Otto Hilgenfeldt (1900-1983): tribute to an important pioneer of European hand surgery.

The German surgeon Otto Hilgenfeldt (1900-1983) was a great innovator in European hand surgery in the 20th century, particularly in respect of the tactile (sensate) thumb and grip reconstruction in amputation injuries. His experience, beginning in the 1930s, helped him to treat hundreds of soldiers with mutilating hand injuries from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. While totally isolated and without any access to international publications, he devised many innovative ideas such as a neurovascular middle finger transposition for pollicization (first case done in July 1943) and a sensory dorsoradial first metacarpal flap for thumb resurfacing. His book Operative thumb replacement and substitution of finger losses published in 1950 is regarded as one of the most important German contributions to modern hand surgery. Hilgenfeldt's life and work remain fascinating and exemplary from a historical and surgical point of view. Many of his pragmatic surgical solutions remain valid despite the advent of microsurgery.

Painful pelvic constriction band syndrome: a case report.

Plastic Surgeons, by training, are familiar with constriction bands of the fingers and toes. The purpose of this report is to discuss the management of a rare constriction band syndrome that was almost circumferential at the level of the T12 dermatome, and is most appropriately considered a pelvic constriction band as it was below the umbilicus. The patient had constriction bands about the toes at birth, and was also noted to have a band circumferentially below the umbilicus, which did not cause any distress and was not treated. When the patient entered high school and began to lift weights, play football, and have a growth spurt of 2 inches, he began to experience pain below each costal margin and over the iliac crest bilaterally. His physical examination demonstrated pain in the region of the subcostal nerve and the lateral cutaneous branches of L2 as they crossed the iliac crest. By CAT scan, the band appeared to include the rectus fascia. The band was excised to a depth that included the external oblique fascia and preserved the anterior rectus sheath. Small branches of the subcostal nerves and the lateral branches of L2 were killed, and, where appropriate, they were implanted into the external oblique muscle. Closure was obtained by undermining, and a Z-plasty was not included. Healing was without complications and gave an improved appearance to the trunk. At 6 months after surgery, he had resumed college-level rugby and had no further pain related to the constriction band.

MR neurography of neuromas related to nerve injury and entrapment with surgical correlation.

MR imaging of peripheral nerves has been described in relation to abnormalities such as nerve injury, entrapment, and neoplasm. Neuroma formation is a known response to peripheral nerve injury, and here we correlate the MRN appearance of postinjury neuroma formation with intraoperative findings. We also present the MR imaging features of surgical treatment with a synthetic nerve tube and nerve wrap on postoperative follow-up imaging.

The Dellon approach to neurolysis in the neuropathy patient with chronic nerve compression.

Impaired glucose tolerance creates a peripheral nervous system that is susceptible to chronic nerve compression. While it is accepted that surgical decompression of the median nerve at the wrist, for carpal tunnel syndrome, is appropriate in the diabetic, application of this concept to the lower extremity has not yet gained widespread recognition. Traditional electrodiagnostic studies demonstrate the presence of neuropathy, but usually are much less able to demonstrate superimposed nerve compression in the lower extremity in the presence of neuropathy. The clinician must rely upon the presence of a positive Hoffmann-Tinel sign to identify the patient with diabetic neuropathy and nerve compression. Combining sensory territories of common peroneal and tibial nerves gives a stocking pattern of sensory impairment. A positive Hoffmann-Tinel sign over the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel has a 90 % positive predictive value for the diabetic patient to recover sensibility in the foot after decompression of the four medial ankle tunnels. A meta-analysis of clinical studies that have decompressed the tibial nerve branches at the ankle in diabetics with neuropathy and tibial nerve compression demonstrate pain relief in 80 % of the patients from a mean of 8.5 on the VAS to 2.0, and demonstrate 80 % of the patients recover more than just protective sensation. With sensibility partially restored, ulceration and subsequent amputation can be prevented. Balance can recover, and with it, morbidity from falls/fracture can be prevented. Hospitalization for foot infection can be reduced. This review includes description of the surgical approaches to accomplish these outcomes.

Neurosurgical prevention of ulceration and amputation by decompression of lower extremity peripheral nerves in diabetic neuropathy: update 2006.

BACKGROUND: A triad of metabolic abnormalities are known that render the peripheral nerve in diabetes mellitus susceptible to chronic compression: conversion of glucose to sorbitol increases the intraneural water content, slowing of axoplasmic transport of proteins hinders structural repair, glycosylation of endoneurial collagen reduces perineurial gliding. In the early 1990s, Dellon et al demonstrated that removal of a site of anatomic narrowing of the tibial nerve in the rat model prevented neuropathic walking. METHOD: Scientific literature related to this concept was reviewed. Through the end of 2006, there have been 15 peer-reviewed studies that used the inclusion criteria of (1) presence of symptomatic neuropathy, (2) positive Tinel sign over the tarsal tunnel demonstrating a site of compression, (3) no previous history of ulcer or amputation and (4) used the Dellon Triple Decompression technique (neurolysis of the peroneal nerve at the knee and the dorsum of the foot, and neurolysis of the tibial nerve in the four medial ankle tunnels). FINDINGS: These studies demonstrated relief of pain in 88% and restoration of sensation in 79% of patients. One study demonstrated that the natural history of diabetic neuropathy can be changed by observing no ulcers/amputations in the operated leg of 50 diabetics followed for a mean of 4.5 years, while 12 ulcers and 3 amputations occurred in the non-operated contralateral limb (p < 0.001). Results of a multi-centered prospective study are available at NeuropathyRegistry.com, demonstrating a reduction in the prevalence of ulceration in 665 diabetics at 2.5 years from 15 to 0.6% in those diabetics without a previous history of ulceration and from 50 to 2.2% in 44 patients with a previous history of ulceration. CONCLUSIONS: Decompression of superimposed nerve compressions in the patient with symptomatic neuropathy reliably relieves pain, restores sensation, and thereby prevents ulceration and amputation.

The innervation of the medial humeral epicondyle: implications for medial epicondylar pain.

The purpose of this study was identification of the innervation of the medial humeral epicondyle which has not been described before. In 20 patients, the medial intermuscular septum was evaluated histopathologically: the nerve was identified in 15 specimens without S-100 staining, and in the remaining 5 with S-100 staining. In six fresh cadavers, bilateral dissections identified the source of this nerve as the radial nerve in the axilla, coursing adjacent to the ulnar nerve in the upper arm, then moving laterally to be superficial to, or within, the medial intermuscular septum, until the nerve terminated in the periosteum of the medial humeral epicondyle, at the origin of the flexor-pronator muscle mass. In one specimen, a branch from the ulnar nerve in the axilla contributed to this nerve to the medial humeral epicondyle.

Evaluation of pressure threshold prior to foot ulceration: one-versus two-point static touch.

A prospective study of 29 patients with diabetic neuropathy and 47 nondiabetic patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome were evaluated with computer-assisted neurosensory testing at three sites on the foot. The sensitivity and specificity of one-point static touch thresholds for identifying the presence of large fiber axonal loss was done using the calculated thresholds for monofilaments derived from their markings. The sensitivity for one-point static touch in identifying axonal loss was 33% for the 5.07, 38% for the 4.93, 50% for the 4.17, and 60% for the 4.08 monofilament-equivalent, with a specificity of 100% at each level. Therefore, one-point static touch testing, even using monofilaments thinner than 5.07, has a high percentage of false-negative results in identifying patients with axonal loss.

Augustus V. Waller and plastic surgery.

Augustus V. Waller's name is associated eponymously with the regressive changes in transected nerves. This article intends to present the many other aspects of Waller's scientific ventures. Apart from pioneering intravital microscopy, Waller made significant contributions to the understanding of the process of tissue inflammation. In addition to his observations of the degenerative changes in severed nerve fibers, he developed a concept of trophic dependence that is relevant for the management of the regeneration of peripheral nerves in plastic surgery.

Innervation of the sinus tarsi and implications for treating anterolateral ankle pain.

Anterolateral ankle pain can persist despite the best care of sprains or fractures. It is possible that this pain is related to stretch or traction injuries to the nerves that innervate the subtalar joint. If this were true, identification of these nerve branches by local anesthetic block would provide an indication that surgical interruption of the function of these nerves may provide pain relief. In 28 feet of 14 cadavers (7 male/7 female), investigation of the deep peroneal nerve demonstrated a consistent pattern whereby a series of 2 to 4 (mean, 2.9 +/- 0.6) branches innervated the anterolateral part of the subtalar joint. All these nerve branches originated from the lateral terminal branch of the deep peroneal nerve on the dorsum of the foot. The mean distance between the exit of the first articular branch and the exit of the terminal motor branch both originating from the lateral terminal branch was 3.8 +/- 1.1 cm. The motor branch passed under the extensor digitorum brevis muscle at a mean distance of 5.3 +/- 0.6 cm from the tip of the lateral malleolus. The presented anatomy provides a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of persistent anterolateral ankle pain of neural origin.

Reconstruction of a painful post-traumatic medial plantar neuroma with a bioabsorbable nerve conduit: a case report.

Although nerve injuries to feet may be common, primary repair of a damaged nerve in the foot is rare. Secondary digital nerve reconstruction in the foot has not been previously reported. This report describes a patient with post-traumatic neuroma of medial plantar nerve who was treated by neuroma resection; the nerve defect was reconstructed with bioabsorbable nerve conduit. This case illustrates successful, secondary reconstruction of nerve injury in the foot using a new surgical technique. A bioabsorbable polyglycolic acid nerve conduit eliminated the need for a short nerve graft and was effective in relieving the neuroma pain by providing an appropriate distal site for neural regeneration.

Neuromas of the calcaneal nerves.

A neuroma of a calcaneal nerve has never been reported. A series of 15 patients with heel pain due to a neuroma of a calcaneal nerve are reviewed. These patients previously had either a plantar fasciotomy (n = 4), calcaneal spur removal (n = 2), ankle fusion (n = 2), or tarsal tunnel decompression (n = 7). Neuromas occurred on calcaneal branches that arose from either the posterior tibial nerve (n = 1), lateral plantar nerve (n = 1), the medial plantar nerve (n = 9), or more than one of these nerves (n = 4). Operative approach was through an extended tarsal tunnel incision to permit identification of all calcaneal nerves. The neuroma was resected and implanted into the flexor hallucis longus muscle. Excellent relief of pain occurred in 60%, and good relief in 33%. One patient (17%) had no improvement and required resection of the lateral plantar nerve. Awareness that the heel may be innervated by multiple calcaneal branches suggests that surgery for heel pain of neural origin employ a surgical approach that permits identification of all possible calcaneal branches.

Anatomic variability of the ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerve: implications for the treatment of groin pain.

The differential diagnosis of groin pain must consider problems of the ilioinguinal and/or genitofemoral nerve. These nerves may become injured during hernia surgery or lower quadrant surgical procedures. To treat injury to these nerves, it is critical to understand their anatomic variability. In the present study the pattern of cutaneous nerve branches in the inguinal region was investigated through dissection in 64 halves of 32 human embalmed anatomic specimens. In contrast to usual textual descriptions, four different types of cutaneous branching patterns are identified: type A, with a dominance of genitofemoral nerve in the scrotal/labial and the ventromedial thigh region. In type A, the ilioinguinal nerve gives no sensory contribution to these regions (43.7 percent). In type B, with a dominance of ilioinguinal nerve, the genitofemoral nerve shares a branch with the ilioinguinal and gives motor fibers to cremaster muscle in the inguinal canal, but has no sensory branch to the groin (28.1 percent). In type C, with a dominance of genitofemoral nerve, the ilioinguinal nerve has sensory branches to the mons pubis and inguinal crease together with an anteroproximal part of the root of the penis or labia majora. The nerve was found to share a branch with the iliohypogastric nerve (20.3 percent). In type D, cutaneous branches emerge from both the ilioinguinal and the genitofemoral nerves. Additionally, the ilioinguinal nerve innervates the mons pubis and inguinal crease together with a very anteroproximal part of the root of the penis or labia majora (7.8 percent). The described patterns of innervation were bilaterally symmetric in 40.6 percent of the cadavers. The anatomic variability of both nerves has implications for all surgeons operating in the groin region and for those caring for the patient with groin pain.

Experimental model of pyridoxine (B6) deficiency-induced neuropathy.

A pyridoxine (B6) dietary deficiency was studied in female adult Sprague-Dawley rats by hind-limb walking-track analysis. Serum levels of pyridoxine and three metabolites were quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence measurement. Morphometric analysis of the sciatic and posterior tibial nerves (from within the tarsal tunnel) was performed after 1 year on a diet deficient in vitamin B6. The B6-deficient rats developed abnormal walking-track patterns by 8 months, and these track parameters were different from age- and sex-matched normal diet control rats at the p < 0.05 level. Adding B6 at 10 parts per million to the diet then partially corrected these parameters, whereas the addition of 30 parts per million B6 corrected the abnormal pattern completely. Serum pyridoxal concentration correlated with the functional parameters, dropping from a mean of 115 mg per liter to 39.5 mg per liter (p < 0.05), and correcting with the B6 additive. Morphometric analysis demonstrated that the B6-deficient nerve from the tarsal tunnel had a decreased nerve fiber density (p < 0.001), with a normal total myelinated nerve fiber number, and an increased axon-to-myelin ratio (p < 0.003). It is concluded that a diet totally deficient in vitamin B6 results in a peripheral neuropathy.

Clinical grading of peripheral nerve problems.

To treat peripheral nerve problems appropriately, and to evaluate outcomes of peripheral nerve surgery, it is necessary to be able to stage the degree of nerve impairment. This article describes quantitative sensory testing that permits the necessary measurements for clinical grading of peripheral nerve functions.

Correction of scapular winging by supraclavicular neurolysis of the long thoracic nerve.

Injury to the long thoracic nerve results in winging of the scapula. When there is no known direct site of injury to this nerve, the traditional treatment consists of bracing the shoulder and, if recovery of function does not occur, then carrying out a muscle transfer to reconstitute the forces required to bring the scapula into appropriate position with respect to the thorax. The present report describes four patients in whom a site of compression of the long thoracic nerve within the scalene muscles proved to be the site of compression. A supraclavicular neurolysis of the long thoracic nerve resulted in correction of the winged scapula in all four of these patients.

Pain at the site of tarsal tunnel incision due to neuroma of the posterior branch of the saphenous nerve.

The authors conducted a retrospective review of 16 patients who presented with the complaint of pain at the incision site after tarsal tunnel decompression. Specifically, the pain was located at the proximal aspect of the tarsal tunnel decompression scar. The mean duration of pain was 21 months (range, 6 to 34 months). The pain was eliminated by a block of the distal saphenous nerve, demonstrating that the pain was due to a neuroma of this nerve. The pain was treated by resection of the distal saphenous nerve in the distal leg and implantation of the proximal end of this nerve into the soleus muscle. At a mean of 18.5 months after surgery (range, 6 to 33 months), excellent relief of pain was achieved in 76% of cases and good relief of pain in 24% of cases.