Talar Dislocation: Is Reimplantation a Safe Procedure?

Total or complete dislocation of the talus is a triple dislocation of the tibiotalar, talocalcaneal, and talonavicular joints. It is a rare injury and is considered to be 1 of the most disabling ankle injuries. In light of the literature, there is a lack of consensus on their surgical treatment. The primary objective of this retrospective case series was to assess the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of 5 patients who underwent talar reimplantation for total talar dislocation. From 2005 to 2011, 5 patients were admitted in emergency care unit with a total talar dislocation. The talar dislocation was surgically reduced and stabilized by a temporary internal fixation. Patients were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 60 months (48-70 months). Clinical and radiological evaluations were performed at the last follow-up. Despite 3 opened-dislocation (60%), none had infection. Three patients obtained subnormal biomechanical function with an American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score of 60 to 70/100. Two others patients (40%) underwent a secondary ankle arthrodesis because of avascular necrosis of the talus. Signs of necrosis appeared at 15 months and 24 months. Talar reimplantation should be attempted despite the risk of avascular necrosis: restoration of the talus in the ankle maintains normal hindfoot anatomy and preserves bone stock for future function or a subsequent surgical procedure. Patients should be informed of the risk of secondary surgery. Opened-dislocation seems to be a major risk factor of avascular necrosis, and surgeon must take care to keep soft tissues attached.

Retrospective clinic and urodynamic study in the neurogenic bladder dysfunction caused by human T cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP).

INTRODUCTION: HTLV-I associated tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) and HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM) is an endemic disease in Caribbean Island. Bladder-sphincter dysfunctions are almost present. The objectives of the study are to describe clinic and urodynamic characteristics of voiding disorders in Martiniquan population, evaluate if there is a relationship between motor and urinary handicap, and evaluate prognosis factors of urologic complications. METHODS: Retrospective study of 60 patients suffering from HAM/TSP. Clinical, urodynamic datas, scale of urinary and motor handicap (Urinary Symptom Profile [USP] questionnaire and Osame Score) were collected. RESULTS: Storage symptoms were the most frequent (75%) whatever type of detrusor activity. Detrusor overactivity was the most frequent disorder (68.3%). Bladder compliance was normal in half percent of the cases. Urethral activity was increased in 47% of the cases. Detrusor sphincter dysynergia was found in 78% of the cases, post-void residual in 58% of cases. Sixty five percent of the patients present at least one urologic complication (morphologic and/or infectious) but there was no correlation with motor enablement (P = 0.3097), neither urodynamic study (P = 0.432 for detrusor overactivity, P = 0.107 for detrusor underactivity, P = 0.058 for high urethral activity, P = 0.893 for detrusor sphincter dysynergia, P = 0.850 for post-void residual volume), neither with evolution duration of HAM/TSP (P = 0.348). USP score was not in correlation with Osame score (P = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Urologic symptoms are not always in relationship with urodynamic study: a systematic urodynamic study is necessary to evaluate HAM/TSP neurogenic bladder. No clinic or urodynamic criterias are predictive of urologic complications. These patients need a close follow up. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:449-452, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Epicardial fat accumulation is an independent marker of impaired heart rate recovery in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic nervous system activation plays a pivotal role in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), contributing to increased cardiovascular risk. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) activates cardiac autonomic nervous system. Our main study objective was to investigate effects of these autonomic dysfunction factors on post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR). METHODS: 36 patients, referred for clinical assessment of obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2), underwent overnight polysomnography, transthoracic echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RESULTS: Compared to non-OSA patients, OSA patients were older and displayed reduced body weight-indexed peak VO2. Cardiac output at peak exercise was similar among groups. Peak exercise arterio-venous oxygen content difference D[a-v]O2 was lower in OSA patients. In univariate linear analysis, age, AHI, EAT thickness, peak VO2 and diabetes were associated with blunted HRR. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that increased EAT thickness, AHI and diabetes were independently associated with lower HRR. For identical AHI value and diabetes status, HRR significantly decreased by 61.7% for every 1 mm increase of EAT volume (p = 0.011). If HRR was treated as a categorical variable, EAT [odds ratio (OR) 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-2.66); p = 0.005], and type 2 diabetes [OR 8.97 (95% CI 1.16-69.10); p = 0.035] were the only independent predictors of blunted HRR. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic capacity and peak exercise D[a-v]O2 are impaired in obese OSA patients, suggesting abnormal peripheral oxygen extraction. EAT thickness is an independent marker of post-exercise HRR, which is a noninvasive marker of autonomic nerve dysfunction accompanying poor cardiovascular prognosis in obese patients.

Evidence of occult dysautonomia in Fowler's syndrome: alteration of cardiovascular autonomic function tests in female patients presenting with urinary retention.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the hypothesis that an occult impairment of the autonomic system might represent one of the mechanisms of urinary disturbance in Fowler's syndrome (FS), in which the pathophysiology of urinary retention is the predominant feature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively investigated 10 women (mean age 43.7 years) with FS, diagnosed by assessing both voiding-phase dysfunction (complete or incomplete retention with a residual urine volume of >150 mL, and a maximum flow rate of <15 mL/s), abnormalities of striated urethral sphincter electromyography (decelerating bursts and complex repetitive discharges), the presence of polycystic ovaries and absence of any apparent usual causes (obstructive, neurological diseases). The women had a urodynamic investigation, electromyographic examination, cystoscopy, brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cardiovascular autonomic function tests (CAFTs, i.e. heart rate variability to deep breathing, cold-pressor test, Valsalva ratio, blood pressure response to standing, and sympathetic skin responses), for parasympathetic and sympathetic functions. Evidence of dysautonomia, as classically described, was defined by two or more positive CAFTs. RESULTS: The mean duration of symptoms was 7.9 years; there was urinary retention in six patients (one complete and five incomplete) and the other four complained of straining to void, diminished stream and hesitancy. Five patients were using intermittent self-catheterization. Six patients had two or more positive CAFTs and were considered to have dysautonomia. In all 10 women the clinical neurological and urological examinations were normal with no apparent clinical symptoms of dysautonomia (blurred vision, pupil abnormalities, clinical manifestations of postural hypotension, gastrointestinal symptoms). Brain and spinal cord MRI, cystoscopy, bladder and kidney ultrasonography, sacral-evoked latencies and cortical-evoked responses after pudendal nerve stimulation were normal. CONCLUSION: There was an occult impairment of the autonomic system in women with FS; this condition might be a pure bladder expression of a generalized but occult dysautonomia, which in some cases might be diagnosed using CAFTs.

External anal sphincter contraction during cough: not a simple spinal reflex.

AIMS: To assess whether the anal contraction during voluntary coughing is a simple spinal reflex-mediated activity or not. To address this question we studied the external intercostal (EIC) muscle activity and external anal sphincter (EAS) response to cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electromyographic recordings were made from pre-gelled disposable surface electrodes. EAS electromyographic recordings were made from the EAS of the pelvic floor in 15 continent women all suffering from urgency and/or frequency without urge or stress urinary incontinence, and referred for urodynamic investigation. Electromyographic signal was immediately integrated (EMGi). The abdominal pressure was recorded with bladder and rectal pressure. EAS EMGi was recorded during successive voluntary cough. In three women, we have also recorded EIC EMGi activity since it is synchronous with diaphragmatic EMG activity during cough initiation. RESULTS: In all subjects, EAS EMGi activity precedes the onset of the abdominal pressure increase. The mean latency of EAS EMGi was 615 msec (+/-278). In the three subjects whose EMGi activity was recorded both on EAS and EIC, the onset of EAS EMGi activity occurred before the EIC EMGi activity (latency ranging from 40 to 780 msec) and before the increase in the abdominal pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that during coughing, EAS EMG activity increases before external intercostal muscle EMGi activity. The contraction of the EAS preceding the activation of muscles involved in coughing indicates that this response is not a result of a simple spinal reflex, but more likely the result of a more intricate reflex involving complex integrative centers.

Cough anal reflex: strict relationship between intravesical pressure and pelvic floor muscle electromyographic activity during cough. Urodynamic and electrophysiological study.

PURPOSE: Cough and more generally abdominal strain determine a pelvic floor contraction which allows an increase in sphincter pressure to prevent leakage during stress. Many electrophysiological studies have demonstrated this reflex (formally cough anal reflex). We postulated that the perineal muscle contraction following cough is not a simple binary response but proportional to the intensity of the cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 16 women (mean age 52 years) without neurological disease or stress urinary incontinence, referred for frequency and urgency without urge incontinence, underwent urodynamic investigation. Vesical pressure was compared to electromyographic activity of the anal sphincter during 4 successive coughs of different intensity, namely gentle, moderate, strong and very strong efforts. These 4 graded coughs were repeated at 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ml of filling during cystometry. RESULTS: All patients were able to determine a graded cough at each level of filling. In all patients and at each level of filling a strict relationship between intravesical pressure (intensity of cough) and integrated electromyographic value was demonstrated. The greater the intensity of the cough the greater the electromyographic response of the anal sphincter. There is a strict correlation between vesical pressure and integrated electromyographic value at rest at O (R2 = 0.983) or at 100 ml (R2 = 0.970), 200 (R2 = 0.918) or 300 ml (R2 = 0.960). Bladder filling does not modify the responses. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor muscle contraction increases with the importance of intra-abdominal pressure generated during stress. This gradual adaptation of pelvic floor muscles is probably 1 of the main factors which contributes to stress urinary and fecal continence in women. It must be preprogrammed by the central nervous system to maintain continence during various stresses.