Optimal timing of needle electromyography to diagnose lesion severity in traumatic radial nerve injury.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: In patients with traumatic radial nerve injury (RNI), the chance of spontaneous recovery must be balanced against the benefits of early surgical reconstruction. We aimed to explore the time-specific value of needle electromyography (NEMG) to diagnose nerve lesion severity. METHODS: In this retrospective diagnostic accuracy study at Leiden Nerve Center, patients at least 12 years of age with RNI caused by fractures or fracture treatment were included. The sensitivity and specificity of the patients' first NEMG examination were assessed, stratified by the timing after the nerve injury. The absence of motor unit potentials (MUPs) in muscles distal to the nerve lesion was considered a positive test result. Lesion severity was dichotomized to moderate injury (spontaneous Medical Research Council grade ≥3 recovery) or severe injury (poor spontaneous recovery or surgical confirmation of a mainly neurotmetic lesion). RESULTS: Ninety-five patients were included in our study. The sensitivity of NEMG to detect severe RNI was 75.0% (3 of 4) in the fourth, 66.7% (2 of 3) in the fifth, and 66.7% (2 of 3) in the sixth month after the nerve injury. The specificity in the first to the sixth month was 0.0% (0 of 1), 50.0% (2 of 4), 77.3% (17 of 22), 95.5% (21 of 22), 95.8% (23 of 24), and 100.0% (12 of 12), respectively. DISCUSSION: The specificity of NEMG is higher than 95% and therefore clinically relevant from the fourth month after the nerve injury onward. Absence of MUPs at this time can be considered an indication to plan nerve exploration. Moreover, the presence of MUPs on NEMG does not completely exclude the necessity for surgical reconstruction.

The Association Between Pain Perception and Care Dependency in Older Nursing Home Residents: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Maintenance of independence is a challenge for nursing home residents whose pain is often substantial. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between pain perception and care dependency in a population of Dutch nursing home residents. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Dutch nursing home residents aged 65 or older, excluding residents with a severe cognitive impairment. METHODS: The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to rate pain perception from 0 to 10 in half-point increments and the Care Dependency Scale (CDS) to measure care dependency, with scores ranging from 15 (completely care dependent) to 75 (fully independent). Both measurements were repeated after a 2-month follow-up. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders. Missing data were dealt with by performing tenfold multiple imputation. RESULTS: A total of 1256 residents (65% women, mean age 83 years) were included. At baseline, the median NRS pain score was 3.0 (interquartile range 0.0-6.0) and the mean CDS score was 55.9 (SD 11.5). Cross-sectionally, for 1-point increase in pain score, care dependency increased 0.65 points [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.83]. More pain at baseline was associated with slightly lower care dependency after 2 months (beta 0.20, 95% CI 0.01-0.39). Compared with residents whose pain decreased over 2 months, residents with stable pain or increased pain had a 2.27-point (95% CI 0.83-3.70) and 2.39-point (95% CI 0.87-3.90) greater increase in care dependency, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Pain perception and care dependency are associated in a population of older nursing home residents, and stable or increased pain is associated with increased care dependency progression. The findings of this study emphasize that pain and care dependency should not be assessed nor treated independently.