Neurogenic theory in inflammatory arthritis: neuromadulation by interferential current therapy

The study included 81 patients with chronic knee arthritis suffering from pain, tenderness, effusion and diminished range of movement, they were divided into Group I: included 70 patients with osteoarthritis and group II: including 11 patients with RA, SLE, AS, traumatic synovitis and palindromic rheumatism. Patients were subjected to clinical, radiological and laboratory assessment then they were subjected to IFC therapy. The results of this study showed that, the response of the patients in both groups was quite arthritis. The disappearance of pain end effusion in those patients may give a support to the neurogenic factors in the inflammatory process

Electrophysiologic study on lead exposed workers

Twenty adult male manual workers in the main printing press of Alexandria University who are in direct exposure to lead were investigated in order to evaluate the effect of chronic lead exposure on the nervous system. The blood lead levels ranged from 21 to 52 ug/100 ml blood with a man of 35.15 +/- 10.32 ug/100 ml blood. The motor conduction velocity was normal in the median, ulnar, radial and lateral popliteal nerves as compared to an age-matched group of controls. Orthodromic distal sensory latency was prolonged in 30% of cases in the sural nerve with lowering of the amplitude of the evoked sensory action potential. Abnormal electromyographic findings were detected in the extensor digitorum in 20% of cases and tibialis anterior in 30% of cases, in the form of incomplete interference pattern and increased polyphisity of the evoked individual action potential, suggesting chronic neuropathy. It was noticed that abnormal conduction velocity and electromyography occurred below the suggested blood lead threshold

Myasthenic syndrome in polymyositis

Four out of five patients with classical picture of polymyositis showed incrementing response on repetitive stimulation at high rate [10 Hz/s] reminiscent of myasthenic syndrome. This group constitutes a link between both conditions and draws attention to the probable presence of the inflammatory myopathy characteristic of polymyositis

Tarsal tunnel syndrome [TTS]: clinical and electrophysiological study

On a 40 patients [42 feet], this study was conducted. They were 32 females and 8 males, their age ranged from 28 to 51 years. With a mean age of 38.5 years. All of them were with the clinical diagnosis suggestive of TTS. Electrophysiologically, the distal motor latency [DML] to both Abductor hallucis and abductor digiti minimi muscles was significantly prolonged in 62.5% of the cases. 80% of the cases with normal DML demonstrated a significant prolongation of the distal sensory latency [DSL] along the medial plantar branch. The amplitude of the evoked muscle action potential was significantly lowered among all cases, the motor conduction velocity [MCV] proximal to the tarsal tunnel was not significantly lowered. Electromyographic evidences of entrapment was demonstrated in the abductor hallucis muscle

Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow: clinical and electrophysiological study

23 patients with 25 nerve compressions at the elbow were operated upon by decompression of the nerve in the cubital tunnel together with proximal and distal neurolysis. Preoperative nerve conduction studies were carried out for all cases. At operation, the nerve was found constricted by the flexor carpi ulnaris aponeurosis in 16 extremities [64%], perineural adhesions in 3 [12%], distal fibrous constricting bands in 4 [16%], and no demonstrable pathology was encountered in 2 cases [8%], Results seemed to be independent of the patient's age. Recovery was greater when the operation was performed early [less than 12 month from the onset of symptoms] and when obvious aponeurotic constriction [Osborne lesion] was found. The results were worse when distal fibrous constricting hands, post condylar perineural adhesions or no demonstrable pathology were found

Sacroilitis: clinical, radiological and HLA-B27 relationship

Out of 53 patients with sacroiliitis [SI], 38 [71.7%] had the definite criteria of ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. Other inflammatory joint diseases accounted for 22.6% [12 cases]. In three cases with unilateral SI there was no evident radiological changes with conventional films. Grade 3 SI was encountered in most of the cases [89.4%]. All cases of Grade 4 had AS. The frequency of HLA B[27] positive cases increased with the radiological grading, ie the frequency increased from 33.3% for Grade 0 to 100% in Grade 4