The Effect of Carpal Tunnel Release on Neuropathic Pain in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of neuropathic pain (NP) in the patient with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) before and after the carpal tunnel release. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and two CTS patients were enrolled in the study. The pain score was measured by the visual analogue score. NP was determined by the painDETECT (PD) questionnaire. All subjects were divided into 3 groups at 12 weeks after surgery: an Improved, Unchanged, and Worsened group. The risk factors of worsening NP after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: We found that 36% and 18% of patients with CTS had neuropathic pain before and 12 weeks after surgery, respectively, and pain was significantly stronger than in those without NP. The PD score of eight hands worsened after surgery. In the "Improved group," the average age at the surgery was younger and the pain score was lower than in the "Unchanged group." Conclusions. The surgery was very effective on NP of CTS; however, the PD in 7% of hands worsened after surgery. Risk factors before surgery that predicted worse NP after surgery were found to be a younger age, weaker pain, and the absence of night pain.

Myopericytoma proliferating in an unusual anastomosing multinodular fashion.

We herein describe a case of myopericytoma that proliferated in an unusual fashion. Myopericytoma is described as a group of rare, benign, dermal or subcutaneous tumors that are characterized histologically by a striking, concentric, perivascular proliferation of spindle cells and showing apparent differentiation towards perivascular myoid cells. Myopericytoma forms a morphological continuum with myofibroma/myofibromatosis, glomus tumor and angioleiomyoma. The patient was a 64-year-old woman who demonstrated a recurrent ulcer on an atrophic plaque on her left shin. A histopathological examination of the plaque demonstrated that tumor cells proliferated in an anastomosing multinodular fashion along the vessels in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. In those nodules, there were numerous, small, concentric proliferations of myoid-appearing spindle cells around small vascular lumina. The present case is an unusual example of myopericytoma, manifesting in a characteristic anastomosing, multinodular, infiltrating fashion.

Clinical characteristics of neuropathic pain in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics of neuropathic pain in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. We retrospectively reviewed 143 hands in 127 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The neuropathic pain was determined by using the painDETECT as a self-administered psychometric questionnaire to distinguish neuropathic pain. There were no significant differences in the characteristics of the patients with and without neuropathic pain. However, there were significant differences in the pain scores between those with and without neuropathic pain (p < 0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the existence of night pain in these patients (p < 0.01). Based on the results of the current study, we conclude that it is important to be aware of, and consider the existence of neuropathic pain during the treatment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome with night pain or a high score on the numerical rating scales of pain.

Synovial fringe (plica) of scapho-trapezial joint following trauma.

We herein present a case of radial wrist pain following trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large area of abnormal soft tissue in the scapho-trapezial joint. The patient was treated successfully by complete resection of the soft tissue. The soft tissue was diagnosed to be synovial fringe based on a histological study. Synovial fringe is frequently reported as a cause of knee and elbow pain, however, it is a rare cause of wrist pain at the scapho-trapezial joint.

Subcutaneous single injection digital block with epinephrine.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anesthetic effect and risk of epinephrine for subcutaneous single injection digital block. Either 3.0 mL 1.0% Lidocaine or a 3.0 mL 1.0% Lidocaine with (1 : 100,000) epinephrine was injected into the subcutaneous space at the middle point of the palmar digital crease of the 18 middle fingers of 9 healthy volunteers. The SpO(2) of the fingers decreased to a maximum of 97. No subjects showed any symptoms of ischemic injury. The time to anesthesia for the fingers was significantly shorter (P < 0.05), and the duration of anesthesia was significantly longer (P < 0.01) for the fingers in the epinephrine group. In conclusion, a subcutaneous single injection digital blocks with 3.0 mL of 1.0% Lidocaine and (1 : 100,000) epinephrine were safe, reducing the time to the onset of anesthesia, while also markedly prolonging the anesthesia.

Giant vascular leiomyoma with extensive calcification in the forearm.

Vascular leiomyoma or angioleiomyoma is a benign solitary smooth muscle tumor that occurs in the forearm relatively rarely. Most of these tumors are composed of venous vessels, but in some reports small arteries have been traced in the tumors. We describe a 72-year-old man who presented with a slowly enlarging mass in the distal forearm with extensive calcification. Our case had the following three peculiarities compared with common findings in patients with a vascular leiomyoma: (1) elderly age; (2) giant size tumor; and (3) tumor with extensive calcification. The ulnar artery was involved in the tumor. Simple excision of the tumor, including the ulnar artery, was performed. There was no recurrence and no cold intolerance.