Unión cráneo-cervical - anatomía normal y correlación con imágenes / Cranio Cervical Junction - Anatomy and Imaging Correlation

La solicitud de estudios de imagen en pacientes con trauma cervical es muy frecuente en la práctica diaria. Esa patología es causa relativamente frecuente de discapacidad en pacientes jóvenes junto con el trauma encéfalo craneano. En un porcentaje no despreciable de los casos, las lesiones traumáticas comprometen la unión cráneo- cervical y en esos pacientes, la morbi-mortalidad es más significativa. La transición entre el cráneo y el raquis se basa en un conjunto de estructuras óseas relacionadas por articulaciones muy móviles y estabilizadas por un grupo de ligamentos y músculos que le brindan al mismo tiempo gran solidez. Para una correcta interpretación de los estudios de imagen de uso corriente en la clínica, es fundamental un sólido conocimiento anatómico de la unión cráneo-cervical y sus componentes. Es el objetivo de esta revisión, sistematizar la anatomía de la unión cráneo-cervical con especial énfasis en sus ligamentos, analizar la fisiología de sus movimientos y el concepto de estabilidad para luego realizar una correlación con tomografía computada multi-detector y resonancia magnética.

The request of imaging techniques in patients with cervical spine trauma is very common in clinical practice. Cervical trauma is a relatively common cause of disability in young patients. In a significant percentage of cases traumatic injuries compromise the cranio-cervical junction with more important morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. The transition between the skull and the spine is based on a set of bony structures, high mobility joints, and stabilization mechanism formed by a group of ligaments and muscles. A solid anatomical knowledge of the cranio-cervical junction and its components is essential for a correct interpretation of current high resolution imaging studies. The goal of this review is highlight the anatomy of the cranio-cervical junction with special emphasis on the ligaments, analyze the biomechanics of their movements and the concept of stability. At last but not leastwe will establish a correlation with multidetector computed tomography and high-resolutionmagnetic resonance imaging.

Alta hospitalar de clientes com lesão neurológica incapacitante: impreteríveis encaminhamentos para reabilitação / Hospital discharge of patients with disabling neurological injury: necessary referrals to rehabilitation

Resumo Trata-se de pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa realizada no segundo semestre de 2014, mediante entrevistas com 12 médicos e 13 enfermeiros gestores atuantes em Hospital de grande porte, referência na área de urgência e emergência para a Zona da Mata Mineira. Buscou identificar os critérios utilizados por médicos e enfermeiros para o preparo da alta de pessoas com lesão neurológica incapacitante e indicação para acesso a programa de reabilitação física. Para o tratamento dos dados, utilizou-se a técnica de Análise de Conteúdo, modalidade temática. Os resultados mostram que os gestores hospitalares ainda encontram dificuldades para proceder ao encaminhamento adequado dessas pessoas para serviços especializados de reabilitação, o que compromete a autonomia e independência para o autocuidado. Conclui-se que os gestores além de envolver cuidadores e familiares no preparo da alta de pessoas com lesão neurológica que resulta em incapacidades para o autocuidado, deveriam avaliar as condições de acessibilidade em seus domicílios e fazer encaminhamentos adequados para serviços de reabilitação disponíveis na comunidade, a despeito da pouca divulgação acerca dos fluxos da Rede de Cuidados da Pessoa com Deficiência.

Abstract The present qualitative study was conducted in the second semester of 2014 via interviews with 12 doctors and 13 nurses working as managers at a large hospital that serves as a reference center for urgent and emergent care in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The study sought to identify the criteria that doctors and nurses use to discharge individuals with disabling neurological injury with instructions related to accessing physical rehabilitation programs. Thematic content analysis was used to examine data. The results show that the participating hospital managers still have difficulties providing adequate referrals to specialized rehabilitation services and that their patients’ autonomy and independence for self-care are impaired as a result. We concluded that in addition to involving relatives and other caregivers in the discharge of patients with a neurological injury that impairs their self-care abilities, managers should assess the accessibility of the patient’s home and make adequate referrals to rehabilitation services in the community in light of the poor dispersal of information about what is available within the Care for People with Disability Network.

Classificação AO e conceito de Dennis na indicação cirúrgica dos traumatismos raquidianos e raquimedulares. Todas as situações são contempladas? / Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury: The AO classification. The Denis concept. The surgical indication. Are all situations addressed?

Os autores discutem a aplicação da classificação AO e do conceito de Denis na qualificação dos traumatismos raquimedular e raquidiano, com ênfase nas indicações de cirurgia da coluna vertebral, expondo um quadro prático para tomada de decisão, que engloba todas as situações. Citam que embora tais classificações, as mais usadas na atualidade, sejam úteis para alicerçar o raciocínio clínico e cirúrgico dos casos de traumatismo raquimedular (TRM) e traumatismo raquidiano (TR), independente da forma de classificação empregada, ou mesmo que surjam outras classificações para os mesmos propósitos, duas questões serão sempre as mais importantes a serem respondidas pelos médicos assistentes na tomada de decisão: Há déficit neurológico? Há instabilidade da coluna vertebral?

The authors discuss the application of the AO classification and the concept of Denis, in qualifying of spinal cord injury, with emphasis on indications of spine surgery, exposing a practical framework for decision making, which includes all situations. Although these ratings, the most used are useful to support the clinical reasoning and surgical cases, two questions must always be answered by attending physicians for making decisions: Is there neurological deficit? Is there instability of the spine?

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in thyroid surgery

Vocal cord paresis or paralysis due to iatrogenic injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve [RLNI] is one of the main problems in thyroid surgery. Although many procedures have been introduced to prevent the nerve injury, still the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy varies between 1.5-14%. The aim of the present study is to assess the risk factors of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury during thyroid surgery. Patients who had thyroid surgery between 1990 and 2005 and were admitted to the surgical department of King Fahd hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia were enrolled for this retrospective review, Factors predisposing to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were evaluated such as pathology of the lesions and the type of operations and identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve intra-operatively. Preoperative and postoperative indirect laryngoscopic examinations were performed for all patients. 340 patients were included in this study. Transient unilateral vocal cord problems occurred in 11 [3.2%] cases, and in 1 [0.3%] case, it became permanent [post Rt. Hemithyroidectomy]. Bilateral vocal cord problems occurred in 2 cases [0.58%], but none became permanent. There were significant increases in the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in secondary operation [21.7% in secondary vs. 2.8% in primary, p=0.001], total/near total thyroidectomy [7.2% in total vs. 1.9% in subtotal, p=0.024], non-identification of RLN during surgery [7.6% in non-identification vs. 2.6% in identification, p=0.039] and in malignant disease [12.8% in malignant vs. 2.9% in benign, p=0.004]. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury with regards to gender [4.1% in male vs 3.8% in female, p=0.849]. The present study showed that thyroid carcinoma, re-operation for recurrent goiter, non-identification of RLN and total thyroidectomy were associated with a significantly increased risk of operative recurrent laryngeal nerve injury

Peripheral nerve injury and male sexual dysfunction / 法医学杂志

The genital organ is innervated by autonomic and somatic nerve. The former is both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve and the later is comprised by sensory and motor fibers. The symptoms of male sexual dysfunction are sexopathy, erectile dysfunction, disorder of ejaculation and orgasm, and pianism. Not only different symptom but the same symptom can be induced by different injured nerve. The relationship between peripheral nerve injury and male sexual dysfunction should be understood correctly.

Nerve injuries due to obstetric trauma.

The incidence of nerve injuries among 32,637 deliveries over a period of ten years was 1.81/1000. Brachial plexus injury (1/1000) and facial nerve injury (0.74/1000) accounted for 98% of nerve injuries. Both the right and left side were involved equally. Bilateral nerve injury was not seen. Lack of antenatal care, macrosomia, abnormal presentations, and operative vaginal deliveries significantly increased the risk of nerve injuries. These babies had significantly higher incidence of meconium stained liquor and intrapartum asphyxia. Parity of the mother, gestational age and sex of the baby did not have significant role in the causation of nerve injuries. Injuries to brachial plexus and facial nerve were seen even in babies born by caesarean section, when it was performed for obstructed labour caused by cephalo-pelvic disproportion and abnormal presentations. Three babies with injuries expired and forty-three could be followed up for varying periods. None of the babies had residual defects. Detection of cephalopelvic disproportion and abnormal lie in the third trimester and their appropriate management would decrease the incidence of obstetric palsies to a significant extent.