Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Patient-Specific Functional Scale in patients with chronic neck pain

Background/aim: Current clinical guidelines recommend to use both clinical and self-reported measurements for evaluation of chronic neck pain. Among the self-reported outcomes, Neck disability index and patient-specific functional scale are the most widely used and recommended instruments. The purpose of our study was to determine the test-retest reliability and validity of patient-specific functional scale which was not validated in Turkish language previously. Materials and methods: Translation and adaptation process had conducted according to the Beaton et al. Sociodemographic data, Turkish version of patient-specific functional scale and neck disability index were recorded at the initial assessment. Retest assessment was produced for reliability analyses and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,2) was determined. The correlations between patient- specific functional scale and neck disability index and hypothesis testing were examined for the convergent and construct validity analysis. Results: The final form was completed by 110 chronic neck pain patients (Male: 33; mean ages: 43.13 ± 13.75 years, Female: 77; mean ages: 44.45 ± 14.38). Test-retest reliability of patient-specific functional scale was found good level (ICC: 0.85). The relationship between patient-specific functional scale and neck disability index was found moderate level (P < 0.05, rho: ­0.578). The median score of PSFS-T in the low disability group was significantly higher than the high disability group in the hypothesis testing of construct validity (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The Turkish version of the patient-specific functional scale is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating functional status in patients with chronic neck pain.

Lumbar disc herniation associated with contralateral neurological deficit: can venous congestion be the cause?

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) associated with a contralateral neurological deficit is sometimes encountered by surgeons. Compression against the opposite pedicle in case of a large discal herniation and prominent stenotic changes of contralateral side are held responsible for contralateral symptoms and findings. In this study, we report a case of LDH associated with a painless contralateral neurological deficit. Prominent venous engorgement and congestion at the contralateral side of discal herniation were detected during the operation. It's treatment with bipolar coagulation and significant improvement was seen after the operation.

Morphometric evaluation of parasagittal venous anatomy for intracranial approaches: a cadaveric study.

AIM: Obstruction of superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and collateral bridging veins is a well-known reason of postoperative brain edema and brain infarct, however, morphometric anatomic studies done in the light of surgical landmarks aren't sufficient in number. Object of this study is to describe venous structures related to SSS with silicon injected cadaveric models. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was on 6 silicon injected cadaveric heads at Anatomy Department. Duramater was removed and veins on parasagittal area were examined. SSS morphology, veins draining into SSS, their size, number and distance were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean vein number draining into SSS is 2.9±1.5 at anterior to coronal suture (CS), between CS and vertex is 3.2±0.8, between vertex and lambdoid suture (LS) is 2.3±0.9, between LS and confluens sinuum 0.3±0.5. There was no statically difference between right and left sides (p=0.140, p > 0.05). Diameter of veins was 2.4±1.0 mm at anterior to CS, 3.0±1.2 mm at between CS and vertex, 2.4±0.7 mm at between vertex and LS, and 2.2±0.5 mm at between LS and confluens sinuum. CONCLUSION: Knowing details of anatomic structures of SSS and venous structures draining into it may protect the patients from many surgical complications. SSS and related structures with surgical landmarks are valuable for neurosurgeons.

Anxiety caused by traumatic brain injury correlates to decreased prefrontal cortex VEGF immunoreactivity and neuron density in immature rats.

AIM: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder which has negative effects on cognitive functions and behavior. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of TBI on anxiety and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity on the prefrontal cortex of immature rats, which is one of the anxiety-related regions of the brain in 7-day-old immature rats subjected to contusion injury. MATERIAL and METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups: Control (n=7), Sham (n=7) and TBI (n=7). Anxiety levels were assessed with open field activity and elevated plus maze in postnatal 27 days. Prefrontal cortex damage related to TBI was examined by cresyl violet staining and VEGF immunostaining. Prefrontal cortex neuronal density was calculated. Serum corticosterone levels were determined. RESULTS: The anxiety level in the TBI group was significantly greater than the control and sham groups. The prefrontal cortex VEGF immunostaining score and neuron density were decreased in the TBI group compared to control and sham group. Serum corticosterone levels were significantly increased in the TBI group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that TBI decreases VEGF immunoreactivity in prefrontal cortex neurons and increases the anxiety levels of immature rats.

Transient allodynia following caudal lipoma excision: a case report.

Allodynia is the sensation of pain due to non-painful stimuli. It usually occurs due to destructive lesions of the spinal cord or peripheral nerves. Allodynia following intradural lipoma surgery has been reported previously. We herein report a case of allodynia developed after microsurgical caudal lipoma excision without associated spinal cord injury.

Functional results of physiotherapy programme on patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose is to evaluate the functional recoveries obtained through the physiotherapy program started in the early postoperative period with the patients with SAH, and then advanced after being discharged. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Home Exercise (HE) (n=54) was Group I, and the Regular Supervised Exercise (RSE) (n=18) group by the physiotherapist was determined to be Group II. The patients in both groups were treated as outpatients for six months after being discharged. The functional independent measure was used. The measurement were done at the beginning, on the day of discharge, and on the first and sixth months. RESULTS: In the FIM measurements taken on the first and the sixth months, there is a significant difference in the groups doing the RSE compared to the group doing the home exercises (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The exercises done regularly and under observation for the patients with aneurysmal SAH is important from the viewpoint of obtaining functional recoveries during both the early and late periods.