Experiences and beliefs related to sleep paralysis among the general population of the twin cities: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep paralysis (SP) is a rapid eye movement (REM) parasomnia that occurs during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. During this brief state, a person is conscious but unable to move or speak, often experiencing hallucinations. It is 'isolated' when it occurs without other symptoms of narcolepsy or sleep disorders. Despite its prevalence, much remains unknown about its clinical features and associated beliefs. OBJECTIVES: This study examines the frequency of self-reported SP experiences and its associated demographic characteristics, along with participants' beliefs about the condition. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among visitors at a shopping mall, using the Unusual Sleep Experiences Questionnaire (USEQ) to assess the features of SP episodes and the common beliefs surrounding them. RESULTS: A total of 350 participants were surveyed (mean age = 25.5 ± 9.30 years; 55.4 % females). Participants who experienced SP at least once in their life time (39.1 %) reported feeling pressure on their chest (67.2 %), an inability to open their eyes (71.5 %), and difficulty speaking (81.0 %) during the episode. The majority of the individuals reported having their first episode at a young age (16-20 years). Most people (24.5 %) were unaware that this condition was known as sleep paralysis, and many (23.5 %) thought that it was just 'a dream'. CONCLUSION: Isolated sleep paralysis episodes are fairly prevalent, with many people experiencing their first episode at a young age. A typical episode entails a sense of pressure on the chest and difficulty in vocalizing. Misconceptions about the condition are common and wage further exploration.

Childhood leprosy in Buenos Aires: four cases report. / Lepra infantil en Buenos Aires. Reporte de cuatro casos.

Childhood leprosy, which affects children up to 14 years old, is characterized by a delay in diagnosis since it is usually confused with other dermatoses. Its presence in a child is a relevant epidemiological indicator since it signals active disease transmission. We present 4 patients between 5 and 14 years old who attended a public hospital in Buenos Aires -two patients with borderline tuberculoid leprosy, one with lepromatous leprosy, and one with indeterminate leprosy.The World Health Organization provides therapy for people between 10 and 14 but does not consider children under 10. This difficulty implies adapting the dosage and pharmaceutical form to each patient under this age. Finally, it should be noted that the diagnosis of the patients led to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease in adult cohabitants.

La lepra infantil, aquella que afecta a niños de hasta 14 años, se caracteriza por la demora en su diagnóstico, ya que habitualmente es confundida con otras dermatosis. Su presencia en un niño es un indicador epidemiológico relevante, dado que señala la transmisión activa de la enfermedad. Presentamos 4 pacientes de entre 5 y 14 años asistidos en un hospital público de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Dos pacientes presentaron lepra borderline tuberculoide; uno, lepra lepromatosa; y otra, lepra indeterminada. La Organización Mundial de la Salud facilita la terapéutica para la población entre 10 y 14 años, pero no contempla a los menores de 10 años. Esta dificultad implica adecuar la dosis y la forma farmacéutica a cada paciente menor de la edad referida. Finalmente, es de destacar que el diagnóstico de los pacientes llevó al diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad en convivientes adultos.

[Subacute ataxia associated with cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and vestibular areflexia (CANVAS)]. / Ataxia subaguda asociada a ataxia cerebelosa, neuropatía y arreflexia vestibular (CANVAS).

Cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) is a late onset neurodegenerative disorder. Its genetic basis has recently been identified in the gene encoding a subunit of the Replication Factor C (RFC1). We present the case of a 62-year-old woman who experienced a history of a biphasic presentation of imbalance and gait disorders, with rapid onset of symptoms followed by slow and progressive neurological deterioration. The diagnostic process was challenging, and numerous tests were conducted to rule out acquired and genetic causes of ataxia, leading to a diagnosis of late-onset idiopathic cerebellar ataxia. Subsequently, vestibular function tests identified severe bilateral vestibulopathy. This led to considering CANVAS among the diagnoses, which was ultimately confirmed through genetic testing (biallelic expansion of the pentanucleotide AAGGG in the RFC1 gene). This case highlights the importance of this new described genetic disease and its subacute presentation variant, emphasizing the relevance of objective vestibular function tests in idiopathic ataxias to achieve proper diagnosis and eventual genetic counseling for offspring.

El síndrome de ataxia cerebelosa, neuropatía y arreflexia vestibular (CANVAS) es un trastorno neurodegenerativo progresivo que se manifiesta en etapas tardías de la vida. Su base genética ha sido recientemente identificada en el gen que codifica la subunidad 1 del factor C de replicación (RFC1). Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 62 años con una historial de desequilibrio y deterioro de la marcha de presentación bifásica, con un inicio rápido de los síntomas seguido de un deterioro neurológico lento y progresivo. El proceso diagnóstico fue complejo y se realizaron numerosas pruebas para descartar causas adquiridas y genéticas de la ataxia, arribando al diagnóstico de ataxia cerebelosa de inicio tardío idiopática. Ulteriormente, las pruebas de función vestibular identificaron una grave vestibulopatía bilateral. Esto llevó a considerar el CANVAS entre los diagnósticos, que finalmente fue confirmado mediante pruebas genéticas (expansión bialélica del penta-nucleótido AAGGG en el gen RFC1). Este caso subraya la importancia de esta nueva enfermedad genética y su variante de presentación subaguda y enfatiza la relevancia de las pruebas objetivas de función vestibular en las ataxias consideradas idiopáticas para lograr un diagnóstico adecuado y un eventual asesoramiento genético a la descendencia.

Giftedness and atypical sexual differentiation: enhanced perceptual functioning through estrogen deficiency instead of androgen excess.

Syndromic autism spectrum conditions (ASC), such as Klinefelter syndrome, also manifest hypogonadism. Compared to the popular Extreme Male Brain theory, the Enhanced Perceptual Functioning model explains the connection between ASC, savant traits, and giftedness more seamlessly, and their co-emergence with atypical sexual differentiation. Overexcitability of primary sensory inputs generates a relative enhancement of local to global processing of stimuli, hindering the abstraction of communication signals, in contrast to the extraordinary local information processing skills in some individuals. Weaker inhibitory function through gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors and the atypicality of synapse formation lead to this difference, and the formation of unique neural circuits that process external information. Additionally, deficiency in monitoring inner sensory information leads to alexithymia (inability to distinguish one's own emotions), which can be caused by hypoactivity of estrogen and oxytocin in the interoceptive neural circuits, comprising the anterior insular and cingulate gyri. These areas are also part of the Salience Network, which switches between the Central Executive Network for external tasks and the Default Mode Network for self-referential mind wandering. Exploring the possibility that estrogen deficiency since early development interrupts GABA shift, causing sensory processing atypicality, it helps to evaluate the co-occurrence of ASC with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and schizophrenia based on phenotypic and physiological bases. It also provides clues for understanding the common underpinnings of these neurodevelopmental disorders and gifted populations.

Clinical insights into traumatic injury of the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves: a comprehensive approach from diagnosis to therapeutic interventions.

OBJECTIVES: This scoping review explores the risk and management of traumatic injuries to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves during mandibular dental procedures. Emphasizing the significance of diagnostic tools, the review amalgamates existing knowledge to offer a comprehensive overview. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search across PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library informed the analysis. RESULTS: Traumatic injuries often lead to hypo-/anesthesia and neuropathic pain, impacting individuals psychologically and socially. Diagnosis involves thorough anamnesis, clinical-neurological evaluations, and radiographic imaging. Severity varies, allowing for conservative or surgical interventions. Immediate action is recommended for reversible causes, while surgical therapies like decompression, readaptation, or reconstruction yield favorable outcomes. Conservative management, utilizing topical anesthesia, capsaicin, and systemic medications (tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, and serotonin-norepinephrine-reuptake-inhibitors), proves effective for neuropathic pain. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic nerve injuries, though common in dental surgery, often go unrecorded. Despite lacking a definitive diagnostic gold standard, a meticulous examination of the injury and subsequent impairments is crucial. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Tailoring treatment to each case's characteristics is essential, recognizing the absence of a universal solution. This approach aims to optimize outcomes, restore functionality, and improve the quality of life for affected individuals.

A Pilot Study of Hypofractionated Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

The primary late toxicity of radiosurgery treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is facial numbness due to trigeminal nerve dysfunction. Although most patients prefer loss of facial sensation to TN, severe loss of facial sensation can be debilitating. In order to try to obtain high pain control rates while minimizing the risk of late facial numbness, we elected to treat patients on the distal trigeminal nerve with a three-fraction regimen over consecutive days instead of one fraction. Our goal was to relieve the pain while also allowing the trigeminal nerve time to repair radiation damage between treatments in an attempt to minimize the risk of permanent facial numbness. Patients in a pilot study, approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), received a treatment regimen of 99 Gy, administered in three consecutive daily fractions of 33 Gy each, with the dosage targeted to the 80% line. This dose was selected to approximate a biologically equivalent dose of 80 Gy maximal dose to the trigeminal nerve. Forty-eight patients were treated with CyberKnife Radiosurgery (CKRS; 99 Gy/3 fractions) for TN from 2016 to 2022, with at least one year of follow-up. The Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) scale was used to assess facial pain, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess adequate pain relief. Thirty-eight (84%) patients experienced adequate pain relief, defined as a BNI score of I-IIIb, after a median of 1.5 months following CKRS. Treatment failure (BNI=IV-V) occurred in 12 (25%) patients after a median of 6 months following initial pain relief. The actuarial probability of pain relief at 6, 12, and 24 months post-CKRS were 87.4%, 83.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. Facial numbness was experienced in 24 (50%) cases after a median of 10 months following CKRS. Typical facial pain (p=0.034) and vascular compression (p=0.039) were the only predictors of better treatment outcomes using univariate Cox survival analysis, and vascular compression (p= 0.037) was the only predictor in multivariate Cox survival analysis. Hypofractionated treatment to the distal trigeminal nerve segment does not appear to offer an advantage in treating TN, due to similar rates of pain relief but with an unacceptably high rate of late facial numbness.

A Prospective Study of Sensory Changes in Pediatric Patients After Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum With Cryoablation.

BACKGROUND: Cryoablation during minimally invasive repair for pectus excavatum (MIRPE) reduces opioid use and hospital length of stay. Skin hypoesthesia of the chest wall also occurs. This study sought to determine the frequency, onset, duration, and location of sensory changes and neuropathic pain after cryoablation. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on patients aged ≤21 years undergoing MIRPE with cryoablation of T3 to T7 dermatomes bilaterally for 120 s at a single institution between March 2021 to December 2022. Patients underwent sensory testing of the chest wall and neuropathic pain surveys (S-LANSS) preoperatively and then postoperatively for 6 months. Incidence and duration of hypoesthesia and neuropathic pain were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 61 patients enrolled in the study, 45 completed evaluations at six months postoperatively. All patients had skin hypoesthesia on postoperative day (POD)1. The mean percentage of the treated anterior chest wall surface area (TACWSA) with hypoesthesia to cold stimulus was 52% (±29.3) on POD 0 and 55% (±19.7) on POD 1. Sensation returned over time, with hypoesthesia affecting 11.1% (±15.5) TACWSA at 6 months. At study completion 58% of patients (26/45) had complete return of sensation; hypoesthesia was found at: 1 dermatome 13% (2/45), 2 dermatomes 22% (11/45), and 3 dermatomes 4% (2/45). Neuropathic pain (S-LANSS ≥12) was documented in 16% (9/55) of patients at hospital discharge but decreased to 6.7% of patients at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Onset of skin hypoesthesia after cryoablation occurred on POD0 and affected 52% of the TACWSA. All patients experienced return of sensation to varying degrees, with 58% experiencing normal sensation in all dermatomes by 6 months. The etiology of persistent hypoesthesia to select dermatomes is unknown but may be related to operative technique or cryoablation. Chronic neuropathic pain is uncommon. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II. TYPE OF STUDY: Prognosis Study.

Spontaneous Cortical Intracerebral Hemorrhage Causing Ipsilateral Hand and Oral Sensory Change Without Motor Deficit: A Case Report.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the second most common stroke subtype associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although various brain regions are susceptible to ICH, putaminal hemorrhage is the most common, whereas cortical ICH is less common. Here, we report the case of a 69-year-old man who developed a parietal cortical ICH. The patient developed hypoesthesia and paresthesia in the right upper lip and hand; however, the weakness was not severe. Twenty-five days after the ICH onset, the manual muscle test results were normal, but he had difficulty eating and shaving because of decreased hand dexterity. The rehabilitation focused on improving fine hand motor function and endurance. On the 94th day after ICH onset, paresthesia remained only in the fingertips, and the upper lip sensory change disappeared. Patients with sensory symptoms in the perioral area, hands, and brain lesions were previously referred to as having cheiro-oral syndrome (COS). With the advancement of neuroimaging, the use of this term has decreased, as cerebrovascular events can explain patient symptoms in correlation with neuroanatomy, etiology, and pathogenesis. We report a patient with cortical ICH, also known as COS, which is a stroke syndrome with a good prognosis.

Relationship between compression time and long-term hypoesthesia in primary trigeminal neuralgia treated with percutaneous balloon compression.

Percutaneous balloon compression is a surgical method for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, but one of the surgical parameters, compression time, is inconclusive. To investigate the effect of compression time during balloon compression on long-term postoperative hypoesthesia in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia and to provide guidance on relevant parameters for balloon compression in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia, we conducted a nested case-control study. Patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia treated by balloon compression from March 2013 to September 2013 were divided into case group and control group according to whether there were still symptoms of hypoesthesia at present. The relationship between the compression time of balloon compression and long-term hypoesthesia was analyzed. A total of 289 trigeminal neuralgia patients treated with percutaneous balloon compression were included in this study. Multivariate logistic regression showed that compression time was significantly correlated with long-term hypoesthesia (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.13-3.23, P = 0.02), and compression time was greater than one. The risk of hypoesthesia in the long-term when the compression time is longer than 1 min is 1.93 times that of 1 min. PBC is a safe and effective surgical method, and the long-term hypoesthesia is related to the compression time during operation. The longer the compression time during operation, the greater the risk of long-term hypoesthesia.

SKINTED: an uncommon cutaneous complication of total knee replacement.

Surgery of the knee, injury to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, traumatic eczematous dermatitis (SKINTED) involving the skin lateral to the surgical incision/scar area is a site- and procedure-specific diagnosis associated with total knee replacement surgery. It results from autonomic denervation following surgical trauma to the nerve and occurs months to years after surgical trauma. It needs to be differentiated from post traumatic eczema/dermatitis, neuropathic dermatitis and contact dermatitis/sensitization due to topical therapies or implant material. Herein, we report a case of 70-year-old woman having no preexisting medical or dermatological disorder of significance presenting with eczematous lesions around both knees lateral to the incision site developing few months after bilateral total knee replacement surgery. Treatment with twice daily application of betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream, gabapentine 100 mg/d PO and liberal use of bland emollient cream given over 2 months was remittive without recurrence during more than one year of follow up. Since its exact prevalence, pathophysiology and clinical course remain uncertain its awareness remains relevant to both dermatologists and orthopedic surgeons to address unnecessary anxiety and dissatisfaction of the patient.

Clinical Features of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Hypoesthesia as an Initial Symptom.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who experienced hypoesthesia as the initial symptom. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 176 hospitalized AIS patients who met our inclusion and exclusion criteria and evaluated their clinical features and MRI findings. Among this cohort, 20 (11%) patients presented with hypoesthesia as the initial symptom. MRI scans of these 20 patients identified lesions in the thalamus or pontine tegmentum in 14 and brain lesions at other sites in 6. The 20 hypoesthesia patients had higher systolic (p = 0.031) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.037) on admission, and a higher rate of small-vessel occlusion (p < 0.001) than patients without hypoesthesia. The patients with hypoesthesia had a significantly shorter average hospital stay (p = 0.007) but did not differ significantly from those without hypoesthesia in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores on admission (p = 0.182) or the modified Rankin Scale scores for neurologic disability on discharge (p = 0.319). In the patients with acute onset hypoesthesia, high blood pressure, and neurological deficits were more likely to be due to AIS than other causes. Since most of the lesions in AIS patients with hypoesthesia as the initial symptom were found to be small, we recommend performing MRI scans with such patients to confirm AIS.

The relationship between orbital floor fracture patterns around the infraorbital groove and development of infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia: a computed tomographic study.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between patterns of orbital floor fracture around the infraorbital groove and development of infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included 200 patients (200 sides) of pure orbital floor fracture with or without medial orbital wall fracture. Data on the presence or absence of infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia were collected from medical records. Based on coronal computed tomographic images, patients were classified into 3 groups: a fracture extending medially to (medial group), into (in-groove group), and laterally to the infraorbital groove (lateral group). RESULTS: Infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia was found in 72 patients (36.0%). A fracture extended into or laterally to the infraorbital groove in 86.2% of patients with infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia, while a fracture was limited to the portion medial to the infraorbital groove in 77.3% of patients without infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia (P < 0.001). A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patients in the lateral and in-groove groups were highly associated with development of infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia, with an odds ratio of 134.788 in the lateral group (95% confidence interval, 30.496-595.735; P < 0.001) and that of 20.323 in the in-groove group (95% confidence interval, 6.942-59.499; P < 0.001) with the medial group as the reference. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that patients with orbital floor fracture extending into or laterally to the infraorbital groove have a high risk of infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia, compared to those with orbital floor fracture limited to the portion medial to the infraorbital groove.

Univariate analysis of peripheral neurotoxicity induced by oxaliplatin chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer and its prevention and treatment strategies / 中国基层医药

Objective:To analyze the related factors of neurotoxicity induced by oxaliplatin chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer and its prevention and treatment strategies.Methods:A total of 300 patients with colorectal cancer treated with oxaliplatin in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were randomly selected for baseline collection using the convenience sampling method. The occurrence of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OIPN) was statistically analyzed. The factors that affect the occurrence of OIPN were analyzed using univariate analysis.Results:There was a significant difference in OIPN score between patients of different genders, between patients who had different education levels, between patients who had different occupations, and between patients who lived in different long-term residence places ( t = 7.29, 3.39, 2.53, 18.11, all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in OIPN score between patients adhering to different religion's beliefs, between patients married and not, between patients who lived with and without members, between patients who paid medical costs and not, and between patients who had a previous history of smoking and not ( t = 3.25, 0.37, 0.69, 2.39, 0.15, all P > 0.05). There was a significant difference in OIPN score between patients with different tumor-node-metastasis stages, between patients who received medication via different administration routes, and between patients who received different times of oxaliplatin administration ( t = 8.40, 3.34, 3.49, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Medical staff should pay attention to the occurrence of OIPN in patients with colorectal cancer treated with oxaliplatin, focus on the patient's factors related to the disease, and take correct and effective coping strategies promptly to reduce the adverse reactions, improve the quality of life, and ensure the therapeutic effect.

Recovery following Orthognathic Surgery Procedures-A Pilot Study.

This study aims at evaluating and categorizing patients' objective and subjective postoperative recovery symptoms after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery assigning the healing process. The patients were monitored throughout the recovery process, and their symptoms were managed. A prospective, observational study was performed. Patients with Class II and III malocclusion (aged 18 to 35) were evaluated and monitored preoperatively, and postoperatively at 48 h, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months postsurgery. A questionnaire was used to assess pain and anesthesia/hypoesthesia. The most common objective and subjective signs that were correlated with the healing process were edema, hematoma, trismus, pain, and anesthesia/hypoesthesia. Edema peaked at 48−72 h postoperatively (distance between eye's external canthus and gonion, mean difference = 4.53, between tragus and cheilion, mean difference = 7, between tragus and gnathion, mean difference = 4.65, p < 0.001); mouth opening amplitude was significantly decreased during the first two weeks postsurgery (class II, mean difference = 32.42, p = 0.006, class III, mean difference = 44.57, p < 0.001), but it steadily and considerably improved over three months. The nose tended to widen postsurgery. The most severe pain experienced by patients was of medium intensity in the mandibular body, described as pressure, and usually did not spread. Patients were most severely and persistently impacted by anesthesia/hypoesthesia.

Atypical Auditory Perception Caused by Environmental Stimuli in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Approach to the Evaluation of Self-Reports.

Recent studies have revealed that atypical sensory perception is common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is considered a potential cause of social difficulties. Self-reports by individuals with ASD have provided great insights into atypical perception from the first-person point of view and indicated its dependence on the environment. This study aimed to investigate the patterns and environmental causes of atypical auditory perception in individuals with ASD. Qualitative data from subject reports are inappropriate for statistical analysis, and reporting subjective sensory experiences is not easy for every individual. To cope with such challenges, we employed audio signal processing methods to simulate the potential patterns of atypical auditory perception. The participants in our experiment were able to select and adjust the strength of the processing methods to manipulate the sounds in the videos to match their experiences. Thus, the strength of atypical perception was recorded quantitatively and then analyzed to assess its correlation with the audio-visual stimuli contained in the videos the participants observed. In total, 22 participants with ASD and 22 typically developed (TD) participants were recruited for the experiment. The results revealed several common patterns of atypical auditory perception: Louder sounds perceived in a quiet environment, noise perception induced by intense and unsteady audio-visual stimuli, and echo perception correlated with movement and variation in sound level. The ASD group reported atypical perceptions more frequently than the control group. However, similar environmental causes were shared by the ASD and TD groups. The results help us infer the potential neural and physiological mechanisms of sensory processing in ASD.

Chronic postsurgical pain after minimally invasive adrenalectomy: prevalence and impact on quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is the standard of care for small adrenal tumours. Both the transperitoneal lateral approach and posterior retroperitoneal approach are widely used and have been proven to be safe and effective. However, the prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain has not been specifically investigated in previous studies. The primary goal of this study was to identify the prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain after minimally invasive adrenalectomy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among all consecutive patients who had undergone minimally invasive adrenalectomy in a single university medical centre. The primary outcome was the prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain. Secondary outcomes were the prevalence of localized hypoesthesia, risk factors for the development of chronic postsurgical pain, and the Health-Related Quality of Life. Three questionnaires were used to measure the prevalence and severity of chronic postsurgical pain, hypoesthesia, and Health-Related Quality of Life. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors for development of chronic postsurgical pain. RESULTS: Six hundred two patients underwent minimally invasive adrenalectomy between January 2007 and September 2019, of whom 328 signed informed consent. The prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain was 14.9%. In the group of patients with chronic postsurgical pain, 33% reported hypoesthesia as well. Young age was a significant predictor for developing chronic postsurgical pain. The prevalence of localized hypoesthesia was 15.2%. In patients with chronic postsurgical pain, Health-Related Quality of Life was significantly lower, compared to patients without pain. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain following minimally invasive adrenalectomy is considerable. Furthermore, the presence of chronic postsurgical pain was correlated with a significant and clinically relevant lower Health-Related Quality of Life. These findings should be included in the preoperative counselling of the patient. In the absence of evidence for effective treatment in established chronic pain, prevention should be the key strategy and topic of future research.

Is It Back Pain or Pott's Disease?

Tuberculosis is a public health problem in Portugal. It can have extrapulmonary manifestations, with the spine being the most frequent and significant location affected within the bone area. We present the case of a 65-year-old man with left lumbar sciatic pain, 11% body weight loss, and anorexia. Later, he developed left crural hemiparesis and hypoesthesia, failing to respond to analgesia. A computerized tomography scan of the lumbar spine showed L5-S1 spondylodiscitis. The patient was admitted for study and started empirical antibiotic therapy. Due to lack of clinical and analytical response and inconclusive bone biopsy, surgical decompression of the lumbar abscess was performed, with isolation of multi-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He took anti-tuberculostatic drugs for a year and did physiotherapy, fully recovering from neurological deficits due to his illness. On account of tuberculosis's prolonged and non-specific clinical presentation, a high index of clinical suspicion is needed for a well-timed diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious complications.

Effect of concentrated growth factor on lower lip hypoesthesia after osseous genioplasty: a prospective, split-mouth, double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Lower lip hypoesthesia is the most common complication following osseous genioplasty. Concentrated growth factor (CGF) has recently been shown to improve neural regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of concentrated growth factor on neurosensory recovery after osseous genioplasty. Patients who underwent osseous genioplasty between June 2017 and February 2020 were enrolled. CGF was applied to the mental nerve on one side. The treatment side was randomized, and the other side was considered as the control. Lower lip hypoesthesia was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively (1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 9 months) using the two-point discrimination test and a 10-point visual analogue scale (self-reported paresthesia). The assessor was blinded. Twenty-six female patients completed the study. At 1 and 3 months, both the mean two-point discrimination value and mean visual analogue scale score were significantly lower in the CGF group than in the control group (P < 0.001). At 3 months, the percentage of patients with lower lip hypoesthesia in the CGF group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Both groups showed resolution of lower lip hypoesthesia at 6 months. Concentrated growth factor may accelerate the recovery of long-standing sensory nerve impairment following mental osteotomy.

C2 Nerve Root Preservation During Posterior Fixation for Instability Secondary to Congenital Craniovertebral Junction Anomalies: Feasibility Factors and Related Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with instability because of congenital craniovertebral anomalies often have complex C1-C2 osseovascular anomalies. C2 nerve root sacrifice has been described to address such difficult anatomy during posterior C1-C2 fixation and has its own downsides. Its preservation as a recent alternative poses greater surgical challenge, and the considerations differ from other causes of craniovertebral junctional instability; the pertaining outcomes have been scarcely studied. The objective of this study was to prospectively determine the feasibility and outcomes related to C2 nerve root preservation in patients with congenital atlantoaxial dislocation (CAAD) after posterior C1-C2 fixation. METHODS: In this observational study, 63 patients (126 nerve roots) with CAAD after posterior fixation were prospectively assessed. Underlying osseovascular anomalies affecting the feasibility of C2 nerve root preservation, and C2 nerve-related dysfunction at 12 months follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall C2 nerve root preservation rate was 89.7%. Even in the presence of extreme joint obliquity/spondyloptosis and anomalous vertebral artery, it was feasible in about three fourths. After preservation, 28.3% patients developed new-onset C2 nerve root dysfunction: neuralgia in 2, dysesthesia in 6, and hypoesthesia/paresthesia in 9. The symptoms were not disabling in most patients. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with CAAD, C2 nerve root preservation is feasible despite an aberrant bony and vascular anatomy. A few patients after nerve root preservation develop related symptoms that are conservatively manageable, with no significant adverse consequences. Given the controversy in the literature on C2 nerve sacrifice-related outcomes, we favor an attempt at C2 nerve root preservation.