Gray-Scale and Power Doppler Ultrasound Findings Predictive of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Severity.

BACKGROUND: The use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) is an attractive alternative to electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies, but its utility is binary with poor severity correlation. We hypothesize that increasing ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) and power Doppler measurement of intraneural vascularity may predict the extent of disease. METHODS: We identified 20 elbows from patients with a history of CuTS and 20 elbows in 10 asymptomatic controls. Electrodiagnosis was performed for symptomatic patients. Gray-scale ultrasound and power Doppler ultrasound were performed to measure CSA and intraneural vascularity in all participants. Functional measures, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System surveys were also completed. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation was found between CSA and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) decrease between elbow and forearm, which increased when BCTQ >2 was used as a screening criterion. Increased CSA also demonstrated a high positive predictive value (PPV) in predicting MNCV changes, but poor ability to predict axonal loss. In contrast, power Doppler ultrasound demonstrated 100% PPV and 94% negative predictive value (NPV) in predicting severe CuTS (defined as compound motor action potential [CMAP] amplitude <6 mV and electromyography [EMG] findings). CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional area is a sensitive method for identifying changes in MNCV and amplitude but does not stratify disease severity, as defined by diminished CMAP amplitude and/or evidence of denervation on EMG. The presence of increased intraneural vascularity is relatively sensitive but highly specific for axonal loss. The combination of nerve CSA, BCTQ screening, and power Doppler ultrasound may provide an alternative means for CuTS assessment.

Team Approach: Management of Brachial Plexus Injuries.

¼: Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are relatively rare but potentially devastating injuries with substantial functional, psychological, and economic consequences. ¼: Prompt referral (ideally within 6 weeks of injury) to a center with a team of experts experienced in the diagnosis and management of these injuries is helpful to achieving optimal outcomes. ¼: Preoperative and intraoperative decision-making to diagnose and plan reconstructive procedures is complex and must take into account a number of factors, including the time from injury, concomitant injuries, preservation of cervical nerve roots, and the availability of intraplexal and extraplexal donor nerves for nerve transfer. ¼: A team approach is essential to ensure accurate localization of the pathology before surgery and to maximize rehabilitation after surgery, necessitating close contact between the surgical team, physiatrists, radiologists, and therapists.

Prevalence of lateral epicondylosis in veteran manual wheelchair users participating in adaptive sports.

Objective: Determine the prevalence of lateral epicondylosis (LE) of the dominant elbow in manual wheelchair users based on ultrasound assessment and physical exam.Design: Prospective, cross-sectional.Setting: National Veteran Wheelchair Games 2018 and 2019 (event medical services).Participants: Manual wheelchair users who attended the National Veteran Wheelchair Games (n = 87).Interventions: Participants completed a questionnaire then underwent an ultrasound assessment and a physical exam of their dominant arm evaluating for common extensor tendinopathy (CET) or clinically LE.Main Outcome Measure: Prevalence of CET diagnosed by ultrasound criteria was compared with other diagnostic criteria with MaNemar test for paired binary data.Results: Forty-six percent (N = 40) of participants met diagnostic criteria for CET by ultrasound assessment and 17% (N = 15) of participants met criteria for LE based on physical exam. These values are dramatically higher than what has been reported in the able-bodied population where the prevalence is estimated to be <2%. Age and number of years of wheelchair use were significant predictors of ultrasound diagnosis of LE (P = 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.11) and (P = 0.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.09), respectively. Association analysis based on odds ratio and CI found no association between ultrasound findings suggestive of LE with regular adaptive sport participation greater than 1.5 h per week.Conclusion: Compared to able-bodied population, there is an increased prevalence of both CET and LE in manual wheelchair users based on either ultrasound assessment or physical exam. CET is associated with increased age and increased years using a manual wheelchair. There is no association between the diagnosis of LE and participation in adaptive sport.

Interpretation of Electrodiagnostic Studies: How to Apply It to the Practice of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Electrodiagnostic studies may help orthopaedic surgeons to identify and confirm nerve pathology, determine severity of disease, localize the lesion, identify concomitant or alternative pathology, and prognosticate potential outcomes with nonoperative or operative treatment. Surgeons should recognize the indications for electrodiagnostic studies, principles of their performance, and how to assess the primary data generated by the examination and how it can inform their treatment plans.

Head Motion Predicts Transient Loss of Consciousness in Human Head Trauma: A Case-Control Study of Mixed Martial Artists.

OBJECTIVE: Concussion with transient loss of consciousness is a commonly observed but poorly understood phenomenon with mounting clinical significance. This study aimed to examine the relationship between head motion in varying planes and transient loss of consciousness in athletes with brain injuries. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control design was used. The Ultimate Fighting Championship database was screened for events ending with knockouts from 2013 to 2016. Time of strike, striking implement, strike location, and head motion were recorded for all knockout strikes (cases) and for a subset of nonknockout strikes (controls). Characteristics of winners and losers were compared using two-tailed t tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios for strike characteristics associated with transient loss of consciousness. The Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to describe the temporal distribution of knockouts. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-six fights were identified and 110 videos were included. Head motion in the axial plane was strongly associated with transient loss of consciousness (odds ratio, 45.3; 95% confidence interval, 20.8-98.6). Other predictors of transient loss of consciousness were head motion in sagittal and coronal planes, nonfist striking implements, and strikes to the mandible or maxilla. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated a decreasing rate of knockouts through time. CONCLUSIONS: Rotational head acceleration, particularly in the axial plane, is strongly associated with transient loss of consciousness.

Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome presenting with symptoms in an ulnar nerve distribution: A prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients presenting with symptoms of pain/paresthesias primarily in an ulnar nerve distribution may be noted to have exclusive median mononeuropathy at the wrist on subsequent electrodiagnostic testing. There has been limited research looking at the prevalence of this clinical presentation. METHODS: A cohort of adults were surveyed to assess for severity and localization of hand symptoms using the Katz hand diagram and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptoms Severity Scale. Thirty volunteers met our case definition for ulnar neuropathy and underwent a standardized physical examination, electrodiagnostic testing, and nerve ultrasound. RESULTS: Eleven of 30 subjects (37%) were found to have exclusive median mononeuropathy at the wrist. DISCUSSION: Carpal tunnel syndrome should remain high on the differential for patients presenting with symptoms of pain/paresthesias primarily in an ulnar nerve distribution. Muscle Nerve 59:60-63, 2019.

Absence of the Pronator Quadratus Muscle Precluding Distal Nerve Transfer.

The branch of the anterior interosseous nerve to the pronator quadratus (PQ) is increasingly used as a donor nerve for end-to-end and reverse end-to-side nerve transfers. The anatomy of the PQ (and its nerve branch) is generally considered reliable in the absence of prior trauma. In this report, we describe a patient with an absent PQ despite intact clinical examination of other muscles supplied by the anterior interosseous nerve. The absence of the PQ precluded the use of its nerve as a donor nerve for transfer.