The Mechanism of Volume Regulation by Cervical Neuroforaminal Veins as was Previously Demonstrated for the Internal Vertebral Venous Plexus (IVVP) in the Cervical and Lumbar Region / Mecanismo de Regulación del Volumen por las Venas Neuroforaminales Cervicales como se Demostró Previamente para el Plexo Venoso Vertebral Interno (PVVI) en la Regiones Cervical y Lumbar

SUMMARY: Head and cervical spine movements cause narrowing or widening of neuroforamina. In healthy individuals these movements do not cause symptoms of radiculopathy. This implies a compensating volume-regulating mechanism of the neuroforamina. Such a mechanism has been postulated in the years before CT and MRI for the neuroforaminal veins. Dural sac indentations with emptying and refilling of the internal vertebral venous plexus (IVVP) were postulated in the lumbar region using myelography. Emptying of the IVVP occurs in the lumbar spine when moving towards maximal extension and refilling while moving towards maximal flexion. Such indentations have not been shown in the cervical region. With MRI this mechanism has been demonstrated during axial rotation in the C1-C2 segment. It consists of emptying and refilling of the IVVP and thus prevents dural sac compression. During spinal surgery, the IVVP and connecting neuroforaminal veins may be damaged. Because the clinical implications of dysfunction of this protecting mechanism of the IVVP and its neuroforaminal venous connections are not clear, the consequences of such damage are unknown. Therefore, these venous structures should be examined by studying the cervical spine in supine position and, if possible, in different postures (flexion, extension and axial rotation) using MRI with contrast-enhancement and fat suppression. These images may be a basis for future advancement of clinical care.

Los movimientos de la cabeza y la columna cervical provocan un estrechamiento o ensanchamiento de las neuroforaminas. En individuos sanos estos movimientos no causan síntomas de radiculopatía. Esto implica un mecanismo compensador de regulación del volumen de las neuroforaminas. Este mecanismo se ha postulado en los años anteriores a la TC y la RM para las venas neuroforaminales. Mediante mielografía se postularon hendiduras del saco dural con vaciado y llenado del plexo venoso vertebral interno (PVVI) en la región lumbar. El vaciado del PVVI se produce en la columna lumbar cuando se mueve hacia la máxima extensión y se rellena mientras se mueve hacia la máxima flexión. En la región cervical no se han observado tales depresiones. Con resonancia magnética se ha demostrado este mecanismo durante la rotación axial en el segmento C1-C2. Consiste en vaciar y rellenar la PVVI y así evitar la compresión del saco dural. Durante la cirugía de columna, la PVVI y las venas neuroforaminales que las conectan pueden dañarse. Debido a que las implicaciones clínicas de la disfunción de este mecanismo protector de la PVVI y sus conexiones venosas neuroforaminales no están claras, se desconocen las consecuencias de dicho daño. Por tanto, estas estructuras venosas deben examinarse estudiando la columna cervical en decúbito supino y, si es posible, en diferentes posturas (flexión, extensión y rotación axial) mediante resonancia magnética con contraste y supresión grasa. Estas imágenes pueden ser una base para futuros avances de la atención clínica.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire (CBBDQ).

OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire (CBBDQ) for use in Brazilian Portuguese. The CBBDQ is an 18-item tool covering 10 bladder and 8 bowel symptoms that was developed for use with children of 5 to 12 years of age with bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD). The instrument has already been validated for use in Dutch and English. METHOD: In the process of translation and cultural adaptation from English to Portuguese, the CBBDQ was submitted to undergo the required steps as established by the international methodological criteria: forward translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert panel review and pre-testing. RESULTS: Ninety-three parents of children with lower urinary tract dysfunction answered the questionnaire. The mean age of the children was 7.6±2.1 years and 54 were female. Internal consistency was excellent, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91 to 0.96. Additionally, reliability was high, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.94 (95%CI: 0.85-0.93; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The translation and cultural adaptation of the CBBDQ enabled a quantitative evaluation of bladder and bowel symptoms to be performed in Brazilian children. The scores achieved allow the severity of BBD to be evaluated, as well as the patient's progress during treatment. The use of this questionnaire in clinical practice and research will allow more consistent data on BBD to be obtained.