Case report: Physical findings, physical therapy practice, and characteristics of disability of activities of daily living caused by obturator nerve palsy after neurotmesis.

The obturator nerve originates from the lumbar plexus and innervates sensation in the thigh and movement of the adductor muscle group of the hip. Reports on physical therapy for patients with obturator nerve injuries have been limited due to insufficient injuries, and there have been no reports on rehabilitation after neurotmesis. Furthermore, there are no reports on the status of activities of daily living (ADL) and details of physical therapy in patients with paralysis of the adductor muscle group. In this study, we reported on a patient with adductor paralysis due to obturator neurotmesis, including the clinical symptoms, characteristics of ADL impairment, and effective movement instruction. The patient is a woman in her 40's who underwent laparoscopic total hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, and pelvic lymph node dissection for uterine cancer (grade-2 endometrial carcinoma). During pelvic lymph node dissection, she developed an obturator nerve injury. She underwent nerve grafting during the same surgery by the microsurgeon. Donor nerve was the ipsilateral sural nerve with a 3-cm graft length. Due to obturator nerve palsy, postoperative manual muscle test results were as follows: adductor magnus muscle, 1; pectineus muscle, 1; adductor longs muscle, 0; adductor brevis muscle, 0; and gracilis muscle, 0. On postoperative day 6, the patient could independently perform ADL; however, she was at risk of falling toward the affected side when putting on and taking off her shoes while standing on the affected leg. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8. Through this case, we clarified the ADL impairment of a patient with adductor muscle palsy following obturator neurotmesis, and motion instruction was effective as physical therapy for this disability. This case suggests that movement instruction is important for acute rehabilitation therapy for patients with hip adductor muscle group with obturator neurotmesis.

Function-preserving Surgery for Femoral Sarcoma by "In Situ Preparation" Technique with a Free Flap.

Resection of soft-tissue sarcomas near important tissues (major blood vessels, nerves, bones) is challenging. "In situ preparation" (ISP) technique enables the function of the affected limb to be maintained by preserving the tissue as much as possible. The technique is based on evaluation of the margin of resection of important tissues near the tumor during surgery. Postoperative fractures are known to frequently occur, however, in cases where bones were preserved and periosteum has been resected by the ISP. We present the case of a 51-year-old woman who required treatment for soft-tissue sarcoma close to the femur. During surgery, femoral periosteum was included in the tumor side and the femur was preserved by the ISP. We covered the femur using a vascularized latissimus dorsi free flap instead of periosteum. The flap survived completely, and 5 years after surgery, there has been no recurrence or postoperative complications and the lower limb is functional. This is the first reported case of successful combined use of the bone ISP and the vascularized latissimus dorsi free flap to preserve the function of the limb affected by femoral sarcoma suspected of bone infiltration.

The prevalence of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and ulnar nerve dislocation in recreational wheelchair marathon athletes.

BACKGROUND: Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow is an entrapment neuropathy, while ulnar nerve dislocation might also be involved in its incidence and severity. Wheelchair marathon athletes may be at an increased risk for Ulnar Neuropathy. However, there is a paucity of research into the prevalence of Ulnar Neuropathy and ulnar nerve dislocation in this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and ulnar nerve dislocation in wheelchair marathon athletes. PARTICIPANTS: Wheelchair marathon athletes (N = 38) who participated in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Oita International Wheelchair Marathon. 2 athletes participated only one time, 36 athletes repeatedly. Data from athletes`latest assessment were used. METHODS: The day before the race, questionnaires, physical examinations, and ultrasonography were conducted to screen for Ulnar Neuropathy in both upper limbs. Ulnar nerve dislocation was confirmed by physical examination and ultrasonography. RESULTS: 11 (29%) athletes were diagnosed with Ulnar Neuropathy. There were no significant differences in age, height, weight, Body Mass Index, or history of primary illness between athletes with and without Ulnar Neuropathy. In the group without Ulnar Neuropathy, 44% of athletes reported to have been engaging in other wheelchair sports, compared to 9% in the group with Ulnar Neuropathy (p = 0.037). Ulnar nerve dislocation was diagnosed in 15 (39%) athletes by ultrasonography. Out of the 14 elbows of 11 athletes diagnosed with Ulnar Neuropathy, 9 (64%) elbows had ulnar nerve dislocation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Ulnar Neuropathy in wheelchair marathon athletes was higher than previously reported in able-bodied, non-athlete individuals and lower than in non-athletes with lower limb dysfunction. Therefore, while wheelchair sports may provide some protection against Ulnar Neuropathy, this study further supports the importance of screening for Ulnar Neuropathy, as well as for ulnar nerve dislocation as a potential risk factor for the development of Ulnar Neuropathy.

Free functioning gracilis transfer for reanimation of elbow and hand in total traumatic brachial plexopathy in children.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes of the free functioning gracilis transfer in children with traumatic total brachial plexus palsy. We used the free functioning gracilis transfer to reconstruct elbow flexion and prehension in 17 children with a mean age of 13.4 years (range 3-17) who were followed-up over a mean period of 6 years (range 2-16). The transferred gracilis delivered a stable elbow flexion with a useful power, as well as reconstructed active finger motion. In 3-11-year-old patients we noted a tendency towards developing a progressive flexion contracture of the elbow. The limb length discrepancy observed in our patients was not different from the brachial plexus palsy patients treated without the free functioning gracilis transfer. In conclusion, the free functioning gracilis transfer is a reliable reconstructive technique for reanimating upper extremity in children of all ages capable of delivering stable function over a long period of time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Analysis of shoulder abduction by dynamic shoulder radiograph following suprascapular nerve repair in brachial plexus injury.

BACKGROUND: Suprascapular nerve repair is a widely-prioritized procedure for shoulder reconstruction following brachial plexus injury. Although this procedure only reconstructs glenohumeral joint motion, the standard clinical assessment of shoulder function also includes the scapulothoracic joint contribution. The purpose of this preliminary study was to develop an objective method to accurately analyze shoulder abduction following suprascapular nerve repair in brachial plexus injury patients. METHODS: We introduced an objective method to accurately analyze independent shoulder abduction performed by supraspinatus muscle with the help of dynamic shoulder radiography. Antero-posterior radiographs of both shoulders in adduction and maximal active abduction were obtained. Five parameters were measured. They included global abduction, abduction in glenohumeral, scapulothoracic and clavicular joints along with lateral flexion of thoracic spine. Data were analyzed to distinguish glenohumeral joint contribution from that of scapulothoracic motion. The detailed biomechanics of glenohumeral motion were also analyzed in relation to scapulothoracic motion to separately define the contribution of each in global shoulder abduction. RESULTS: The test-retest, intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliabilities of the measurements were assessed. Intra-class correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman plots and repeatability coefficients showed excellent reliability for each parameter. The range of glenohumeral abduction showed high correlation to subtraction of the range of scapulothoracic from the range of global abduction. However, not all negative ranges of glenohumeral abduction meant non-recovery after nerve repair, because scapulothoracic motion contributed in parallel but not uniformly to global shoulder motion. CONCLUSION: The conventional measurement of shoulder global abduction with goniometer is not an appropriate method to analyze the results of suprascapular nerve repair in brachial plexus palsy patients. We recommend examination of glenohumeral and scapulothoracic motions separately with dynamic shoulder radiographic analysis. With scapulothoracic contribution to the global shoulder motion, the glenohumeral motion can be wrongly assessed.

Carpal tunnel syndrome in patient with hemihypertrophy: case report.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition; however, it has not been previously reported in patients with hemihypertrophy. A 67-year-old woman with left-sided hemihypertrophy presented with carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand. Magnetic resonance imaging showed enlargement of the median nerve proximal to the transverse carpal ligament. Carpal tunnel decompression was performed, and pain was immediately relieved by decompression of the carpal tunnel. At the six-month follow-up examination, the patient experienced relief from numbness and improvement in thenar muscle atrophy was noted.

Superior lateral genicular artery flap for coverage of a soft tissue defect after total knee arthroplasty.

This is the first report of a superior lateral genicular artery (SLGA) flap transfer for treatment of skin necrosis after total knee arthroplasty. A 5 x 17-cm SLGA flap was used to cover the exposed left knee prosthesis. The SLGA flap survived completely, and a good clinical outcome was obtained. The SLGA flap provides good recontouring of soft tissue defects around the knee. The donor site on the lateral aspect of the thigh is inconspicuous. The SLGA flap is a suitable option for reconstruction of skin necrosis after total knee arthroplasty.