Efficacy of Laminoplasty in Improving Sensory Disturbances in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Upper extremity sensory disturbances are primary symptoms that affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Although laminoplasty is 1 of the surgical options, its effects on sensory disturbances have remained unclear. We aimed to determine whether surgical intervention would improve the sensory disturbances of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: We conducted a prospective clinical trial of 101 patients who had undergone open door laminoplasty. For an objective sensory assessment, we measured the current perception thresholds (CPTs) in the patients' forearms and palms using PainVision PS-2100. For a subjective sensory assessment, numbness in the upper extremities was rated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Using the VAS scores, the patients were divided into those with improvement and without improvement. Their self-reported 36-item short-form health survey and Japanese Orthopaedic Association cervical myelopathy evaluation questionnaire scores were compared. RESULTS: The postoperative CPTs in relationship to the preoperative CPTs at 3, 6, and 12 months was 99.3%, 98.1%, and 93.8% in the forearm and 93.6%, 90.6%, and 87.8% in the palm, respectively. The corresponding postoperative numbness VAS scores were 63.8%, 50.5%, and 48.0%. At 12 months postoperatively, the 36-item short-form health survey physical and role component summary scores, cervical spine function effectiveness rates, upper and lower extremity function, and QOL items in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association cervical myelopathy evaluation questionnaire were significantly higher in the improvement group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have indicated that improvement in postoperative subjective sensory disturbances will occur relatively earlier and will be significantly greater than the improvement in objective sensory disturbances. Furthermore, improvement in the subjective sensory disturbances contributes to functional spinal cord recovery and patients' health-related QOL.

The surgical burden of disease and perioperative mortality in patients admitted to hospitals in Victoria, Australia: a population-level observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Comprehensive reporting of surgical disease burden and outcomes are vital components of resilient health systems but remain under-reported. The primary objective was to identify the Victorian surgical burden of disease necessitating treatment in a hospital or day centre, including a thorough epidemiology of surgical procedures and their respective perioperative mortality rates (POMR). DESIGN: Retrospective population-level observational study. SETTING: The study was conducted in Victoria, Australia. Access to data from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset was obtained using the Dr Foster Quality Investigator tool. The study included public and private facilities, including day-case facilities. PARTICIPANTS: From January 2014 to December 2016, all admissions with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases-10 code matched to the Global Health Estimates (GHE) disease categories were included. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Admissions were assigned a primary disease category according to the 23 GHE disease categories. Surgical procedures during hospitalisations were identified using the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRG). POMR were calculated for GHE disease categories and AR-DRG procedures. RESULTS: A total of 4 865 226 admitted episodes were identified over the 3-year period. 1 715 862 (35.3%) of these required a surgical procedure. The mortality rate for those undergoing a procedure was 0.42%, and 1.47% for those without. The top five procedures performed per GHE category were lens procedures (162 835 cases, POMR 0.001%), caesarean delivery (76 032 cases, POMR 0.01%), abortion with operating room procedure (65 451 cases, POMR 0%), hernia procedures (52 499 cases, POMR 0.05%) and other knee procedures (47 181 cases, POMR 0.004%). CONCLUSIONS: Conditions requiring surgery were responsible for 35.3% of the hospital admitted disease burden in Victoria, a rate higher than previously published from Sweden, New Zealand and the USA. POMR is comparable to other studies reporting individual procedures and conditions, but has been reported comprehensively across all GHE disease categories for the first time.

Endoscopic spinal surgery using a new tubular retractor with 15 mm outer diameter.

Purpose: To assess whether the instrument handling and image quality of endoscopic spinal decompression procedures is adequate and effects the treatment of degenerative spinal disorders. Material and Methods: Forty-six patients underwent endoscopic procedures for radicular pain or sensorimotor deficit due to a degenerative disorder using a 15mm tubular retractor. Endoscopic video recordings were reviewed with focus on instrument handling and intraoperative complication. At final follow-up the clinical outcome was assessed via a standardized questionnaire including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Neck Disability Index (NDI), Odoms criteria and a personal examination focusing on pain, and sensorimotor deficits. Results: Forty out of 46 patients attended a final follow-up (86.9%). The mean follow-up time was 51.8 month (range 15-84 month). At final follow-up, of patients who were operate at the lumbar spine 93.9% and at the cervical spine 85.7% were free of radicular pain, no weakness was documented in 84.9% of cases after lumbar and 85.7% after cervical spine procedure, and according to Odoms criteria clinical success was noted in 84.5% and 100%, respectively. The mean ODI was 9.0% and mean NDI was 11.7%. The dural tear rate was 4.3%, all dural tear were closed endoscopically. The recurrent disc herniation rate was 6.1%. Conclusions: Endoscopic decompression using a 15m tubular retractor offers a good view onto the surgical field and a high clinical success rate. The decompression of degenerative pathologies in bimanual technique is not limited by a 15mm tubular retractor.

Saphenous nerve transfer: A new approach to restore sensation of the sole.

BACKGROUND: Loss of protective sensation of the sole may lead to repeated trauma, chronic nonhealing ulcers, and even amputation. Saphenous nerve (SN) to posterior tibial nerve (PTN) transfer can restore sensation of the sole. METHOD: This study was conducted in a tertiary referral center in Central India. Twenty-one patients (32 feet) diagnosed with loss of sensation of the sole were included in this study. Causes of loss of sensation were Hansen's disease (n = 18), complex sciatic nerve injury (n = 1), lumbosacral spinal tumor (n = 1), and lumbosacral meningomyelocele (n = 1). Seventeen feet (14 patients) had ulcers on the sole. Preoperative and postoperative sensory tests performed on the sole included tests for touch, pain, temperature, pressure, vibration, and two-point discrimination. Results were classified as per the British Medical Research Council (MRC) scoring system. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (26 feet) were available for follow-up at 6 months after surgery. All patients had improvement in sensory parameters. Ulcers completely healed in 13 feet and reduced in size in four feet. MRC score improved from S0 in 22 feet and S1 in 10 feet to S3 + in 20 feet, S3 in four feet, and S2 in two feet. CONCLUSIONS: Sensory neurotization with SN transfer to PTN can restore protective sensation to the sole and help in the healing of ulcers.

Sifting through the Evidence: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Neurotization in Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: An untoward outcome following breast reconstruction is diminished or complete loss of sensation. As the reconstructive paradigm continues to evolve, sensory restoration following reconstruction remains a research focus. Despite the multitude of published outcomes, there is marked heterogeneity across studies, thus confounding published outcomes. This study critically appraises the literature to summarize outcomes and establish a framework to guide clinical practice and future research. METHODS: A literature review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines in an effort to perform a meta-analysis. The Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov online databases were queried to capture all publications between 1990 and 2017 that investigated postreconstruction breast sensation. The primary outcome of interest was breast sensation following both implant-based and autologous reconstruction with or without neurotization. Secondary outcomes of interest included time to sensory testing and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 503 titles were screened, from which 37 articles were ultimately included for analysis, accounting for 1299 patients. There was major methodologic variability and inconsistent measurable outcomes across studies. It can be deduced that postoperative sensation returns spontaneously and unpredictably, neurotization enhances the magnitude and rapidity of sensory restoration when compared to nonneurotized reconstruction, and a sensate reconstruction improves patient-reported outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Significant study design discrepancies exist, making it difficult to combine data and assess results. To effectively study breast sensation and the impact of neurotization, future investigation will depend on standardizing the way in which breast sensation is measured.

Superficial Radial Nerve Transection Improves Sensory Outcomes in First Dorsal Metacarpal Artery Flaps.

BACKGROUND: This article reports the operative technique and clinical effect of repairing thumb pulp defects using a modified first dorsal metacarpal artery flap method. In this method, the dorsal branches of the radial and ulnar proper digital nerves of the index finger were preserved but the superficial branches of the radial nerve were transected. METHODS: Data obtained from 121 patients with thumb pulp defects who were admitted to the authors' hospital from June of 2011 to December of 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether the superficial branches of the radial nerve were transected. The dorsal branches of the radial and ulnar proper digital nerves of the index finger and the proper digital nerves in the wound were coapted using the end-to-end style. Static two-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament scores, pain, cold intolerance of the reconstructed finger, allachesthesia, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The authors observed significant differences in static two-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament flap score, pain of finger pulp, allachesthesia duration, and patient satisfaction (p < 0.05). The transection group presented slightly better discriminatory sensation in the flap and higher patient satisfaction. In addition, the duration of allachesthesia in the transection group was significantly shorter than that in the preservation group. CONCLUSION: In the repair of thumb pulp defects using a modified first dorsal metacarpal artery flap carrying the dorsal branches of the radial and ulnar proper digital nerves of the index finger, transecting the superficial branches of the radial nerve achieved better clinical outcome compared with preserving them. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Does Low-Field Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Improve the Results of Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery? Experience of the Implementation of a New Device in a Referral Center.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the contribution of low-field intraoperative magnetic resonance (iMRI) to endoscopic pituitary surgery. METHODS: We analyzed a prospective series of patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery for pituitary macroadenomas assisted with a low-field iMRI (PoleStarN30, 0.15 T [Medtronic]). Clinical, radiologic, and surgical variables were analyzed and compared with our fully endoscopic historic cohort operated on without iMRI assistance. A bibliographic review of pituitary surgery assisted with iMRI was conducted. RESULTS: Thirty patients (57% female; mean age, 55 years) were prospectively analyzed. The most frequent tumor subtype was nonfunctioning macroadenoma (50%). The average Knosp grade was 2.3 and mean tumor size was 18 mm. Surgical and positioning time were 102 and 47 minutes, respectively. Hospital stay and complication rates were similar to our historical cohort for pituitary surgery. Mean follow-up was 10 months. Complete resection (CR) was achieved in 83% of patients. Seven patients (23%) benefited from iMRI assistance and achieved a CR in their surgeries. All patients except 1 experienced hormonal activity remission. iMRI sensitivity and specificity was 0.8 and 1, respectively. Although not statistically significant, CR rates were globally 11.5% superior in iMRI series compared with our historical cohort. This difference was independent of cavernous sinus invasiveness grade (CR rate increased 12.5% for Knosp grade 0-2 and 8.1% for Knosp grade 3-4). CONCLUSIONS: Low-field iMRI is a useful and safe assistance even in advanced surgical techniques such as endoscopy. Its contribution is limited by the intrinsic features of the tumor. Further randomized studies are required to confirm the cost-effectiveness of iMRI in pituitary surgery.

Smith-Robinson procedure with and without Caspar plating as a treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A 26-year follow-up of 23 patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess long-term follow-up data after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) with and without Caspar plating (ACDF + PS) for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with special focus on functional outcome, pain, and repeat surgery for adjacent segment disease (ASD). METHOD: Hospital records of 45 patients who were affected by CSM and underwent ACDF or ACDF + PS at least 17 years ago were reviewed. Information about diagnosis, surgical report, pre- and postoperative clinical process, and complications was analyzed. Clinical outcome was assessed using a standardized questionnaire including the Neck Disability Index (NDI), modified JOA-score, Odom's criteria, limitations in quality of life, and questions about the current neurological status and pain. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with a mean follow-up of 26 years were evaluated. ACDF was performed in nine and ACDF + PS in 14 patients, respectively. At follow-up 78.3% of patients were free of pain, 91.3% had no motor deficit, 73.9% had no sensory deficit, and 60.7% had no gait disturbance. The current mean NDI is 14% (range 2-44%), the mean modified JOA-score was 17.2 (range 15-18). According to Odom's criteria 78.3% of patients had clinical success. In four patients repeat surgery was indicated due to pseudarthrosis or symptomatic ASD (17.4%). CONCLUSIONS: ACDF and ACDF + PS yield significant decrease in neck pain, a significant increase in sensorimotor function and a high rate of clinical success. Patients with preoperative gait disturbance completely recovered in about 60% of cases. Overall prevalence for ASD was 17.4% after 25 years.

Improvement of sensory function after sequestrectomy for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective clinical study using quantitative sensory testing.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated sensory recovery in patients with lumbar disc herniation using rather subjective methods. There have been no reports on changes of sensory function in patients suffering from a preoperative sensory deficit using quantitative sensory testing (QST). The aims of this prospective study were (1) to assess the recovery of preoperative sensory dysfunction after lumbar sequestrectomy and (2) to quantify the strength of relationship between a sensory deficit and the patient's quality of life. METHODS: We applied the QST protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS) in fifty-two patients with a single lumbar disc herniation confirmed on MRI treated by lumbar sequestrectomy. Further evaluation included a detailed medical history, a physical examination, numeric rating scale for leg, EQ-5D questionnaire, and thermometer. RESULTS: Disc surgery resulted in a significant reduction of leg pain and a significant gain of quality of life. Thermal, mechanical, and vibration perception thresholds showed an obvious side-to-side difference preoperatively (p < 0.005). An early recovery of mechanical and vibration perception thresholds was detected, whereas cold perception needed more than 6 months to recover (p < 0.05). Quality of life was independent from perception thresholds, but correlated significantly with pain reduction. CONCLUSION: Our data clearly show that there is a subjective and quantifiable improvement in sensory dysfunction postoperatively. The current data suggest that a sensory dysfunction does not influence a patient's quality of life.

Recovery of Impaired Somatosensory Evoked Fields After Improvement of Tongue Sensory Deficits With Neurosurgical Reconstruction.

Somatosensory evoked fields (SEFs) induced by tongue stimulation can be useful as an objective parameter to assess sensory disturbances in the tongue. However, whether tongue SEFs can be useful as a clinical, objective follow-up assessment method of tongue sensation after oral surgery is unknown. We describe 2 cases in which tongue SEFs were successfully used in clinical assessment. Two patients with unilateral tongue sensory deficits caused by lingual nerve injury during lower third molar extraction were recruited. Both patients underwent surgery to repair the damaged nerve, and all tongue sensory evaluations were performed once before and once after surgery. SEFs were recorded by stimulating the affected and unaffected sides of the tongue separately, and cortical activity was evaluated over the contralateral hemisphere. The unilaterality of the deficit also was assessed. In both patients, stimulation of the unaffected side evoked reproducible cortical responses before and after surgery. Both patients also recovered some sensation after surgery, given that presurgery stimulation of the affected side failed to evoke cortical activity whereas postsurgery stimulation evoked cortical activity on both sides. Sensation was initially highly lateralized in both patients but was restored to approximately normal in the postsurgery evaluation. Finally, both patients rated their subjective tongue sensations on the affected side over 50% better after the surgical intervention. These cases indicate that tongue SEFs may have a clinical use as an objective parameter for assessing the course of tongue sensory recovery.

Modified first dorsal metacarpal artery island flap for sensory reconstruction of thumb pulp defects.

UNLABELLED: Restoration of tactile sensation after reconstruction of a thumb pulp defect is import for hand function. We describe our clinical experience using a modified first dorsal metacarpal artery island flap innervated by the radial dorsal branch of the proper digital nerve and the terminal branch of the superficial radial nerve in 20 consecutive cases. The results were compared with 25 patients treated by the conventional Foucher's first dorsal metacarpal artery flap without nerve repair. At the final follow-up, flap sensation was assessed using static two-point discrimination and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing. All flaps survived uneventfully in both groups. At the final follow-up, the mean values for static two-point discrimination and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing in the study group were significantly different from the values in the control group. The modified first dorsal metacarpal artery island flap provides a reliable and simple option for sensory reconstruction of thumb pulp defects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, level III.

Prediction of Balance Compensation After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

Background Balance compensation after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery is under the influence of specific preoperative patient and tumor characteristics. Objective To prospectively identify potential prognostic factors for balance recovery, we compared the respective influence of these preoperative characteristics on balance compensation after VS surgery. Methods In 50 patients scheduled for VS surgical ablation, we measured postural control before surgery (BS), 8 (AS8) days after, and 90 (AS90) days after surgery. Based on factors found previously in the literature, we evaluated age, body mass index and preoperative physical activity (PA), tumor grade, vestibular status, and preference for visual cues to control balance as potential prognostic factors using stepwise multiple regression models. Results An asymmetric vestibular function was the sole significant explanatory factor for impaired balance performance BS, whereas the preoperative PA alone significantly contributed to higher performance at AS8. An evaluation of patients' balance recovery over time showed that PA and vestibular status were the 2 significant predictive factors for short-term postural compensation (BS to AS8), whereas none of these preoperative factors was significantly predictive for medium-term postoperative postural recovery (AS8 to AS90). Conclusions We identified specific preoperative patient and vestibular function characteristics that may predict postoperative balance recovery after VS surgery. Better preoperative characterization of these factors in each patient could inform more personalized presurgical and postsurgical management, leading to a better, more rapid balance recovery, earlier return to normal daily activities and work, improved quality of life, and reduced medical and societal costs.

Outcome analysis of cubital tunnel decompression.

BACKGROUND: Cubital tunnel decompression is a commonly undertaken upper limb procedure. Most studies compare the different techniques of decompression; however, only a few have specifically investigated the outcome of ulnar nerve decompression. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of ulnar nerve decompression following cubital tunnel syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 174 ulnar nerve decompression cases were identified from the upper limb surgery database with complete data available for 136 cases. Simple decompression was performed in 110 (80.88%) cases, and in 26 (19.12%), anterior subcutaneous transposition was also supplemented. These operations were performed at three different hospitals by surgeons of different levels of experience. The most common cause of cubital tunnel syndrome was idiopathic. The outcome was satisfactory in 86% of cases. No obvious association was demonstrated between the outcome of surgery and duration of symptoms, presence of co-morbidities or the type of surgery performed. CONCLUSION: This is the largest outcome analysis of the results of ulnar nerve decompression at the elbow. Good results following nerve decompression were attained in 86% of cases without any significant effect of duration of symptoms or co-morbidities on the outcome of surgery. It is hoped that the findings of the current study will help general practitioners, junior doctors and surgeons in their management and pre-operative consultation with patients having cubital tunnel syndrome.

Spinal cord detethering procedures in children: a 5 year retrospective cohort study of the early post-operative course.

Tethered spinal cord can cause neurological, orthopaedic and sphincteric problems in children and detethering surgery may prevent or reverse these problems. This 5 year retrospective cohort study aimed to review our experience of detethering surgery at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia, particularly examining the early post-operative complications of this procedure. Between 2007 and 2012, 61 children underwent 63 detethering procedures. The median age at detethering surgery was 1.4 years old (interquartile range: 0.7-5.6 years). Fifty-five children (90.1%) had lumbosacral procedures, 31 (50.8%) were asymptomatic from tethering, 11 (18.0%) had motor or gait disturbance, 11 (18.0%) sphincteric disturbance, eight (13.1%) lower limb orthopaedic deformities, eight (13.1%) scoliosis, six (9.8%) back or leg pain and two (3.3%) sensory disturbance. The most common tethering pathologies were spinal lipomas in 32 children (52.5%), filum abnormalities in 23 (37.7%), dorsal sinus tracts in eight (13.1%) and diastematomyelia in seven (11.5%). Twenty-six children (42.6%) had either a syrinx or central canal dilatation preoperatively. The most common complications were wound infection and cerebrospinal fluid leak. Six children (9.8%) required reoperation for wound issues and two patients (3.3%) required subsequent reoperation for cord retethering during the study period. There were no deaths and no new neurological deficits. Of the children with the above preoperative deficits, 26.7% were documented to have improvement or resolution of their symptoms post-operatively. The highest rate of improvement occurred in children with motor or gait disturbance (36.4%) or sphincteric disturbance (27.3%).

Secondary restoration of fingertip sensation with Littler's heterodigital neurovascular island flap after ring avulsion injury: report of two cases.

Treatment of ring avulsion injuries is technically challenging. Surgical success depends not only on revascularization and anatomic restoration but also on functional recovery. A functional finger is mobile and sensible. We report two cases of secondary restoration of the finger pulp's sensibility with Littler's heterodigital neurovascular island flap after a ring avulsion injury. Two patients (47-year-old physiotherapist and 21-year-old student) suffered a degloving injury of the 4th finger on the left hand, classified in Urbaniak class III and Kay-Adani class IVd. The emergency treatment consisted in replantation with suture repair of the ulnar proper palmar digital artery; the nerve was not repaired due to its avulsion from the pulp. Four months later, once the vascularization was stable, restoration of the fingertip's sensibility was done using Littler's heterodigital neurovascular island flap. The 3rd finger's ulnar palmar digital pedicle was dissected using a hemi-Bruner incision. The pedicled flap was brought to the host site after being tunneled through the 4th finger's base. A split skin graft was performed at the donor site. After three years of follow-up, two-point discrimination on the 4th finger's radial pulp was 5mm and cortical integration was satisfactory. The donor site had only tactile sensitivity. The DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score was 13.3 and 11.7, and the total arc of motion was 90° and 180°, respectively. Littler's flap seems to be appropriate for restoring sensation at fingertip after ring avulsion injuries. Donor site complications seem acceptable.

[Destruction of the Humeral Head in Sensory Deficit due to the Spinal Hemorhagia. Case Report]. / Destrukce hlavice humeru pri senzitivním deficitu po mísní hemoragii - kazuistika.

Degenerative changes of the shoulder are a common complication in patients after spinal cord injury. The main cause is chronic overload to the shoulder joint due to manual wheelchair propulsion and transfers. Reduced shoulder function has a significant impact on all aspects of daily life. Shoulder arthroplasty in this group of patients is a challenging procedure because of the unique demand on the shoulder. This report presents the case of a wheelchair user who additionally experienced a complete loss of sensation around her shoulder. As a result of a repetitive strain during transfers from the wheelchair to the ground, the humeral head was destroyed.

[Bilateral peroneal neuropathy following bariatric surgery]. / Neuropathie bilatérale du nerf fibulaire commun après chirurgie bariatrique.

We report the case of bilateral peroneal neuropathy following massive weight loss after bariatric surgery. A few months after a gastric by-pass, the patient developed sequentially within 6 months a L2-L3 herniated disc that required surgery, a severe right peroneal nerve palsy that led to decompressive surgery and finally contralateral peroneal nerve palsy also operated. The electrophysiological analysis confirmed the clinical suspicion of peroneal nerve compression at the fibular head. Postoperative course was favorable. Literature reports peroneal nerve palsy after slimming, mostly when weight loss is fast and marked although the issue is rarely bilateral.