Association between clinical condition and F-waves changes in the acute phase of stroke / Associação entre condição clínica e alterações das ondas-F na fase aguda do acidente vascular cerebral

ABSTRACT Objective To relate F-waves with clinical and laboratory exams in the acute phase of stroke. Methods Inclusion criteria for this cross-sectional study were: hemiplegia, absence of previous cranial trauma, myopathy, diabetes, alcoholism or other known causes of peripheral neuropathy, and normal sensory and motor conduction. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, glycemia, glucosilate hemoglobin, and CPK were obtained at admission by routine blood exams. After hospital admission, the F-wave latencies and persistence were obtained from the deep peroneal nerve using symmetrical techniques. Results Evaluation of 20 individuals – mean age 66 years, 50% male and 85% Caucasian – showed association of F-wave persistence with glycemia (r = 0.71; p < 0.001) and NIHSS categorized (NIHSS 1-7 = 65.0 x NIHSS 9-23 = 100; p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis found only association of F-wave persistence with glycemia β = 0.59 (0.44–0.74); p < 0.001. Conclusion The increase in the persistence of F-waves are associated with hyperglycemia in the acute phase of stroke.

RESUMO Objetivo Relacionar as ondas-F com exames clínicos e laboratoriais na fase aguda do acidente vascular cerebral (AVC). Os critérios de inclusão para este estudo transversal foram: hemiplegia, ausência de trauma craniano, miopatia, diabetes, alcoolismo ou outra causa conhecida de neuropatia periférica, além de condução sensorial e motora normal. O National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), glicemia, hemoglobina glicada e CPK foram obtidos na admissão por meio de exames de rotina. Após a admissão hospitalar, a latência e persistência das ondas-F foram obtidas por meio da estimulação do nervo fibular profundo utilizando técnicas simétricas. Foram avaliados 20 indivíduos – média de idade 66 anos, 50% homem e 85% caucasianos – apresentaram associação univariada da persistência das ondas-F com glicemia (r = 0.71; p < 0.001) e NIHSS categorizado (NIHSS 1–7 = 65.0 x NIHSS 9-23 = 100; p = 0.004). Na regressão multivariada foi encontrado associação somente entre persistência de ondas-F com glicemia β = 0.59(0.44–0.74); p < 0.001. Conclusão O aumento da persistência de ondas-F está associado com maior nível de glicemia na fase aguda do AVC.

New sonographic measures of peripheral nerves: a tool for the diagnosis of peripheral nerve involvement in leprosy

To evaluate ultrasonographic (US) cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of peripheral nerves, indexes of the differences between CSAs at the same point (∆CSAs) and between tunnel (T) and pre-tunnel (PT) ulnar CSAs (∆TPTs) in leprosy patients (LPs) and healthy volunteers (HVs). Seventy-seven LPs and 49 HVs underwent bilateral US at PT and T ulnar points, as well as along the median (M) and common fibular (CF) nerves, to calculate the CSAs, ∆CSAs and ∆TPTs. The CSA values in HVs were lower than those in LPs (p < 0.0001) at the PT (5.67/9.78 mm2) and T (6.50/10.94 mm2) points, as well as at the M (5.85/8.48 mm2) and CF (8.17/14.14 mm2) nerves. The optimum CSA- receiver operating characteristic (ROC) points and sensitivities/specificities were, respectively, 6.85 mm2 and 68-85% for the PT point, 7.35 mm2 and 71-78% for the T point, 6.75 mm2 and 62-75% for the M nerve and 9.55 mm2 and 81-72% for the CF nerve. The ∆CSAs of the LPs were greater than those of the HVs at the PT point (4.02/0.85; p = 0.007), T point (3.71/0.98; p = 0.0005) and CF nerve (2.93/1.14; p = 0.015), with no difference found for the M nerve (1.41/0.95; p = 0.17). The optimum ∆CSA-ROC points, sensitivities, specificities and p-values were, respectively, 1.35, 49%, 80% and 0.003 at the PT point, 1.55, 55-85% and 0.0006 at the T point, 0.70, 58-50% and 0.73 for the M nerve and 1.25, 54-67% and 0.022 for the CF nerve. The ∆TPT in the LPs was greater than that in the HVs (4.43/1.44; p <0.0001). The optimum ∆TPT-ROC point was 2.65 (90% sensitivity/41% specificity, p < 0.0001). The ROC analysis of CSAs showed the highest specificity and sensitivity at the PT point and CF nerve, respectively. The PT and T ∆CSAs had high specificities (> 80%) and ∆TPT had the highest specificity (> 90%). New sonographic peripheral nerve measurements (∆CSAs and ∆TPT) provide an important methodological improvement in the detection of leprosy neuropathy.

Disability appraisal for common peroneal nerve injury in traffic accidents: 8 cases analysis / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the characteristics of forensic clinical identification on common peroneal nerve injury in traffic accident.@*METHODS@#Eight cases of common peroneal nerve injury in traffic accidents were analyzed, including general condition of the wounded, the way of injury, the imaging results, the EMG results, and the degree of injury, etc.@*RESULTS@#In 8 cases, 2 cases of complete common peroneal nerve injury were determined to grade 9 (disability degree) and 6 cases of partial common peroneal nerve injury were determined to grade 10 (disability degree).@*CONCLUSION@#By comparison, the disability degree of complete common peroneal nerve injury is higher than that of partial common peroneal nerve injury. The forensic clinical identification of common peroneal nerve should be made with synthetical consideration of medical history, symptoms, and auxiliary examinations.

Actividad espontánea de nociceptores cutáneos en pacientes con neuropatía de fibras delgadas / Spontaneous activity of cutaneous nociceptors in patients with painful polyneuropathy. Report of three patients

Background: Painful polyneuropathy may result from selective impairment of small diameter nerve fibers, while tactile and motor functions are preserved. In these patients clinical and electrophysiological assessment is usually unrevealing. We report three patients with a pure painful polyneuropathy. One of them had neurogenic pruritus additionally. Quantitative sensory analysis disclosed a slight warm hypoesthesia (3/3) and paradoxical hot sensation (2/3) in the feet. Intraneural recordings from the peroneal nerve demonstrated abnormal spontaneous activity in 8 of 17 nociceptive afferents. One of them displayed double firing reflecting impulse multiplication. These results support the notion that patients with pain or pruritus with a distal distribution similar to a polyneuropathy, could have small diameter afferent fiber damage, despite normal function of large diameter fibers.

Degree of disability, pain levels, muscle strength, and electromyographic function in patients with Hansen's disease with common peroneal nerve damage / Grau de incapacidade, níveis de dor, força muscular e função eletromiográfica em portadores de hanseníase com lesão do nervo fibular comum

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the degree of disability, pain levels, muscle strength, and electromyographic function (RMS) in individuals with leprosy. METHODS: We assessed 29 individuals with leprosy showing common peroneal nerve damage and grade 1 or 2 disability who were referred for physiotherapeutic treatment, as well as a control group of 19 healthy participants without leprosy. All subjects underwent analyses of degree of disability, electromyographic tests, voluntary muscle force, and the Visual Analog Pain Scale. RESULTS: McNemar's test found higher levels of grade 2 of disability (Δ = 75.9%; p = 0.0001) among individuals with leprosy. The Mann-Whitney test showed greater pain levels (Δ = 5.0; p = 0.0001) in patients with leprosy who had less extension strength in the right and left extensor hallucis longus muscles (Δ = 1.28, p = 0.0001; Δ = 1.55, p = 0.0001, respectively) and dorsiflexion of the right and left feet (Δ = 1.24, p = 0.0001; Δ = 1.45, p = 0.0001, respectively) than control subjects. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the RMS score for dorsiflexion of the right (Δ = 181.66 m·s-2, p = 0.001) and left (Δ = 102.57m·s-2, p = 0.002) feet was lower in patients with leprosy than in control subjects, but intragroup comparisons showed no difference. CONCLUSIONS: Leprosy had a negative influence on all of the study variables, indicating the need for immediate physiotherapeutic intervention in individuals with leprosy. This investigation opens perspectives for future studies that analyze leprosy treatment with physical therapeutic intervention.

INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o grau de incapacidade, níveis de dor, força muscular e a função eletromiográfica (RMS) em indivíduos portadores de hanseníase. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta de um grupo de 29 sujeitos portadores de hanseníase, apresentando lesão do nervo fibular comum e grau 1 ou 2 de incapacidade, com indicação ao tratamento fisioterapêutico, e um grupo controle de 19 indivíduos saudáveis, sem hanseníase. Os sujeitos foram submetidos à análise do grau de incapacidade, testes de eletromiografia, de força muscular voluntária e da Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) para a dor. RESULTADOS: O teste de McNemar mostrou maior prevalência do grau dois de incapacidade (Δ=75,9%; p=0,0001) entre os indivíduos com hanseníase. O teste de Mann-Whitney revelou maiores níveis de dor (Δ=5,0; p=0,0001) nos pacientes com hanseníase apresentando menores níveis de força muscular da extensão do hálux direito e esquerdo (Δ=1,28, p=0,0001; Δ=1,55, p=0,0001) e flexão dorsal do pé direito e esquerdo (Δ=1,24, p=0,0001; Δ=1,45, p=0,0001) do que os indivíduos sem hanseníase. O teste de Kruskal-Wallis revelou que os valores do RMS da flexão dorsal dos pés direito (Δ=181,66m.s-², p=0,001) e esquerdo (Δ=102,57m.s-2, p=0,002) apresentaram menores valores que o grupo controle em ambos os lados, mas as comparações intragrupos não mostraram diferenças. CONCLUSÕES: Conclui-se que a hanseníase altera todas as variáveis analisadas na pesquisa, indicando a necessidade de intervenção fisioterapêutica imediata nos sujeitos com Hanseníase. Esta investigação abre perspectivas de futuras pesquisas que analisem o tratamento da hanseníase com intervenção fisioterapêutica.

Tendinopatia dos fibulares: [revisão] / Fibular tendinopathy: [review]

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Ressaltar as características do acometimento dos tendões fibulares e o seu tratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as diferenças referentes à nomenclatura do acometimento dos tendões, a etiologia, incidência, sintomatologia e o tratamento da tendinopatia dos fibulares. CONTEÚDO: Foram consultados os bancos de dados da Pubmed, CAPS e Google acadêmico, bem como revistas científicas com as seguintes palavras-chaves: tendinose, tendinopatia, tendinite e tenossinovite dos músculos fibulares. Além disso, livros também foram verificados. Foram revisadas 33 referências bibliográficas e foi encontrado que a tendinopatia está ligada a um processo degenerativo, a etiologia é de caráter multifatorial, sua maior incidência é em esportes como basquete, balé e atletismo. Nos achados clínicos, encontra-se fraqueza muscular e nem sempre há dor. CONCLUSÃO: Quando há prevalência de processo degenerativo a nomenclatura mais correta a ser utilizada é tendinopatia, ocorrendo com maior frequência em esportes e não sendo obrigatória a presença de dor. Apesar de o tratamento ser pouco descrito, os exercícios excêntricos parecem trazer os melhores resultados, porém, há a necessidade de outros estudos que abordem o tema.

BACKGROUND AND OBJETIVES: To describe the characteristics of the involvement of the peroneal tendons and their treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences regarding the nomenclature of the affected tendon, the etiology, incidence, symptoms and treatment of peroneal tendinopathy. CONTENTS: Web pages for search (PubMed, Google scholar and CAPS) and journals were consulted with the following keywords: tendinosis; tendinopathy, tendinitis and tenosynovitis of the peroneal muscles. In addition, books were also checked. We reviewed 33 references and found that tendinopathy is related to a degenerative process, the etiology is multifactorial, and its highest incidence is in sports like basketball, ballet and athletics. In clinical findings, there is muscle weakness and there is not always pain. CONCLUSION: When there is prevalence of the degenerative process more accurate nomenclature to be used is tendinopathy, occurring more frequently in sports and not being required the presence of pain. Although the treatment is not well described, eccentric exercises seem to bring the best results, however, there is a need for further studies that will address this issue.

Compound Nerve Action Potential of Common Peroneal Nerve and Sural Nerve Action Potential in Common Peroneal Neuropathy

To enhance the accuracy for determining the precise localization, the findings of the compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) of the common peroneal nerve (CPN) were investigated in patients with common peroneal mononeuropathy (CPM) in the knee, and the sural sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) were also analyzed. Twenty-five patients with CPM in the knee were retrospectively reviewed. The findings of the CNAPs of the CPN recorded at the fibular neck and the sural SNAPs were analyzed. The lesion was localized at the fibular head (abnormal CNAPs) and at or distal to the fibular head (normal CNAPs). Seven patients were diagnosed as having a lesion at or distal to the fibular neck, and 18 cases were diagnosed as having a fibular head lesion. The sural SNAPs were normal in all the cases of lesion at or distal to the fibular neck. Among 18 cases of fibular head lesion, the sural SNAPs were normal in 7 patients: two cases of conduction block and 5 cases of mild axon loss. Eleven patients showed abnormal sural SNAPs. Of those, 9 cases were severe axon loss lesions and 2 patients were diagnosed as having severe axon loss with conduction block. The recording of the CNAPs may enhance precise localization of CPM in the knee. Moreover, the sural SNAPs could be affected by severe axonal lesion at the fibular head.

Estudo anatômico e eletrodiagnóstico do nervo fibular profundo acessório / Anatomic study and electrodiagnostic fibular deep accessory nerve

Foram dissecados 42 membros inferiores direitos e esquerdos de cadaveres humanos, de ambos os sexos, idades, racas. Com objetivo de observar o nervo fibular profundo acessorio, em 5 casos (11,9%) foram encontrados este nervo, dos quais 2 (4,8%) no antimero direito e 3 (7,1%) no antimero esquerdo. Desse total de 5 casos, em 4 casos (9,6%) o nervo fibular profundo acessorio alcancou a regiao superior do maleolo lateral e, em 1 caso (2,3%), este nervo destinou-se a porcao do musculo extensor curto dos dedos. Com relacao ao estudo eletrodiagnostico foram analisados bilateralmente 100 voluntarios normais adultos; dos 200 membros inferiores, 21 (10,5%) apresentaram o nervo fibular profundo acessorio. Neste estudo, o nervo fibular profundo acessorio foi encontrado de acordo com os percentuais da literatura

Electrophysiological findings in newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetics: a prospective study

This study reports the electrophysiological findings in patients with newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] studied in the Neurodiagnostic Laboratory of the King Fahd Hospital of the University [KFHU], Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Twenty-nine patients [22 males, 7 females, mean ages 47 and 37 years, respectively] were studied within four weeks of establishing the diagnosis. They were all given nerve conduction studies by the same examiner. Comparison was made with data from a group of 64 normal control subjects. In the study patients, the mean distal sensory peak latency in milliseconds [ms] +/- standard deviation [SD] was 3.5 +/- 0.41 ms in 35 median nerves, 3.2 +/- 0.72 ms in 35 ulnar nerves, 1.9 +/- 0.34 ms in 23 superficial radial nerves and 3.5 +/- 0.61 in 36 sural nerves. The mean distal motor latency +/- SD was 4.6 +/- 0.95 ms in 39 median nerves, 3.5 +/- 0.58 ms in 38 ulnar nerves, 4.8 +/- 1.02 ms in 44 tibial nerves and 6.0 +/- 1.08 ms in 36 peroneal nerves. The electromyogram examination was performed on 24 patients and showed evidence of denervation and/or chronic reinnervation in seven [29%]. The frequency of abnormalities in the studied peripheral nerves was 60% for median, 63% ulnar, 33% peroneal, 16% tibial and 8% sural

Paresia del nervio peróneo inducida por crioterapia / Lateral poplitea here palsy due to cryotherapy

Se presenta el caso de un paciente que cursó con una parálisis temporal del nervio ciático poplíteo externo debido al uso de crioterapia con sistema CRYO-CUFFmr en el postoperatorio de una osteosíntesis de platillo tibial

Doença de Charcot-Marie-Tooth: estudos eletromiográficos em 45 pacientes / Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: electromyographic studies in 45 patients

Foi realizada eletroneuromiografia em 45 pacientes com doença de Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). A classificaçäo em tipo I e tipo II da doença de CMT foi feita com base na neuroconduçäo motora do mediano e do ulnar. Assim 11 pacientes eram do tipo I e 34 eram do tipo II. NO tipo I näo houve relaçäo entre a queda da VCN motora do ulnar e mediano com o quadro clínico da doença. Devido a ausência do potencial de açäo sensitivo (PAS) do nervo sural em muitos casos, achamos impossível a classificaçäo da doença pela neuroconduçäo deste nervo. Muitos pacientes com doença de CMY II, tinham neuroconduçäo normal, porém a amplitude do PAS do sural estava ausente ou reduzida, mostrando tratar-se realmente de doença do nervo periférico e näo da ponta anterior da medula. Achamos que o estudo da neuroconduçäo é o mais importante na classificaçäo da doença de CMT

Vasculitic neuropathy: profile of twenty patients.

Twenty patients with vasculitic neuropathy were analyzed. Sixteen of the twenty presented with classic mononeuritis multiplex but four had distal, symmetrical, sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Though vasculitic neuropathy is classically associated with Collagen vascular syndromes like, polyarteritis nodosa, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosis, only 13/20 of our patients had definitive Collagen vascular disease. A large proportion (7/20) had vasculitic neuropathy as the only clinical feature.

Utilidad de los potenciales evocados somato-sensoriales en el diagnóstico del nivel de lesión medular, en pacientes con trauma raqui-medular / The use of somato-sensorial evoked potentials for diagnosis of the level of spinal cord injuries in patients with spine trauma

Se llevó a cabo un estudio comparativo entre dos grupos de 30 individuos cada uno; el primero se integró con pacientes con trauma raqui-medular, 17 con sección completa y 13 incompleta, y el segundo sirvió como grupo controlo, formado por sujetos sanos voluntarios, con el objeto de determinar la utilidad de los potenciales evocados somato-sensoriales (PES). En el caso de los pacientes con trauma raqui-medular, el nervio radial fue el más útil para el diagnóstico cuando el último segmento intacto fue C5. Para el caso de C6, el nervio radial fue útil en el 100 por ciento de los casos y el mediano sólo en el 86 por ciento. En el caso del uso de nervios de las extremidades inferiores, el nervio safeno fue sólo parcialmente útil, ya que registró únicamente un retardo en su latencia en uno de seis pacientes que tenían sección incompleta en el segmento lumbar. No fue útil para evaluar los segmentos cervical y torácico puesto que sus registros fueron negativos en dos pacientes que tenían sección incompleta en el segmento cervical y uno en el torácico. Los PES fueron normales en todos los nervios de los 30 individuos del grupo control.

Clinical profile and electrodiagnostic study of peripheral neuropathy.

A clinical analysis and electrophysiological study was performed in 40 cases of peripheral neuropathy. Motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and electromyography (EMG) were also recorded in 20 healthy volunteers. Twelve cases were of diabetic neuropathy (DN), nine of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), eight of idiopathic, six of leprous, three of toxic neuropathy and one each of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) and carcinomatous neuropathy. The onset was insidious in a majority of the cases (70%), the presenting symptom being paraesthesia (27.5%). A variable sensory loss was the commonest finding (77.5%). Two patients each had evidence of cranial nerve involvement and affection of urinary bladder and bowel. In both DN and GBS there was a significant reduction in the MNCV especially in the peroneal nerves. In DN 41.6% had evidence of decreased motor unit potentials and 16.6% showed spontaneous fibrillatory activity. For GBS these figures were 77.7% and 8.3% respectively. The peripheral nerve involvement was variable in leprosy and the EMG was normal in all, but one case.

Role of H-reflex latency studies in the diagnosis of subclinical diabetic neuropathy.

Motor conduction velocity (MCV) in the median, ulnar and peroneal nerves and H-reflex studies have been conducted in 50 diabetics aged 20-65 years and 25 controls. MCV in the upper limb was below the normal range in 16% of diabetics. 28% diabetics showed abnormal MCV in the peroneal nerve. H-reflex abnormality consisting of either prolonged latency or its complete absence could be observed in 54% of diabetics. The results indicate the greater sensitivity of H-reflex in the detection of sub-clinical diabetic neuropathy. Greater prevalence of neuropathy in the early onset diabetes than in the late onset type is also suggested.