Selective nerve transfers to restore shoulder abduction and flexion in acute flaccid myelitis: A case report.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a polio-like condition predominantly affecting children that is characterized by acute-onset, asymmetric flaccid paralysis, often preceded by a prodromal fever or viral illness. With prompt diagnosis and early surgical referral, nerve transfers may be performed to improve function. Highly selective nerve transfers are ideal to preserve existing functions while targeting specific deficits. In this report, we present a case of a double fascicular nerve transfer of median and ulnar nerve fascicles to the axillary nerve, combined with selective transfer of the spinal accessory nerve to the supraspinatus branch of the suprascapular nerve, performed for a 5-year-old girl who developed AFM after an upper respiratory infection. Six months after the onset of the patient's symptoms, the patient had continued weakness of shoulder flexion and abduction, atrophy of the deltoid, and supraspinatus muscles, though needle electromyography revealed a functioning infraspinatus muscle. The patient had no post-operative complications and at 2 years of postoperative follow up achieved shoulder abduction and flexion Active Movement Scale scores of 7/7 compared to preoperative scores of 2/7, with no loss of function in the donor nerve domains. The patient showed active shoulder abduction against gravity to 90° from 30° preoperatively and shoulder flexion to 180° from 15° preoperatively. This case report shows that highly selective nerve transfers may preserve existing functions while targeting specific deficits. A double fascicular transfer from the median and ulnar nerves to axillary nerve may provide abundant axons for functional recovery.

Ultrasound assessment of glenohumeral dysplasia in infants.

Brachial plexus birth injury can lead to irreversible neuromuscular dysfunction and skeletal deformity of the upper extremity and shoulder girdle, ultimately resulting in glenohumeral dysplasia. Diagnosis and treatment of affected infants requires a multi-disciplinary approach in which imaging plays a vital role. While MRI is excellent for assessing both the shoulder and spine of these children, it is costly and requires sedation and is thus typically reserved for preoperative planning. US, however, is inexpensive, dynamic and readily available and provides excellent visualization of the largely cartilaginous glenohumeral joint. As such, it has become a highly useful modality during early diagnosis and follow-up of children with brachial plexus birth injuries. In this review, we describe the relevant anatomy of the glenohumeral joint, outlining the normal sonographic appearance as well as providing tips and tricks for identifying and characterizing pathology.

Partial tibial nerve transfer for foot drop from deep peroneal palsy: Lessons from three pediatric cases.

Peroneal nerve palsy with resultant foot drop has significant impacts on gait and quality of life. Traditional management includes ankle-foot-orthosis, tendon transfer, and arthrodesis-each with certain disadvantages. While nerve transfers for peroneal nerve injury have been reported in adults, with variable results, they have not been described in the pediatric population. We report the use of partial tibial nerve transfer for foot drop from deep peroneal nerve palsy in three pediatric patients. The first sustained a partial common peroneal nerve laceration and underwent transfer of a single tibial nerve branch to deep peroneal nerve 7 months after injury. Robust extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus reinnervation was obtained without satisfactory tibialis anterior function. The next patient sustained a thigh laceration with partial sciatic nerve injury and underwent transfer of two tibial nerve branches directly to the tibialis anterior component of deep peroneal nerve 9 months after injury. The final patient sustained a blast injury to the posterior knee and similarly underwent a double fascicular transfer directly to tibialis anterior 4 months after injury. The latter two patients obtained sufficient strength (MRC 4-5) at 1 year to discontinue orthosis. In all patients, we used flexor hallucis longus and/or flexor digitorum longus branches as donors without postoperative loss of toe flexion. Overall, our experience suggests that early double fascicular transfer to an isolated tibialis anterior target, combined with decompression, could produce robust innervation. Further study and collaboration are needed to devise new ways to treat lower extremity nerve palsies.

Shoulder Release and Tendon Transfer following Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy: Gains, Losses, and Midline Function.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder release and tendon transfer is frequently performed to address persistent weakness from neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Although postoperative improvements in motion are well described, associated deficits are poorly documented, and functional assessments are lacking. Loss of ability to reach midline can occur with surgery and may result in impairment. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively assess the gains, losses, functional changes, and patient-reported outcome associated with the authors' surgical approach. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing surgery with 2-year follow-up were included (n = 30). Prospectively recorded assessments by therapists were reviewed. Changes were assessed by t test and Wilcoxon rank sum (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Active external rotation and abduction improved and internal rotation diminished. Aggregate modified Mallet score increased with improvements in all subscales, except that hand to spine was unchanged and hand to belly decreased. Functional assessment using the Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure revealed an increase of aggregate score, with no decline in any subscales. Improvements were in hand to back of head, forward overhead reach, holds plate with palm up, opening large container, and strings bead. Aggregate patient self-report of appearance and function increased (from 18 to 23). Loss of ability to reach midline occurred in three patients (10 percent) who had extended Erb or total palsy and preoperative limitations of internal rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary reconstruction rebalances shoulder motion by increasing external rotation and abduction and reducing internal rotation. In this study, a conservative surgical approach results in overall improvement in task-based abilities and self-reported outcomes and preservation of internal rotation within a functional range. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Quality Improvement Education in Residency Training: A Review.

Hospitals and healthcare institutions have strong external and internal pressures to improve patient safety and healthcare quality. Quality improvement education has been mandated for resident physicians by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. This review describes didactic and experiential curricula for residents in quality improvement interventions as well as factors that create challenges to implementing such a curriculum and those that foster it. Resident attitudes, faculty capacity, institutional resources, and dedicated time are critical elements influencing the success of quality improvement curricula. Faculty interest in quality improvement could be enhanced by academic recognition of their work. Recommendations to facilitate publication of quality improvement efforts are described.

Association of daytime somnolence with executive functioning in the first 6 months after adolescent traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between severity of injury and self-reports and parent reports of daytime somnolence in adolescents after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to determine the relationship between daytime somnolence and self-report and parent report of executive functioning in daily life. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted within the first 6 months (mean ± standard deviation 14.97 ± 7.51 weeks) after injury. Partial correlation controlling for injury severity was used to examine the associations of TBI severity with daytime somnolence and the association of daytime somnolence with executive functioning. SETTING: Outpatient visits at 3 children's hospitals and 2 general hospitals with pediatric trauma commitment. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 102 adolescents, 12-18 years old, who sustained moderate-to-severe TBI (n = 60) or complicated mild TBI (n = 42). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Parent-report Sleepiness Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (youth report), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) (self-report and maternal report). RESULTS: Adolescents who sustained moderate-to-severe TBI had increased daytime somnolence compared with those with complicated mild injuries in the parent report but not in the youth report. Based on the parent report, 51% of adolescents with moderate-to-severe TBI showed significant daytime somnolence compared with 22% of those with complicated mild TBI. The parent report of daytime somnolence was associated with executive dysfunction on both the BRIEF self-report and parent report; however, the youth report of daytime somnolence was associated only with the BRIEF self-report. CONCLUSIONS: The parent report of daytime somnolence correlated with TBI severity and predicted executive functioning difficulties of the teens in everyday circumstances. Although a correlation between daytime somnolence and executive dysfunction were also apparent on self-report, this did not differ based on injury severity. Teens tended to report fewer difficulties with executive function, which suggests that the teens have decreased awareness of their impairments.