Search

Midline lumbar fusion (MIDLF) is one promising new surgical technique that has been developed to minimize perioperative damage to the paravertebral stabilizing musculotendinous system. The aim of this study was to assess long-term clinical and radiological effects of MIDLF.This prospective cohort study evaluated patients who underwent MIDLF for degenerative spinal instability. Clinical and radiological examinations were performed before and after surgery. Perioperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Follow-up was 2 years. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.The study included 64 patients (mean age 58.9 ± 10.7 years; 41 women [64.1%]). The most frequent indication for MIDLF was degenerative spondylolisthesis grade I (28 cases [43.8%]); the prevalent spinal segment to be fused was L4-L5 (35 cases [54.7%]). Mean duration of surgery was 148.2 ± 28.9 minutes. Relief of low back pain and leg pain was significant and stable in the postoperative period as assessed by visual analog scale (P0.001). Of patients, 86.9% reported fair, good, or excellent outcomes in terms of pain relief based on MacNab score 2 years after surgery. Patients' level of function in activities of daily living improved significantly based on Oswestry Disability Index score: from 66.8 ± 9.8 before surgery to 33.9 ± 16.5 2 years after surgery (P0.001). X-rays and computed tomography at 12 months showed interbody fusion in 46 cases (73.4%), inconclusive results in 13 cases (20.3%), and no fusion in 4 cases (6.3%). No damage to neural or vascular structures and no failure of hardware or screw loosening were recorded.MIDLF is a safe, efficient method for surgical treatment of lumbar spine instability. Its limited invasiveness contributes to better preservation of paravertebral muscles and enhanced postoperative spinal stability.

The potential to utilize the lower subscapular nerve for brachial plexus surgery has been suggested in many anatomical studies. However, we know of no studies in the literature describing the use of the lower subscapular nerve for axillary nerve reconstruction to date. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of this nerve transfer in patients with upper brachial plexus palsy. Of 1340 nerve reconstructions in 568 patients with brachial plexus injury performed by the senior author (P.H.), a subset of 18 patients underwent axillary nerve reconstruction using the lower subscapular nerve and constitutes the patient group for this study. The median age was 48 years, and the median time between trauma and surgery was 6 months. A concomitant radial nerve injury was found in 8 patients. Thirteen patients completed a minimum follow-up period of 24 months. Successful deltoid recovery was defined as (1) muscle strength MRC grade ≥ 3, (2) electromyographic signs of reinnervation, and (3) increase in deltoid muscle mass. Axillary nerve reconstruction was successful in 9 of 13 patients, which represents a success rate of 69.2%. No significant postoperative weakness of shoulder internal rotation or adduction was observed after transecting the lower subscapular nerve. The lower subscapular nerve can be used as a safe and effective neurotization tool for upper brachial plexus injury, having a success rate of 69.2% for axillary nerve repair. Our technique presents a suitable alternative for patients with concomitant radial nerve injury.

Brachial plexus injuries are usually severe and involve the entire brachial plexus, sometimes occurring with root avulsions. Imaging and electrodiagnostic studies are an essential part of the lesion evaluation; however, the results sometimes show a discrepancy. The cutaneous silent period (SP) is a spinal inhibitory reflex mediated by small-diameter A-delta nociceptive fibers. The aim of the study was to determine if cutaneous SP testing may serve as a useful aid in evaluation of brachial plexus injury and/or in the diagnosis of root avulsion.In 19 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury (15 males, age 18-62 years) we performed a clinical examination, CT myelography and neurophysiological testing. A needle EMG was obtained from muscles supplied by C5-T1 myotomes. Cutaneous SP was recorded after painful stimuli were delivered to the thumb (C6 dermatome), middle (C7) and little (C8) fingers while subjects maintained voluntary contraction of intrinsic hand muscles.Electrodiagnostic and imaging studies confirmed root avulsion (partial or total) maximally involving C5, C6 roots in 12 patients, whereas only in 4 of them the cutaneous SP was partially absent. In the remaining subjects, the cutaneous SP was preserved.In brachial plexopathy even with plurisegmental root avulsion, the cutaneous SP was mostly preserved. This method cannot be recommended as a reliable test for diagnosis of single root avulsion; however, it can provide a quick physiological confirmation of functional afferent A-delta fibers through damaged roots and/or trunks. The clinicians may add this test to the diagnosis of spinal cord dysfunction.

Object Although a number of theoretical and experimental studies dealing with end-to-side neurorrhaphy (ETSN) have been published to date, there is still a considerable lack of clinical trials investigating this technique. Here, the authors describe their experience with ETSN in axillary and musculocutaneous nerve reconstruction in patients with brachial plexus palsy. Methods From 1999 to 2007, out of 791 reconstructed nerves in 441 patients treated for brachial plexus injury, the authors performed 21 axillary and 2 musculocutaneous nerve sutures onto the median, ulnar, or radial nerves. This technique was only performed in patients whose donor nerves, such as the thoracodorsal and medial pectoral nerves, which the authors generally use for repair of axillary and musculocutaneous nerves, respectively, were not available. In all patients, a perineurial suture was carried out after the creation of a perineurial window. Results The overall success rate of the ETSN was 43.5%. Reinnervation of the deltoid muscle with axillary nerve suture was successful in 47.6% of the patients, but reinnervation of the biceps muscle was unsuccessful in the 2 patients undergoing musculocutaneous nerve repair. Conclusions The authors conclude that ETSN should be performed in axillary nerve reconstruction but only when commonly used donor nerves are not available.

A palsy of the brachial plexus elements caused by carrying a heavy backpack is a very rare injury usually occurring in soldiers or hikers, and recovery is usually spontaneous. We describe here the case of male civilian presenting with an isolated serious axillary nerve palsy associated with chronic backpack use. During the surgery, a dumbbell-shaped neuroma-in-continuity was found which was caused by direct pressure from the subscapular artery. After resection of the neuroma, a nerve graft from the sural nerve was used to reconstruct the nerve. Reinnervation was successful and the patient was able to abduct his arm to its full range, with full muscle strength, within 24 months.

Object Nerve repair using motor fascicles of a different nerve was first described for the repair of elbow flexion (Oberlin technique). In this paper, the authors describe their experience with a similar method for axillary nerve reconstruction in cases of upper brachial plexus palsy. Methods Of 791 nerve reconstructions performed by the senior author (P.H.) between 1993 and 2011 in 441 patients with brachial plexus injury, 14 involved axillary nerve repair by fascicle transfer from the ulnar or median nerve. All 14 of these procedures were performed between 2007 and 2010. This technique was used only when there was a deficit of the thoracodorsal or long thoracic nerve, which are normally used as donors. Results Nine patients were followed up for 24 months or longer. Good recovery of deltoid muscle strength was seen in 7 (77.8%) of these 9 patients, and in 4 patients with less follow-up (14–23 months), for an overall success rate of 78.6%. The procedure was unsuccessful in 2 of the 9 patients with at least 24 months of follow-up. The first showed no signs of reinnervation of the axillary nerve by either clinical or electromyographic evaluation in 26 months of follow-up, and the second had Medical Research Council (MRC) Grade 2 strength in the deltoid muscle 36 months after the operation. The last of the group of 14 patients has had 12 months of follow-up and is showing progressive improvement of deltoid muscle function (MRC Grade 2). Conclusions The authors conclude that fascicle transfer from the ulnar or median nerve onto the axillary nerve is a safe and effective method for reconstruction of the axillary nerve in patients with upper brachial plexus injury.

Brachial plexus injuries occur in up to 5% of polytrauma cases involving motorcycle accidents and in approximately 4% of severe winter sports injuries. One of the criteria for a successful operative therapy is the type of lesion. Upper plexus palsy has the best prognosis, whereas lower plexus palsy is surgically untreatable. The aim of this study was to evaluate a group of patients with brachial plexus injury caused by traffic accidents, categorize the injuries according to type of accident, and look for correlations between type of palsy (injury) and specific accidents. A total of 441 brachial plexus reconstruction patients from our department were evaluated retrospectively (1993 to 2011). Sex, age, neurological status, and the type and cause of injury were recorded for each case. Patients with BPI caused by a traffic accident were assessed in detail. Traffic accidents were the cause of brachial plexus injury in most cases (80.7%). The most common type of injury was avulsion of upper root(s) (45.7%) followed by rupture (28.2%), complete avulsion (16.9%) and avulsion of lower root(s) (9.2%). Of the patients, 73.9% had an upper, 22.7% had a complete and only 3.4% had a lower brachial plexus palsy. The main cause was motorcycle accidents (63.2%) followed by car accidents (23.5%), bicycle accidents (10.7%) and pedestrian collisions (3.1%) (p

Decompressive surgery48 h from stroke onset reduces the prevalence of mortality and morbidity from malignant supratentorial infarction. We investigated if utilization of decompressive surgery changed in the Czech Republic (CZ) after the release of new guidelines regarding treatment of malignant brain infarction. The volume of decompressive surgery in 2009 in all centers in the CZ was assessed using the same methodology as in 2006. All neurosurgery departments in the CZ were asked to complete a questionnaire and asked to identify all cases of decompressive surgery for malignant brain infarction through a combination of discharge codes for "brain infarction" and "decompressive surgery" from electronic hospital charts. Data for 56 patients were obtained from 15 of the 16 neurosurgery departments in the CZ. The average age was 53 ± 13; number of males 20; median time to surgery was 48 h (range 24-62); median NIHSS score was 25 (IQR, 20-30); median infarct volume was 300 cm(3) [interquartile (IQR, 250-350)]; mean shift on CT was 10.6 ± 3.6 mm and size of hemicraniectomy was 125 cm(2) (IQR, 110-154). A favorable outcome was achieved in 45% of the patients. The number of procedures increased from 39 in 2,006 to 2,056 in 2009. Based on data from one stroke center, 10% suffered from malignant supratentorial infarction and 2.3% met the criteria for decompressive surgery. In 2009, as compared to 2006, the volume of decompressive surgery carried out moderately increased. However, procedures remained underutilized because only ~10% of those who needed decompressive surgery underwent surgery.

The results of 13 patients with end-to-side anastomosis of the axillary nerve to various donor nerves were presented. The results were evaluated by means of functional and electrophysiological methods following avulsion and subsequent reconstruction of the brachial plexus. End-to-side anastomosis of the rat musculocutaneous nerve ( n =12), with the ulnar one, was used in the experimental model. The retrograde tracers were applied to prove the reinnervation. Fair and good results were achieved in neurotization of the axillary nerve in 75% of patients with follow-up longer than 24 months. Electrophysiology proved reinnervation in 100% of the patients. The average muscle strength, according to the muscle test, was 3.80. The functional recovery started within 7–12 months postoperatively. Retrograde staining in the experimental model demonstrated the reinnervation of the rat bicep muscles after 3 months from end-to-side anastomosis, mainly by collateral reinnervation from the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve motoneurons (70±13) were able to send off collateral sprouts from their intact axons into the musculocutaneous nerve. Other motoneurons of the same pool (21±4) regenerated axons directly into the musculocutaneous nerve without collateral sprouting, probably due to the axonotmesis of the motor fibers during the preparation of the perineurial window. Our results demonstrated that end-to-side anastomosis of the peripheral nerve might successfully be used for reinnervation procedures of a brachial plexus injury, mainly in cases with insufficient sources of motor nerve fibers from neighboring intact motor nerves.

Purpose To determine whether there is a relationship between seatbelt use and type of brachial plexus injury seen in automobile accidents. Knowledge of such a relationship may help guide the surgical management of these patients. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 43 surgical patients with brachial plexus palsy caused by car accidents. We recorded sex, age, and type of injury for each case. We also obtained data regarding the patients' position in the car at the time of the accident and whether they were wearing a seatbelt. Results We obtained data on 39 men and 4 women. Of the seatbelted patients, 24 (100%) had upper plexus palsy on the side where the seatbelt crossed the shoulder. Of those who were not wearing seatbelts, 17 (86%) had complete plexus injuries. We also found 1 upper and 1 lower plexus injury in the unbelted group. Conclusions We found a relationship between the type of brachial plexus injury sustained by the accident victim and the use and position of the seatbelt. Complete plexus injuries were more common in those who were not wearing seatbelts. We saw upper plexus injuries for those wearing seatbelts. Information about seatbelt use may be useful in clinical practice. When treating an unbelted car accident victim with a brachial plexus injury, it is reasonable to anticipate a more serious form of the injury. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic IV.

Background Interruption of antithrombotic treatment before surgery may prevent bleeding, but at the price of increasing cardiovascular complications. This prospective study analysed the impact of antithrombotic therapy interruption on outcomes in non-selected surgical patients with known cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods All 1200 consecutive patients (age 74.2 ± 10.2 years) undergoing major non-cardiac surgery (37.4 % acute, 61.4 % elective) during a period of 2.5 years while having at least one CVD were enrolled. Details on medication, bleeding, cardiovascular complications and cause of death were registered. Results In-hospital mortality was 3.9 % (versus 0.9 % mortality among 17,740 patients without CVD). Cardiovascular complications occurred in 91 (7.6 %) patients (with 37.4 % case fatality). Perioperative bleeding occurred in 160 (13.3 %) patients and was fatal in 2 (1.2 % case fatality). Multivariate analysis revealed age, preoperative anaemia, history of chronic heart failure, acute surgery and general anaesthesia predictive of cardiovascular complications. For bleeding complications multivariate analysis found warfarin use in the last 3 days, history of hypertension and general anaesthesia as independent predictive factors. Aspirin interruption before surgery was not predictive for either cardiovascular or for bleeding complications. Conclusions Perioperative cardiovascular complications in these high-risk elderly all-comer surgical patients with known cardiovascular disease are relatively rare, but once they occur, the case fatality is high. Perioperative bleeding complications are more frequent, but their case fatality is extremely low. Patterns of interruption of chronic aspirin therapy before major non-cardiac surgery are not predictive for perioperative complications (neither cardiovascular, nor bleeding). Simple baseline clinical factors are better predictors of outcomes than antithrombotic drug interruption patterns.

Summary The application of cutaneous nerve grafts is accompanied by some disadvantages, including insufficient graft material for the reconstruction of a large mixed nerve. Recently, evacuated muscle autografts have been suggested as possible alternatives to cutaneous nerve grafts. In the present paper we have demonstrated a possible preparation of the evacuated muscle graft using an infiltration of Marcaine. The reinnervation of the distal stump of the rat median nerve was evaluated by morphological and morphometric analysis after application of the muscle acellular grafts prepared by three methods: an ordinary freeze-thawed muscle graft, a Marcaine evacuated muscle graft and a Marcaine treated graft with subsequent freezing and thawing. A comparison of the numbers and diameters of the myelinated axons in the distal nerve stumps revealed very similar conditions for axon regrowth and maturation in Marcaine evacuated and freeze-thawed muscle grafts. The best results with myelinated axon numbers and spectrum of their calibres were obtained when the Marcaine treated graft was repeatedly frozen and thawed. The pre-treatment of the muscle graft by Marcaine prevents it from shrinking and fragmenting, the main disadvantage during freeze-thawing of fresh muscle. The present results demonstrate that infiltration of striated muscles with a myotoxic compound, e. g. Marcaine, with subsequent freezing-thawing is the method of choice for the preparation of an acellular muscle graft used in peripheral nerve reconnection in the experimental model.

Background: Many experimental studies have confirmed collateral sprouting of axons after end-to-side neurorrhaphy and its possible clinical application. There is still controversy about how the surgical method should be carried out. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively evaluate collateral sprouting of motor and sensory axons after end-to-side neurorrhaphy with and without the perineurial window. Methods: End-to-side neurorrhaphy of the distal stump of transected musculocutaneous nerve with intact ulnar nerve with or without a perineurial window was performed in a rat model. Collateral sprouts were quantitatively evaluated by counting of motor and sensory neurons following their retrograde labeling by Fluoro-Ruby and Fluoro-Emerald applied to the ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves, respectively. Results: Our results show that significantly more motor and sensory axons sent their collateral branches into the recipient nerve in the group with a perineurial window. Some axons were injured during preparation of the perineurial window; the injured axons reinnervated directly into the recipient nerve to contribute to results of functional reinnervation. Conclusion: The authors conclude that it is necessary to create a perineurial window when using end-to-side neurorrhaphy in clinical practice, especially in brachial plexus reconstruction. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 130: 609, 2012.)

Background Brachial plexus injury occurs in up to 5% of polytrauma cases involving motorcycle crashes and in approximately 4% of severe winter sports injuries. One of the conditions for the success of operative therapy is early detection, ideally within three months of injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate associated injuries in patients with severe brachial plexus injury and determine whether there is a characteristic concomitant injury (or injuries), the presence of which, in the polytrauma, could act as a marker for nerve structures involvement and whether there are differences in severity of polytrauma accompanying specific types of brachial plexus injury. Methods We evaluated retrospectively 84 surgical patients from our department, from 2008 to 2011, that had undergone brachial plexus reconstruction. For all, an injury severity scale (ISS) score and all major associated injuries were determined. Results 72% of patients had an upper, 26% had a complete and only 2% had a lower brachial plexus palsy. The main cause was motorcycle crashes (60%) followed by car crashes (15%). The average ISS was 35.2 (SD = 23.3), although, values were significantly higher in cases involving a coma (59.3, SD = 11.0). The lower and complete plexus injuries were significantly associated with coma and fractures of the shoulder girdle and injuries of lower limbs, thoracic organs and head. Upper plexus injuries were associated with somewhat less severe injuries of the upper and lower extremities and less severe injuries of the spine. Conclusion Serious brachial plexus injury is usually accompanied by other severe injuries. It occurs in high-energy trauma and it can be stated that patients involved in motorcycle and car crashes with multiple fractures of the shoulder girdle are at high risk of nerve trauma. This is especially true for patients in a primary coma. Lower and complete brachial plexus injuries are associated with higher injury severity scale.

Injury to pelvic nerves during laparoscopy mostly occurs in gynecological and urological procedures. In abdominal surgery, these complications are infrequent. We present a case report of a patient who suffered a rare obturator nerve injury during a laparoscopic hernioplasty caused by clipping the nerve to the edge of the mesh. After revision and release of nerve from the clip and scars tissue, the associated pain rapidly disappeared and thigh adduction strength improved. Now, 4 years later, MRI and EMG show no sign of nerve compression.

Musculus dorsoepitrochlearis is a typical muscle variation, which, if in full extent, is represented by the muscular or fibromuscular slip detached from the anteroinferior border of the musculus latissimus dorsi. It passes over the axilla under the axillary fascia crossing the medial side of the brachial plexus and continues as a septum intermusculare mediale brachii distally to the medial epicondyle of humerus. Its full extent is rarely developed—the connection into the intermuscular septum being mostly absent. Muscular slips from the musculus latissimus then insert on various structures in the axilla, often on the crest of greater tubercle of humerus or into the musculus pectoralis major (this variation is known as the axillary arch of Langer) or to other neighboring structures (coracoid process, fasciae of muscles). In our observations, 209 patients with traumatic lesions of the brachial plexus underwent surgical procedure. The presence of the musculus dorsoepitrochlearis has been observed. It was found in the form of various slips from the musculus latissimus dorsi in 4 patients. In 3 of those 4 patients, the innervation was derived from the nervus thoracodorsalis. We also presented 2 case reports of patients with clinical symptoms caused by compression of nerves in the axilla by the dorsoepitrochlear strip. Clin. Anat. 22:481–488, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) thermocoagulation for intractable pain after brachial plexus avulsion was performed in 21 patients. Good results in pain relief (relief of more than 75% of preoperative pain) were achieved in 62% of patients, whereby fair results (relief of 25-75% of preoperative pain) in 38% of patients. There was no patient with poor result (relief of less than 25% of preoperative pain). Complication rate was 14%. The whole patient population was subdivided into two groups (Group 1 and Group 2). Direct spinal cord bipolar stimulation and registration with the goal to localize DREZ was performed in the Group 2 consisting of 12 patients (n=12). The point on the spinal cord surface where no response after stimulus of low intensity was obtained was the site (the posterolateral sulcus) we identified as the most suitable point for the placement of radiofrequency thermocoagulation electrode. Comparing with the Group 1 consisting of nine patients (n=9), where the localization of DREZ by evoked potentials was not performed, significantly better effect of pain relief was recorded (P0.05, odds ratio 10). There was no statistically significant difference (P0.7) in complication rate in Group 1 and Group 2. Described electrophysiological technique is very helpful in identifying of DREZ and, in combination with microsurgical technique, can create DREZ thermocoagulation more effective.

Thirty five patients with brachial plexus injury have been operated on. Results were very good in the case of supraganglionic lesions in 15 patients. Fair and good results were obtained in 72% of Is patients with neurotization procedure of musculocutaneous and axillary nerves. Transfer of latissimus dorsi muscle instead of the biceps muscle was successful in another two cases. In the experimental animals the reinnervation of the biceps muscles was obtained by application of both cellular and acellular nerve grafts into the spinal cord and distally sutured with musculocutaneous nerve stump. Behavioural, electrophysiological as well as morphological methods proved the reconnection of the spinal motor neurons with the muscle end plates.