Shoulder pain in a patient with renal cell carcinoma? Suprascapular neuropathy caused by bone metastasis of renal cell carcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Pain management is crucial in palliative care for patients with advanced cancer. Here, we report a case of shoulder pain in a patient with renal cell carcinoma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old male diagnosed metastatic renal cell carcinoma presented with pain and weakness on left shoulder for more than 6 months. Physical examination showed limited range of motion and atrophic changes on supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Weakness in shoulder abduction and external rotation was also noted. POSSIBLE COURSES OF ACTION: In this case, suprascapular neuropathy, adhesive capsulitis of shoulder and metastatic lesions involving shoulder joint were suspected. FORMULATION OF A PLAN: We planned imaging studies including X-ray, bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and electrodiagnostic studies. OUTCOME: Imaging and electrodiagnostic studies showed suprascapular neuropathy by bone metastasis. Conservative treatment including injection and rehabilitation therapy reduced the patient's pain and improved the range of motion limitation. LESSONS FROM THE CASE: Clinicians should be aware that bone metastasis in patients with advanced cancer can cause suprascapular neuropathy, shoulder pain and shoulder dysfunction. VIEW ON RESEARCH PROBLEMS, OBJECTIVES, OR QUESTIONS GENERATED BY THE CASE: More research is expected on development of an early surveillance model, barriers to cancer pain management, communication from patients' perspectives.

Decreased Maximal Tongue Protrusion Length May Predict the Presence of Dysphagia in Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between maximal tongue protrusion length (MTPL) and dysphagia in post-stroke patients. METHODS: Free tongue length (FTL) was measured using the quick tongue-tie assessment tool and MTPL was measured using a transparent plastic ruler in 47 post-stroke patients. The MTPL-to-FTL (RMF) ratio was calculated. Swallowing function in all patients was evaluated via videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), PenetrationAspiration Scale (PAS), Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), and Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS). RESULTS: The MTPL and RMF values were significantly higher in the non-aspirator group than in the aspirator group (MTPL, p=0.0049; RMF, p<0.001). MTPL and RMF showed significant correlations with PAS, FOIS and VDS scores. The cut-off value in RMF for the prediction of aspiration was 1.56, with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 86%. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between MTPL and dysphagia in post-stroke patients. MTPL and RMF can be useful for detecting aspiration in post-stroke patients.

Irreversible Hypoglossal Nerve Injury and Concomitant Trigeminal System Dysfunction After Anterior Surgery to the Cervical Spine: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: The anterior surgical approach to the cervical spine is known to be safe, and damage to the hypoglossal nerve and trigeminal pathway after the surgery is uncommon. However, once damage to those nerves occurs, the patient's quality of life can be severely impaired by discomfort and disability. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report the case of a 59-year-old male with concomitant and irreversible hypoglossal nerve and trigeminal system dysfunction after cervical spine surgery by the anterior approach confirmed by an electrodiagnostic study. He had undergone anterior cervical disc fusion through right-sided approach for a herniated intervertebral disc on the C3-4 level and direct cord compression. He had difficulty with tongue movement, dysarthria, and hypesthesia along the lower margin of the right mandible immediately after the surgery. An electrodiagnostic study revealed hypoglossal neuropathy and trigeminal somatosensory pathway dysfunction. Even though the patient received rehabilitation therapy for impaired tongue movement for more than 2 years, this function did not recover. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to be aware of the complexity of the anatomy of vulnerable structures, including hypoglossal nerves and the trigeminal nerve system at the cervical spine level, to prevent damage to important neural structures during surgical procedures.

Obesity cutoff values in Korean men with motor complete spinal cord injury: body mass index and waist circumference.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. OBJECTIVES: To determine the obesity cutoff values for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in Korean men with motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Tertiary level hospital in Seoul, Korea. METHODS: BMI (kg/m2) was calculated and WC (cm) was measured in each participant in the supine position. Percentage of total body fat (%) was determined using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to determine the obesity cutoff values for BMI and WC. The optimal cutoff values were determined using the Youden index. Identified cutoff values were compared with those of 195 age- and BMI-matched men in the general population (GP), obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS: This study included 52 Korean men with motor complete SCI. A BMI of 20.2 kg/m2 and WC of 81.3 cm were identified as obesity cutoff values in Korean men with motor complete SCI. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.928, specificity was 100%, and sensitivity was 84.8% according to the ROC curve of BMI for participants. AUC was 0.964, specificity was 100%, and sensitivity was 84.8% in the ROC curve of WC for participants. A BMI of 22.5 kg/m2 and WC of 85.5 cm were identified as obesity cutoff values in age- and BMI-matched men in the GP. CONCLUSIONS: The obesity cutoff values in Korean men with motor complete SCI that were determined in this study were lower than those of the Korean GP and western people with SCI.

Lower extremity joint contracture according to ambulatory status in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity joint contractures have negative effects on gait in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Thus, contracture prevention is essential for maintaining a patient's functional ability and an acceptable quality of life. This study investigated hip flexion (HF), knee flexion (KF), and ankle joint plantar flexion (APF) contractures among male patients with DMD, based on the patients' ambulatory status. Differences in major joint contractures, based on passive stretching exercise participation, were also investigated. METHODS: A total of 128 boys with DMD, followed at the DMD clinic of a tertiary care hospital, were included in this cross-sectional study. The passive ranges-of-motion of the hip, knee, and ankle joints were measured, in the sagittal plane, using a goniometer. The Vignos Scale was used to grade ambulatory function. Boys with DMD who performed stretching exercises for more than 5 min/session, > 3 sessions/week, were classified into the stretching group. RESULTS: The HF (23.5o), KF (43.5o), and APF (34.5o) contracture angles in the non-ambulatory group were more severe than those in the ambulatory group. APF contractures (41 patients, 52.6%) were more frequently observed early, even within the ambulatory period, than were hip (8 patients, 10.3%), and knee joint (17 patients, 21.8%) contractures. Passive stretching exercises > 3 sessions/week were not associated with the degree of lower extremity joint contractures in the ambulatory or non-ambulatory group. CONCLUSION: HF, KF, and APF contractures are more common and severe when there is deterioration of ambulatory function. Stretching exercises alone are unlikely to prevent lower extremity joint contractures.

Balance Assessment in Subacute Stroke Patients Using the Balance Control Trainer (BalPro).

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of the balance control trainer (BCT), developed for training patients with balance problems, as a balance assessment tool in subacute stroke patients. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out on 38 subacute stroke patients in their first episode of a stroke, and having the ability to maintain a standing position without aid for at least 5 minutes. Patients were assessed using the BCT (BalPro) 43.7±35.7 days after stroke. The balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), a 10-meter walking test (10mWT), a 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index. The correlation and validity between the BCT and various balance assessments were analyzed. RESULTS: Statistically significant linear correlations were observed between the BCT score and the BBS (r=0.698, p<0.001). A moderate to excellent correlation was seen between the BCT score and 11 of the 14 BBS items. The BCT scores and other secondary outcome parameters (6MWT r=0.392, p=0.048; TUG r=-0.471, p=0.006; 10mWT r=-0.437, p=0.012) had a moderate correlation. CONCLUSION: Balance control training using the BCT (BalPro) showed significant statistical correlation with the BBS, and could therefore be a useful additional balance assessment tool in subacute stroke patients.

Recommendation of Nasogastric Tube Removal in Acute Stroke Patients Based on Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of nasogastric tube (NGT) removal and change to oral feeding with a food thickener for acute stroke patients in whom a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) confirmed thin liquid aspiration. METHODS: We retrospectively examined data of 199 patients with first stroke who were diagnosed with dysphagia from 2011 to 2015. Swallowing function was evaluated using VFSS. Patients included in this study were monitored for 4 weeks to identify the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia. The penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) was used to assess VFSS findings. The patients were divided into thin-liquid aspiration group (group 1, n=104) and no thin-liquid aspiration group (group 2, n=95). RESULTS: The feeding method was changed from NGT feeding to oral feeding with food thickener (group 1) and without food thickener (group 2). The PAS scores of thin and thick liquids were 6.46±0.65 and 1.92±0.73, respectively, in group 1 and 2.65±0.74 and 1.53±0.58, respectively, in group 2. Aspiration pneumonia developed in 1.9% of group 1 and 3.2% of group 2 (p=0.578), with no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that removing the NGT and changing to oral feeding with a food thickener is a safe food modification for acute stroke patients with thin liquid aspiration. Therefore, we recommend that VFSS should be conducted promptly in acute stroke patients to avoid unnecessary prolonged NGT feeding.

Quality of Life and Physical Ability Changes After Hospital-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients With Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on quality of life (QOL) and physical ability in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Patients with MI who were referred to the Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Center 2 weeks after percutaneous coronary intervention were divided into CR and non-CR groups. The CR group performed supervised exercises 3 times a week for 2 months. QOL assessment, using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and physical ability evaluation were performed at the beginning and end of CR. RESULTS: The CR group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in physical functioning (PF), physical role functioning (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social role functioning (SF), emotional role functioning (RE), mental health (MH), physical component summary (PCS), and mental component summary (MCS). The non-CR group showed improvement in RP. Secondary outcomes, including resting heart rate (RHR), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), metabolic equivalent of task (MET), maximal exercise time (ETmax), stage 3 Borg rating of perceived exertion (3RPE), maximal Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPEmax), and stage 3 rate pressure product (3RPP), improved in the CR group. The non-CR group showed improvements in VO2max, MET, ETmax, and 3RPE. There were significant differences in improvements in PF, RP, BP, VT, SF, MH, MCS, RHR, VO2max, MET, ETmax, 3RPE, and 3RPP between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Male patients with MI demonstrated improvements in QOL and physical ability following hospital-based CR; the impact on the mental component was greater than that on the physical component.

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection for Painful Spasticity in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report.

We report a case of a 53-year-old male with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). He could not maintain a standing position because of painful spasticity in his lower limbs. A magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography indicated chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy, explaining his chronic low back pain before the injury. For diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes, transforaminal epidural steroid injection (ESI) to the right L5 root was performed. After the intervention, the spasticity decreased and his ambulatory function improved. This case illustrates that lumbar radiculopathy concomitant with a cervical SCI can produce severe spasticity and it can be dramatically improved by ESI.

Effects of stellate ganglion block on breast cancer-related lymphedema: comparison of various injectates.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of SGB in BCRL patients and the efficacy of corticosteroids in SGB. STUDY DESIGN: A double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: A single academic hospital, outpatient setting. METHODS: In total, 32 patients with BCRL were recruited. Patients were divided randomly into 3 groups (Group A: 0.5% bupivacaine 5 mL, n = 12; Group B: 0.5% bupivacaine 4.5 mL + 20 mg of triamcinolone 0.5 mL, n = 10; and Group C: 0.5% bupivacaine 4 mL + 40 mg of triamcinolone 1 mL, n = 10). All patients received 3 consecutive SGBs, every 2 weeks. The primary outcomes were changes in forearm and upper arm circumference. Circumference was measured at baseline, 2 weeks (before the second injection), 4 weeks (before the third injection), and 8 weeks (one month follow-up after 3 consecutive SGBs). Moreover, subjective data were collected using EORTC C-30 at baseline and 8 weeks. RESULTS: After 3 consecutive SGBs, forearm and upper arm circumferences were decreased significantly from baseline in all groups (P < 0.05/3). The upper arm circumference of group C was reduced significantly more than that of group A (P < 0.05/3). The subjective data by EORTC-C30 at baseline and one month after 3 consecutive SGBs revealed no statistically significant difference. LIMITATIONS: Relatively few patients were enrolled. We did not compare SGB with any other BCRL treatment, such as complex decongestive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that SGB may be an effective treatment for BCRL. Furthermore, it appears that corticosteroids could have an additive effect in SGB.

The accuracy of the swallowing kinematic analysis at various movement velocities of the hyoid and epiglottis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of the swallowing kinematic analysis. METHODS: To evaluate the accuracy at various velocities of movement, we developed an instrumental model of linear and rotational movement, representing the physiologic movement of the hyoid and epiglottis, respectively. A still image of 8 objects was also used for measuring the length of the objects as a basic screening, and 18 movie files of the instrumental model, taken from videofluoroscopy with different velocities. The images and movie files were digitized and analyzed by an experienced examiner, who was blinded to the study. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation coefficients between the measured and instrumental reference values were over 0.99 (p<0.001) for all of the analyses. Bland-Altman plots showed narrow ranges of the 95% confidence interval of agreement between the measured and reference values as follows: 0.14 to 0.94 mm for distances in a still image, -0.14 to 1.09 mm/s for linear velocities, and -1.02 to 3.81 degree/s for angular velocities. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the distance and velocity measurements obtained by swallowing kinematic analysis are highly valid in a wide range of movement velocity.

Implications of sociodemographic factors and health examination rate for people with disabilities.

OBJECTIVES: To determine disparities in health examination rates between people with disabilities (PWD) and the general population (GP), and to investigate the sociodemographic factors influencing health examination rates in PWD. DESIGN: The study compared the health examination rates between PWD and the GP using data from 2 national surveys. SETTING: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of (KNHANES) 2008 and the National Survey on Persons with Disabilities (NSPD) in 2008. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised data from the NSPD 2008 for PWD (n=6999) and data from the KNHANES 2008 for the GP (n=6582). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health examination rates of 2 groups were assessed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the related factors influencing health examination rates in PWD. RESULTS: Health examination rates for PWD were significantly lower than those for the GP (P<.001). The health examination rates for PWD were lowest when they were in the age group of 30 to 39 years, in the quartile 2 group of income level, had no "existing spouse," had chronic diseases, thought their health condition was very bad, and when they needed complete help from others to carry out activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Health examination rates were reduced by the disability factor. To enhance the overall rate of health examinations, researchers should determine which groups of PWD have relatively low health examination rates and propose measures to increase their rates of health examination.