Lumbar nerve root blocks using MRI - the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound/MRI fusion image guidance.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of nerve root injection guided by ultrasound/MRI fusion with radiofrequency needle tracking (eTRAX©) and the same procedure undertaken by fluoroscopic guidance. METHODS: This is a retrospective audit of anonymised clinical records from before and after a change in the imaging technique used to perform nerve root blocks.We studied 181 consecutive patients who had undergone a nerve root block, the first 124 guided by fluoroscopic technique and the next 57 guided by ultrasound/MRI fusion with radiofrequency needle guidance.Using pain diaries, we reviewed the outcome scores at 24 h and 2 weeks. We recorded the use of analgesia, the patient's satisfaction, complications and the duration of the procedures. RESULTS: Completed pain diaries were returned by 61% in the fluoroscopy group and 67% in the fusion imaging group.The visual analogue pain score was reduced at 24 h by 3.29 [standard deviation (SD) 2.35] for the fluoroscopy group and by 3.69 (SD 2.58) in the fusion group (p 0.399).At two weeks the pain reduction was 3.27 (SD 2.57) for the fluoroscopic group and 4.21 (SD 2.95) for the fusion group (p 0.083). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups.The patient's satisfaction scores were similar for both groups.The procedure by the two guidance methods took a similar time to perform.There were no serious complications in either group. One patient in the fusion-guided nerve root block group experienced paraesthesia in the nerve distribution for 2 h. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound/MRI fusion imaging with needle tracking is an effective alternative to fluoroscopic image-guided injection. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Fusion imaging guidance provides the same outcome as fluoroscopic guidance.Fusion imaging guidance avoids the need for ionising radiation.

Rates of Bile Acid Diarrhoea After Cholecystectomy: A Multicentre Audit.

INTRODUCTION: Bile acid diarrhoea (BAD) can occur due to disruption to the enterohepatic circulation, e.g. following cholecystectomy. Post-cholecystectomy diarrhoea has been reported in 2.1-57.2% of patients; however, this is not necessarily due to BAD. The aim of this study was to determine the rates of bile acid diarrhoea diagnosis after cholecystectomy and to consider investigation practices. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of electronic databases from five large centres detailing patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 2013 and 2017 was cross-referenced with a list of patients who underwent 75SeHCAT testing. A 7-day retention time of <15% was deemed to be positive. Patient demographics and time from surgery to investigation were collected and compared for significance (p < 0.05). RESULTS: A total of 9439 patients underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017 in the five centres. In total, 202 patients (2.1%) underwent investigation for diarrhoea via 75SeHCAT, of which 64 patients (31.6%) had a 75SeHCAT test result of >15%, while 62.8% of those investigated were diagnosed with bile acid diarrhoea (BAD). In total, 133 (65.8%) patients also underwent endoscopy and 74 (36.6%) patients had a CT scan. Median time from surgery to 75SeHCAT test was 672 days (SD ± 482 days). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Only a small proportion of patients, post-cholecystectomy, were investigated for diarrhoea with significant time delay to diagnosis. The true prevalence of BAD after cholecystectomy may be much higher, and clinicians need to have an increased awareness of this condition due to its amenability to treatment. 75SeHCAT is a useful tool for diagnosis of bile acid diarrhoea.

Extremity CT and ultrasound in the assessment of ankle injuries: occult fractures and ligament injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the rates of fractures and ligament injuries in patients with an acute ankle injury and a normal radiographic examination, and to consider the most appropriate examination protocol. METHODS: Patients with an acute ankle injury who presented to the John Radcliffe Hospital Emergency Department with a normal radiographic examination were eligible for the study. They were invited to receive a cone beam CT and ultrasound examination at a local radiology department within 5 days of their ankle injury. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients recruited to the study, 19 patients were found to have major fractures and 42 patients had small avulsion fractures. Additionally, 42 patients had ankle effusions and there were a large number of soft tissue injuries. There were 83 acute injuries of the anterior talofibular ligament, 19 of the anterior tibiofibular ligaments, 26 of the calcaneofibular ligament, 39 of the deltoid ligament complex, 21 of the talonavicular ligament, 14 of the spring ligament and 3 of the calcaneocuboid ligament. CONCLUSION: Conventional radiographic examination misses significant fractures of the foot and ankle and the presence of an ankle effusion does not relate to the severity of injury. Ultrasound is a useful imaging technique that can supplement clinical practice, but it is unlikely to replace current protocols alone. Cone beam CT is an appropriate alternative to plain radiography, being more sensitive in detecting fractures and delivering a similar dose of radiation. However, neither CT or ultrasound examination can detect all avulsion fractures. Simple anterior process fractures of the calcaneus are associated with talonavicular ligament injuries and the medial ligaments are injured in almost 50% of cases when there is a lateral ligament injury. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Fractures in the foot and ankle are detected more precisely with cone beam CT compared to radiographs. Cone beam CT delivers similar doses of to conventional radiographs which is around 10% of that resulting from conventional CT. Ultrasound examination is an effective assessment tool to detect ligamentous injuries. The absence of an ankle effusion does not exclude a major fracture.

Predicting poor outcome from simple ankle injuries: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Sprained ankles are common and when there are no signs or evidence of a fracture, conventional management is conservative. At present, there are no clinical markers to identify those that may develop persisting instability and disability that would require rehabilitation or surgery. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nature and extent of soft tissue ankle injuries, and to consider whether the anatomical severity of injury can predict functional outcome. METHODS: Patients attending a local Accident and Emergency Department in Oxford with an acute ankle injury with no clinical requirement for radiographs, or where radiographs were normal, were invited into the study. Within 5 days, patients underwent a diagnostic ultrasound examination, a cone beam CT study and a disability assessment. Ultrasound and physiotherapy assessments were repeated at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: 100 patients were recruited and grouped based upon injuries. 58 had simple ankle injuries, 21 complex, 19 had significant fractures and 2 were excluded from further follow up analysis. There were no clinically significant differences in pain, disability or functional outcomes between the groups at all points of the study. CONCLUSION: Medium to long term clinical outcomes were not solely determined by the severity of injury. Some patients with simple injuries were seen to have ongoing problems, whereas some with complex injuries recovered completely in a shorter period. Advances in knowledge: The severity of an ankle injury determined by radiological imaging does not necessarily dictate the severity of a patient's symptoms and the trajectory of their recovery.