Rehabilitation of People With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Using a Laparoscopically Implanted Neurostimulator: Impact on Mobility and Urinary, Anorectal, and Sexual Functions.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the impact of the laparoscopic implantation of neuromodulation electrodes (Possover-LION procedure) on mobility and on sexual, urinary, and anorectal functions of people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Longitudinal analysis of 30 patients with chronic SCI (21 ASIA impairment scale (AIS) A, eight AIS B, and one AIS C) submitted to the Possover-LION procedure for bilateral neuromodulation of femoral, sciatic, and pudendal nerves. Assessments were performed before the surgical procedure and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The primary outcome was evolution in walking, measured by the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury score, preoperatively and at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in overall mobility (Mobility Assessment Tool for Evaluation of Rehabilitation score), urinary function and quality of life (Qualiveen questionnaire), and bowel (time for bowel emptying proceedings and Wexner's Fecal Incontinence Severity Index [FISI]) and sexual functions (International Index of Erectile Function for men and Female Sexual Function Index for women). Surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, and perioperative complications were also recorded. RESULTS: Qualitatively, 18 of 25 (72%) patients with thoracic injury and 3 of 5 (60%) patients with cervical injury managed to establish a walker-assisted gait at one-year follow-up (p < 0.0001). A total of 11 (47.8%) have improved in their urinary incontinence (p < 0.0001), and seven (30.4%) improved their enuresis (p = 0.0156). The FISI improved from a median of 9 points preoperatively to 5.5 at 12 months (p = 0.0056). Of note, 20 of 28 (71.4%) patients reported an improvement on genital sensitivity at 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.0001), but this was not reflected in sexual quality-of-life questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experienced improved mobility and genital sensitivity and a reduction in the number of urinary and fecal incontinence episodes. By demonstrating reproducible outcomes and safety, this study helps establish the Possover-LION procedure as an addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for the rehabilitation of patients with chronic SCI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the WHO Clinical Trials Database through the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials-REBEC (Universal Tracking Number: U1111-1261-4428).

Discussion on cervical cytology in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Considering the cervix at the climacteric period, important changes take place in the morphology of the epithelium and stroma due to hypoestrogenism. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the presence of transformation zone cells in the cervix of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS: In a private laboratory in São Paulo (Brazil) a retrospective analysis of cervical cytology results was performed. A total of 1,026,671 satisfactory cytology tests were evaluated between January 2010 and December 2015. RESULTS: A marked decline in transformation zone cells with age was evident, with a greater decrease in the ≥50 years age groups. Only 35% of women ≥50 years of age had transformation zone cells in cytology, while in those <50 years, the figure was 67.5% (P<0.001). The prevalence of negative cytological results in these two age groups was respectively 89.9% and 95.3%; however, it was observed that the most serious cytological results occurred in the group after menopause. CONCLUSIONS: Although cytology is the recommended screening method for cervical cancer in Brazil, the low number of transformation zone cells in cytology in menopausal patients could be less sensitive for screening of dysplasia and cancer. So, we suggest routine high-risk HPV DNA testing, when possible, given that this test is considered more sensitive for detecting cervical lesions in this group of patients. When HPV DNA testing is not possible, cytology should be collected, and for cytology sampling we suggest regular topical estrogenization and use of appropriate technique.

Intrapelvic entrapment of sacral nerve roots by abnormal bundles of the piriformis muscle: description of an extra-spinal cause of sciatica and pudendal neuralgia.

Piriformis syndrome is a well-known extra-spinal cause of sciatica characterized by the entrapment of the sciatic nerve by variant bundles of the piriformis muscles in the deep gluteal space. In this case series, we describe the entrapment of intrapelvic portions of the sacral nerve roots by a variant bundle of the piriformis muscle originating medially to the sacral foramina, the surgical technique for the laparoscopic treatment of this condition, and the outcomes of the first eight cases treated with this technique. Five female and three male patients presenting with sciatica, pudendal pain and lower urinary tract symptoms underwent a laparoscopic exploration of the intrapelvic portion of the sacral nerve roots and transection of the abnormal piriformis bundle. Surgical technique is demonstrated in the Supplementary Video. Clinical success was achieved in seven of the eight patients, with a reduction of pain numeric rating scale from 8.5 (±1.2; 7-10) pre-operatively to 2.1 (±2.6; 0-7), 1-year following surgery. In conclusion, entrapment of intrapelvic portions of the sacral nerve roots by variant bundles of the piriformis originating medially to the sacral foramina are an extraspinal cause of sciatica, which can be treated though a laparoscopic approach.

Superior gluteal vein syndrome: an intrapelvic cause of sciatica.

The role of malformed or dilated branches of iliac vessels in causing pelvic pain is not well understood. Such vessels may entrap nerves of the lumbosacral (LS) plexus against the pelvic sidewalls, producing symptoms not typically encountered in gynecological practice, including sciatica and refractory urinary and/or anorectal dysfunction. We describe cases of sciatica in which laparoscopy revealed compression of the LS plexus by variant superior gluteal veins (SGVs). In demonstrating an improvement in patient symptoms after decompression, we identify this neurovascular conflict as a potential intrapelvic cause of sciatica. This study is a retrospective case series (Canadian Task Force Classification II-3). Nerve decompression laparoscopies were performed in São Paulo, Brazil. Thirteen female patients undergoing laparoscopy for sciatica with no clear spinal or musculoskeletal causes were included in this study. In all cases, we identified LS entrapment by aberrant SGVs, and performed decompression by vessel ligation. The average preoperative visual analog scale score of 9.62 ± 0.77 decreased significantly to 2.54 ± 2.88 post-operatively (P < 0.001). The success rate (defined as ≥ 50% improvement in visual analog scale score) was 92.3%, over a follow-up of 13.2 ± 10.6 months. Our case series demonstrates a high success rate and significant decrease in pain scores after laparoscopic intrapelvic decompression, thereby identifying pelvic nerve entrapment by aberrant SGVs as a potential yet previously unrecognized cause of sciatica. This intrapelvic neurovascular conflict-the SGV syndrome-should be considered in cases of sciatica with no identifiable spinal or musculoskeletal etiology.