment regarding structural changes of surrounding nerve anatomy was conducted.ResultsThe difference between affected arms of patients and healthy control arms were most frequently the largest at measure intervals D2 to P0 and P0 to P2 for electrophysiological testing, or measure points P0 and P2 for all other devices, respectively. At both levels P0 and at P2, T2 contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of MRN and mean diffusivity (MD) of DTI-based MRN showed best accuracies.DiscussionThis study revealed differences in diagnostic performance of tests concerning a specific location of UNE, with better results for T2 contrast to noise ratio (CNR) in MRN and mean diffusivity of DTI-based MRN. Additional testing with MRN and nerve ultrasonography is recommended to uncover anatomical changes.