Rationale and design of the peripheral nerve tumor registry: an observational cohort study.

AIM: Peripheral nerve tumors (PNT) are rare lesions. To date, no systematic multicenter studies on epidemiology, clinical symptoms, treatment strategies and outcomes, genetic and histopathologic features, as well as imaging characteristics of PNT were published. The main goal of our PNT Registry is the systematic multicenter investigation to improve our understanding of PNT and to assist future interventional studies in establishing hypotheses, determining potential endpoints, and assessing treatment efficacy. METHODS: Aims of the PNT registry were set at the 2015 Meeting of the Section of Peripheral Nerve Surgery of the German Society of Neurosurgery. A study protocol was developed by specialists in PNT care. A minimal data set on clinical status, treatment types and outcomes is reported by each participating center at initial contact with the patient and after 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years. Since the study is coordinated by the Charité Berlin, the PNR Registry was approved by the Charité ethics committee (EA4/058/17) and registered with the German Trials Registry (www.drks.de). On a national level, patient inclusion began in June 2016. The registry was rolled out across Europe at the 2019 meeting of the European Association of Neurosurgery in Dublin. RESULTS: Patient recruitment has been initiated at 10 centers throughout Europe and 14 additional centers are currently applying for local ethics approval. CONCLUSION: To date, the PNT registry has grown into an international study group with regular scientific and clinical exchange awaiting the first results of the retrospective study arm.

Peripheral nerve palsy by torsional nerve injury.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve palsy caused by torsional nerve injury is rare. Only a few patients have been reported in the literature. The etiology of this type of nerve lesion is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To report on 5 patients presenting with peripheral nerve palsy caused by a torsional nerve injury. METHODS: Five patients presented with 6 upper peripheral nerve palsy involving the axillary nerve (n = 2), musculocutaneous nerve (n = 2), radial nerve (n = 1), and suprascapular nerve (n = 1). There was no history of trauma in 3 patients, but in the other 2 patients, nerve palsy occurred after a traumatic event. Because of a lack of spontaneous recovery, surgical exploration was performed. Torsion of the whole nerve (n = 5) or only 1 fascicle (n = 1) was found. Epifascicular epineurectomy and detorsion, as well as resection of the torsion site with subsequent primary nerve suture, were performed in 3 lesions. RESULTS: Good to excellent recovery of motor function was achieved in all 5 patients. In the last patient who presented with 2 nerve torsions, the follow-up period after the last surgery is too short to allow evaluation. CONCLUSION: Although not a frequent event, torsional nerve injury should be taken into consideration when dealing with peripheral nerve injuries. Surgical exploration with detorsion or suture results in good recovery.