Wrist Deformity in Children and Adolescents with b-thalassemia on Oral Iron Chelation Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel wrist deformity in b-thalassemia major patients, and their radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings. METHODS: 30 patients with b-thalassemia major who were noticed to have ulnar deviation at wrist joint were evaluated for previous history of medications, serum ferritin levels, presence of pain and swelling at the wrist joint, and the duration of iron chelation therapy. Radiographs of wrist and limited magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences were obtained in 30 and 15 patients, respectively. RESULTS: Radiographs revealed varying severity of distal ulnar shortening, distal radial slanting and presence of soft tissue distal to the ulna. MRI showed similar deformities along with abnormal marrow signal at distal ulnar ends; in 8 patients, a soft tissue distal to the distal end of ulna was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Varying severity of radiological abnormalities, predominantly affecting the distal ulna, are present in children and adolescents with b-thalassemia receiving oral chelation therapy.

Evidence for Startle Effects due to Externally Induced Lower Limb Movements: Implications in Neurorehabilitation.

Passive limb displacement is routinely used to assess muscle tone. If we attempt to quantify muscle stiffness using mechanical devices, it is important to know whether kinematic stimuli are able to trigger startle reactions. Whether kinematic stimuli are able to elicit a startle reflex and to accelerate prepared voluntary movements (StartReact effect) has not been studied extensively to date. Eleven healthy subjects were suspended in an exoskeleton and were exposed to passive left knee flexion (KF) at three intensities, occasionally replaced by fast right KF. Upon perceiving the movement subjects were asked to perform right wrist extension (WE), assessed by extensor carpi radialis (ECR) electromyographic activity. ECR latencies were shortest in fast trials. Startle responses were present in most fast trials, yet being significantly accelerated and larger with right versus left KF, since the former occurred less frequently and thus less expectedly. Startle responses were associated with earlier and larger ECR responses (StartReact effect), with the largest effect again upon right KF. The results provide evidence that kinematic stimuli are able to elicit both startle reflexes and a StartReact effect, which depend on stimulus intensity and anticipation, as well as on the subjects' preparedness to respond.

Rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in carpal tunnel syndrome with acupuncture.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy, affecting the median nerve at the wrist. Acupuncture is a minimally-invasive and conservative therapeutic option, and while rooted in a complex practice ritual, acupuncture overlaps significantly with many conventional peripherally-focused neuromodulatory therapies. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms by which acupuncture impacts accepted subjective/psychological and objective/physiological outcomes are not well understood. Eligible patients (n = 80, 65 female, age: 49.3 ± 8.6 years) were enrolled and randomized into three intervention arms: (i) verum electro-acupuncture 'local' to the more affected hand; (ii) verum electro-acupuncture at 'distal' body sites, near the ankle contralesional to the more affected hand; and (iii) local sham electro-acupuncture using non-penetrating placebo needles. Acupuncture therapy was provided for 16 sessions over 8 weeks. Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire assessed pain and paraesthesia symptoms at baseline, following therapy and at 3-month follow-up. Nerve conduction studies assessing median nerve sensory latency and brain imaging data were acquired at baseline and following therapy. Functional magnetic resonance imaging assessed somatotopy in the primary somatosensory cortex using vibrotactile stimulation over three digits (2, 3 and 5). While all three acupuncture interventions reduced symptom severity, verum (local and distal) acupuncture was superior to sham in producing improvements in neurophysiological outcomes, both local to the wrist (i.e. median sensory nerve conduction latency) and in the brain (i.e. digit 2/3 cortical separation distance). Moreover, greater improvement in second/third interdigit cortical separation distance following verum acupuncture predicted sustained improvements in symptom severity at 3-month follow-up. We further explored potential differential mechanisms of local versus distal acupuncture using diffusion tensor imaging of white matter microstructure adjacent to the primary somatosensory cortex. Compared to healthy adults (n = 34, 28 female, 49.7 ± 9.9 years old), patients with carpal tunnel syndrome demonstrated increased fractional anisotropy in several regions and, for these regions we found that improvement in median nerve latency was associated with reduction of fractional anisotropy near (i) contralesional hand area following verum, but not sham, acupuncture; (ii) ipsilesional hand area following local, but not distal or sham, acupuncture; and (iii) ipsilesional leg area following distal, but not local or sham, acupuncture. As these primary somatosensory cortex subregions are distinctly targeted by local versus distal acupuncture electrostimulation, acupuncture at local versus distal sites may improve median nerve function at the wrist by somatotopically distinct neuroplasticity in the primary somatosensory cortex following therapy. Our study further suggests that improvements in primary somatosensory cortex somatotopy can predict long-term clinical outcomes for carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Sarcoma of the hand and wrist]. / Sarkome an Hand und Handgelenk.

Sarcomas of the hand and wrist are rare malignancies, which should be referred to high-volume comprehensive cancer centres providing multidisciplinary treatment options. The tumour board should propose patient-oriented oncological pathways as well as sophisticated hand and plastic reconstructive procedures. In Addition, isolated limb perfusion with TNF-alpha and melphalan is likely to lead to preoperative tumour shrinkage allowing for R0 resection in sano. Our clinical results in long-term survivors demonstrate reduced amputation rates and salvage of basic hand function when a risk-adapted treatment rationale is applied.

Necrosis avascular bilateral del escafoides (enfermedad de Preiser), una causa infrecuente de dolor de muñeca / Bilateral avascular necrosis of the scaphoid (Preiser’ Disease), a rare cause of wrist pain

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Yoga induced acute ulnar nerve compression by a ganglion cyst in Guyon's canal.

Acute ulnar neuropathy at the wrist can be difficult to diagnose, as it is an uncommon neuropathy with variable clinical presentations and numerous etiologies. We present a case of acute ulnar neuropathy of the deep motor branch caused by a ganglion cyst in Guyon's canal. Interestingly, this case of acute loss of motor function occurred after the patient participated in yoga (specifically the downward dog position), and resolved spontaneously over time after stopping yoga, without surgical excision of the ganglion, suggesting exacerbation or protrusion of an occult ganglion cyst due to increased activity and compression of the hypothenar eminence.

Tuberculosis de la muñeca y de la mano / Tuberculosis of the hand and wrist

Introducción: La tuberculosis osteoarticular se observa en la columna, la rodilla y la cadera y, menos a menudo,en las vainas tenosinoviales, y en los huesos de la mano y la muñeca. El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar esta patología y su tratamiento, y valorar la técnica de reconstrucción simultánea a largo plazo. Materiales y métodos: El estudio abarca a 19 pacientes tratados en 45 años, correspondientes a: 3 espinas ventosas, 10 tenosinovitis de flexores, 4 tenosinovitis de extensores y 2 artritis de muñeca. Empleamos una metodología diagnóstica moderna y el estudio retrospectivo de los pacientes, sus tratamientos y resultados. Resultados: El tratamiento farmacológico correcto es eficaz en 99 por ciento de los casos para la infección tuberculosa. El quirúrgico acelera la curación y consiste en la resección de los tejidos necróticos y la reconstrucción funcional, primaria o secundaria. La curación de la infección se logra siempre; la recuperación funcional estará en relación con el tipo, la. gravedad y la extensión de la lesión. Conclusiones: Se demuestra la frecuencia de estas patologías en los trabajadores de la carne o que están en contacto diario con hacienda. Se destacan los procedimientos modernos de diagnóstico. Se enfatiza en un tratamiento médico completo en calidad, duración y tipo de fármacos. Se destacan las bondades de los tratamientos quirúrgicos y de la reconstrucción funcional simultánea que propusimos en 1965.(AU)

Lead encephalopathy in an infant mimicking a neurometabolic disorder.

We report the case of a 7-month-old child who presented with regression of milestones, seizures, altered sensorium, and vomiting. An elder sibling had died of similar complaints. Lead encephalopathy was considered because of presence of microcytic hypochromic anemia and dense metaphyseal bands on wrist radiogram. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed diffuse dysmyelination involving both periventricular and subcortical white matter. Such diffuse changes have not been described previously. The child's father was operating an illicit lead-acid battery manufacturing unit at home. The child was subjected to chelation therapy, which was accompanied by environmental exposure source modification. He showed significant improvement. Our case highlights the importance of taking a detailed occupational history and considering lead poisoning in the differential diagnosis of encephalopathy of unidentifiable cause.

Tuberculosis de la muñeca y de la mano / Tuberculosis of the hand and wrist

Introducción: La tuberculosis osteoarticular se observa en la columna, la rodilla y la cadera y, menos a menudo,en las vainas tenosinoviales, y en los huesos de la mano y la muñeca. El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar esta patología y su tratamiento, y valorar la técnica de reconstrucción simultánea a largo plazo. Materiales y métodos: El estudio abarca a 19 pacientes tratados en 45 años, correspondientes a: 3 espinas ventosas, 10 tenosinovitis de flexores, 4 tenosinovitis de extensores y 2 artritis de muñeca. Empleamos una metodología diagnóstica moderna y el estudio retrospectivo de los pacientes, sus tratamientos y resultados. Resultados: El tratamiento farmacológico correcto es eficaz en 99 por ciento de los casos para la infección tuberculosa. El quirúrgico acelera la curación y consiste en la resección de los tejidos necróticos y la reconstrucción funcional, primaria o secundaria. La curación de la infección se logra siempre; la recuperación funcional estará en relación con el tipo, la. gravedad y la extensión de la lesión. Conclusiones: Se demuestra la frecuencia de estas patologías en los trabajadores de la carne o que están en contacto diario con hacienda. Se destacan los procedimientos modernos de diagnóstico. Se enfatiza en un tratamiento médico completo en calidad, duración y tipo de fármacos. Se destacan las bondades de los tratamientos quirúrgicos y de la reconstrucción funcional simultánea que propusimos en 1965.

Clinical and radiological manifestations of the rheumatoid wrist. A comprehensive review.

OBJECTIVE: The intent of this review article is to present the common clinical and radiological features of the rheumatoid wrist as seen in everyday practice. Imaging of the rheumatoid wrist is discussed with emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its current and future role in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of the disease. DATA SOURCE: A search of the current medical literature from 1990 to present through PubMed was performed without constraints. Search terms used included: MRI, rheumatoid arthritis, wrist, treatment, diagnosis, radiology, clinical manifestations, and incidence. STUDY SELECTION: The articles included in this review were selected by historical significance, date of publication, pertinent review information, and, most specifically, those articles studying the current uses for imaging the rheumatoid wrist. DATA SYNTHESIS: This review demonstrated an overall agreement between numerous studies that the usefulness of MRI evaluation of the rheumatoid wrist is in its early stages of development. Many of the features of this examination of the wrist are discussed and contrasted with plain film radiographic examination. RESULTS: The role of the clinician in the diagnosis and treatment, including complementary care, as well as the follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis in the wrist is unquestionable. The role of plain film examination as a diagnostic tool is excellent. The current and future role of MRI of rheumatoid arthritis is becoming obvious and will likely become the diagnostic imaging tool of choice in the near future. CONCLUSION: MRI provides more specific information on rheumatoid lesions in the wrist than plain film imaging. This is especially true when intravenous contrast is utilized. The clinician's use of physical examination, laboratory examination, radiography, and MRI will provide for early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of RA in the wrist.

Técnica Punho Tornozelo

Método de tratamento pelo punho-tornozelo. Localização e técnica de inserção de agulhas. Técnica Punho-tornozelo - posições dos pontos do punho. Técnica Punho-tornozelo - posições dos pontos do tornozelo. Indicação do método Punho-tornozelo. Aplicação clínica do método punho-tornozelo. Estudo de casos

Técnica punho tornozelo / Technical ankle cuff

Método de tratamento pelo punho-tornozelo. Localização e técnica de inserção de agulhas. Técnica Punho-tornozelo - posições dos pontos do punho. Técnica Punho-tornozelo - posições dos pontos do tornozelo. Indicação do método Punho-tornozelo. Aplicação clínica do método punho-tornozelo. Estudo de casos