Internal Neurolysis Research Articles

A novel scoring system as a preoperative predictor for pain-free survival after microsurgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

Pain relief following microvascular decompression (MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) may be related to pain type, degree of neurovascular conflict, arterial compression, and location of compression. The objective of this study was to construct a predictive pain-free scoring system based on clinical and radiographic factors that can be used to preoperatively prognosticate long-term outcomes for TN patients following surgical intervention (MVD or internal neurolysis [IN]). It was hypothesized that contributing factors would include pain type, presence of an artery or vein, neurovascular conflict severity, and compression location (root entry zone). At the authors' institution 275 patients with type 1 or type 2 TN (TN1 or TN2) underwent MVD or IN following preoperative high-resolution brain MRI studies. Outcome data were obtained retrospectively by chart review and/or phone follow-up. Characteristics of neurovascular conflict were obtained from preoperative MRI studies. Factors that resulted in a probability value of < 0.05 on univariate logistic regression analyses were entered into a multivariate Cox regression analysis in a backward stepwise fashion. For the multivariate analysis, significance at the 0.15 level was used. A prognostic system was then devised with 4 possible scores (0, 1, 2, or 3) and pain-free survival analyses conducted. Univariate predictors of pain-free survival were pain type (p = 0.013), presence of any vessel (p = 0.042), and neurovascular compression severity (p = 0.038). Scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 were found to be significantly different in regard to pain-free survival (log rank, p = 0.005). At 5 and 10 years there were 36%, 43%, 61%, and 69%, and 36%, 43%, 56%, and 67% pain-free survival rates in groups 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. While TN2 patients had worse outcomes regardless of score, a subgroup analysis of TN1 patients with higher neurovascular conflict (score of 3) had significantly better outcomes than TN1 patients without severe neurovascular conflict (score of 1) (log rank, p = 0.005). Regardless of pain type, those patients with severe neurovascular conflict were more likely to have arterial compression (99%) compared to those with low neurovascular conflict (p < 0.001). Pain-free survival was predicted by a scoring system based on preoperative clinical and radiographic findings. Higher scores predicted significantly better pain relief than lower scores. TN1 patients with severe neurovascular conflict had the best long-term pain-free outcome.

Outcome of Internal Neurolysis for Trigeminal Neuralgia without Neurovascular Compression and Its Relationship with Intraoperative Trigeminocardiac Reflex

Background: Internal neurolysis (IN) is an effective surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) without neurovascular compression (NVC) or postoperative recurrence. However, the trigeminal nerve is directly manipulated during the procedure, and there is a high incidence of trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR). The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the outcome of IN and to explore its relationship with the occurrence of intraoperative TCR. Methods: Surgical and anesthesia records of 27 TN patients who underwent surgical treatment with IN at our department between March 2010 and September 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of the occurrence of TCR during surgery, and clinical characteristics were compared. Pain intensity was assessed by the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity score and BNI facial numbness score. Results: TCR was observed in 23 of 27 patients (85.2%); it manifested as obvious changes in mean arterial pressure and heart rate by at least 20% of the baseline values. Trigeminal nerve atrophy was found in 9 patients (33.3%). The immediate pain-free rate was 96.3%, and the “excellent” rate was 72.1% for follow-up, with a rate of numbness or hypesthesia of 97.1%. These outcomes were retrospectively compared between the TCR and non-TCR groups, and there was a nonsignificantly higher “excellent” rate in the TCR group than in the non-TCR group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that IN is an effective treatment for TN without NVC and has a close relationship with intraoperative TCR. To our knowledge, this is the first research describing TCR during IN.

Predictors of Surgical Outcomes of Traumatic Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Children: An Institutional Experience

Aim: This study was undertaken to address the epidemiological characteristics, operative details, and surgical outcome of peripheral nerve injuries in children treated in a tertiary hospital in India (NIMHANS, Bangalore). Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of epidemiology, operative findings, and surgical outcomes over the period of 2000-2016. Our series includes 102 children with peripheral nerve injuries of various causes. Results: Intramuscular injections were the most common cause (52.9%), followed by entrapment (15.6%). The most common nerve involved was the sciatic nerve (54.9%), followed by the common peroneal nerve (13.7%), the ulnar nerve (10.8%), and the radial nerve (10.8%). Perineural adhesion was the most common intraoperative finding (74.5%), followed by a neuroma in continuity (14.7%) and gap (10.8%). Most of the children with peripheral adhesion underwent external and internal neurolysis (75.5%). Follow-up was available for 67 children. The median follow-up period was 7 months (range 3-36). The outcome was assessed according to MRC grading. Favorable functional improvement was noted in 76.1% of the children. Age less than 10 years (p = 0. 06), injury before 6 months (p = 0.03), and MRC motor grade (<3) (p = 0. 01) were positive predictive factors related to the final outcome. Conclusion: Early surgical intervention, age less than 10 years, and incomplete motor palsy were the best predictors of a superior functional outcome. This study can serve as a guide to determine the epidemiology, duration of intervention, and surgical outcome of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries in the pediatric population

127 A Novel Scoring System for Preoperative Prediction for Pain-Free Survival After Microsurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract INTRODUCTION Pain relief following microsurgery for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) may be related to multiple factors including pain type, degree of neurovascular conflict, arterial compression, and location of compression. The objective of this study was to construct a predictive scoring system based on clinical and radiographic factors that can preoperatively prognosticate long-term outcomes in TN following surgery. METHODS 275 patients with Type 1 or Type 2 TN underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) or internal neurolysis (IN) following a preoperative high-resolution MRI. Outcome data was obtained retrospectively by chart review and/or phone follow-up. Characteristics of neurovascular conflict were obtained from preoperative MRI. Factors that resulted in a probability value of &lt;0.05 on univariate logistic regression analyses were entered into a multivariate cox regression analysis in a backward stepwise fashion. For the multivariate analysis, significance at the 0.15 level was used. A prognostic system was then devised with three possible scores (0/1, 2, or 3) and survival analyses were conducted. RESULTS &gt;Univariate predictors of pain-free survival were pain type (P = 0.013), presence of any vessel (P = 0.042), and neurovascular compression severity (0.038). Scores of 0/1, 2, and 3 were found to be significantly different in regard to pain-free survival (log rank, P = 0.008). At 5 and 10 years there were 42, 57, and 72% and 42,52, and 58%, pain free survival in groups 0/1, 2, and 3, respectively. TN1 patients with severe neurovascular conflict (score of 3) had the best outcome, which was significantly better that TN1 patients without neurovascular conflict (score of 1) (log rank, P = 0.005). Severe neurovascular conflict is more likely to have arterial compression (99%) (P&lt; 0.001). CONCLUSION Pain-free survival of TN patients after microsurgery can be predicted in a step-wise statistically significant fashion, by a simple scoring system based on preoperative clinical and radiographic findings.

Results of Operative Treatment of Brachial Plexus Injury Resulting from Shoulder Dislocation: A Study with A Long-Term Follow-Up.

Injury to the infraclavicular brachial plexus is an uncommon but serious complication of shoulder dislocation. This work aims to determine the effectiveness of operative treatment in patients with this type of injury. Thirty-three patients (26 men and 7 women; mean age, 45 years and 3 months) treated operatively for brachial plexus injury resulting from shoulder dislocation between the years 2000 and 2013 were included in this retrospective case series. Motor function of affected limbs was assessed pre- and postoperatively with the use of the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) scale. Sensory function in the areas innervated by ulnar and median nerves was evaluated with the BMRC scale modified by Omer and Dellon and in the remaining areas with the Highet classification. Follow-up lasted 2-10 years (mean, 5.1 years). Good postoperative recovery of nerve function was observed in 100% of musculocutaneous, 93.3% of radial, 66.7% of median, 64% of axillary, and 50% of ulnar nerve injuries. No recovery was observed in 5.6% of median, 6.7% of radial, 10% of ulnar, and 20% of axillary nerve injuries. Injury to a single nerve was associated with worse treatment outcome than multiple nerve injury. Obtaining improvement in peripheral nerve function after injury resulting from shoulder dislocation may require operative intervention. The type of surgical procedure depends on intraoperative findings: sural nerve grafting in cases of neural elements' disruption, internal neurolysis when intraneural fibrosis is observed, and external neurolysis in the remaining cases. The outcomes of surgical treatment are good, and the risk of intra- and postoperative complications is low.

Novel Anti-Adhesive CMC-PE Hydrogel Significantly Enhanced Morphological and Physiological Recovery after Surgical Decompression in an Animal Model of Entrapment Neuropathy.

We developed a novel hydrogel derived from sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in which phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was introduced into the carboxyl groups of CMC to prevent perineural adhesions. This hydrogel has previously shown excellent anti-adhesive effects even after aggressive internal neurolysis in a rat model. Here, we confirmed the effects of the hydrogel on morphological and physiological recovery after nerve decompression. We prepared a rat model of chronic sciatic nerve compression using silicone tubing. Morphological and physiological recovery was confirmed at one, two, and three months after nerve decompression by assessing motor conduction velocity (MCV), the wet weight of the tibialis anterior muscle and morphometric evaluations of nerves. Electrophysiology showed significantly quicker recovery in the CMC-PE group than in the control group (24.0 ± 3.1 vs. 21.0± 2.1 m/s (p < 0.05) at one months and MCV continued to be significantly faster thereafter. Wet muscle weight at one month significantly differed between the CMC-PE (BW) and control groups (0.148 ± 0.020 vs. 0.108 ± 0.019%BW). The mean wet muscle weight was constantly higher in the CMC-PE group than in the control group throughout the experimental period. The axon area at one month was twice as large in the CMC-PE group compared with the control group (24.1 ± 17.3 vs. 12.3 ± 9 μm2) due to the higher ratio of axons with a larger diameter. Although the trend continued throughout the experimental period, the difference decreased after two months and was not statistically significant at three months. Although anti-adhesives can reduce adhesion after nerve injury, their effects on morphological and physiological recovery after surgical decompression of chronic entrapment neuropathy have not been investigated in detail. The present study showed that the new anti-adhesive CMC-PE gel can accelerate morphological and physiological recovery of nerves after decompression surgery.

Intraneural Median Nerve Anatomy and Implications for Treating Mixed Median Nerve Injury in the Hand.

Background: Nerve transfers have resulted in increased interest in the microanatomy of peripheral nerves. Herein, we expand our understanding of the internal anatomy of the digital nerve to the ulnar index and long fingers, the radial long and ring fingers, and the nerves to the second and third web spaces. Methods: The median nerve was dissected from the digital nerves to the antecubital fossa in 14 fresh upper extremities. The distance of proximal internal neurolysis of the fascicles to the second and third web space and proper digital nerves was measured relative to the radial styloid. Plexi encountered during proximal lysis were noted. Results: Digital nerves to the ulnar index and radial long fingers were lysed 2.4 ± 0.5 cm (mean ± SD), and digital nerves to the ulnar long and the radial ring fingers were lysed 3.0 ± 0.6 cm distal to the radial styloid. Fascicles to the third web space were lysed to the takeoff of the anterior interosseous nerve, 21.1 ± 1.4 cm. Plexus groupings were encountered at 4.5 ± 1.6 cm, 8.3 ± 1.2, cm and 16.1 ± 1.9 cm proximal to radial styloid. The fascicles to the second web space were lysed to 5.0 ± 1.2 cm proximal to radial styloid where a plexus grouping was encountered. Another plexus group was found at 3.3 ± 1.3 cm. Conclusions: We demonstrate that extended internal neurolysis of second web space, along with the digital nerves, is technically and clinically feasible. This technique can be used to treat mixed median nerve injury in the hand and wrist.

Management of endodontic injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve.

Functional sensory recovery from microsurgical intervention for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injuries resulting from endodontic treatment were evaluated using a retrospective chart review. Other variables assessed included time from injury to surgery as well as other factors which improved functional neurosensory recovery (FSR). This case series of seven patients evaluated the outcome of IAN microsurgery following endodontic-related nerve injuries. All patients were referred, evaluated, and operated on by the primary investigator (VBZ). Surgical intervention consisted of external and/or internal neurolysis with irrigation of the mandibular canal and decompression of the affected IAN as well as allogeneic nerve graft in one patient. Preoperative and postoperative sensory levels were recorded and FSR was assessed using the Medical Research Council scale. Seven subjects with a mean age of 35.57 years (range 22 to 55 years old) opted to undergo trigeminal nerve microsurgery for management of their IAN injury resulting from endodontic treatment of mandibular molar teeth. Six women and one man were included in this population. The majority of subjects presented with an initial chief complaint of dysesthesia and hypoesthesia. The mean interval between nerve injury and surgical treatment was 15 weeks (range 1 to 40 weeks). All patients had preoperative sensory level of S0, S1, or S2+, and achieved FSR following surgery. Two patients had postoperative sensory level of S3, four patients had a postoperative sensory level of S3+, and one had a postoperative sensory level of S4 (complete recovery). The results of this study suggest that trigeminal nerve microsurgery for the surgical treatment of endodontic injuries to the IAN can improve neurosensory function. Surgical intervention in this study was beneficial to alleviate neurosensory deficits and symptoms for those injuries to the IAN caused by endodontic treatment.

Peroneal Intraneural Ganglia Formation Causing Foot Drop in Children: A Clinical Perspective

The intraneural ganglion cyst is a rare clinical entity. It is a non-neoplastic mucinous cyst that occurs in the epineurium of a peripheral nerve. It is most commonly described in the lower extremity at the head of the fibula involving the peroneal nerve, although the tibial and sciatic nerves also have been involved to a lesser degree. At the upper extremity, the suprascapular, radial, posterior interosseous, median, and ulnar nerves can be affected. More than 300 cases of peroneal ganglion cysts have been reported since 1810, but only 14 cases in the pediatric population (patients <16 years of age). The clinical presentation may vary, but includes pain, motor and or sensory dysfunction of the affected nerve. It also may present as a palpable mass. The differential diagnosis should include extraneural ganglion and cystic nerve sheath tumors benign or malignant. Several theories regarding the mechanism of formation have been described, including the extra-articular embryonic remnants, epi or perineurial mucosa degeneration, cystic degeneration, and lastly the origin is in the synovial joint allowing the synovial fluid to travel within the epineurium of the articular branch supplying the joint. The latter is referred as the unifying theory. The preoperative evaluation must include taking the patient’s history and a thorough physical examination. Electrophysiologic studies are helpful. Ultrasonography can be used to document the size of the intraneural cyst, and magnetic resonance imaging can better document the solid components and enhancement features that can be useful to the surgeon. Intraoperatively, the cyst can be 2e10 cm distal to the common peroneal nerve. The articular branch connects the cyst to the superior tibiofibular articulation. The cyst content is aspirated and external and or internal neurolysis of the nerve performed. Postoperatively, the patient’s motor function might improve or remain the same, but his or her pain usually will improve. The recognition and the ligation of the articular branch are important to treat this

Internal Neurolysis and Grafting of the Superficial Peroneal Nerve in the Treatment of Nerve Injury due to Compression using Avance® Nerve Graft

Peripheral entrapment neuropathy in the lower extremity is caused by some anatomical configuration constricting the nerve, or in the case of trauma, some anatomical disposition rendering the nerve in an inflammatory state. In cases of multiple reconstructive surgeries of the lower extremity, scar tissue develops along the course of surgical incisions that can eventually impede on the normal function of surrounding nerve. The nerves affected can cause intractable pain that is unresponsive to conservative treatments. Surgeons may choose to perform surgical decompression with an external and or internal neurolysis.

Letter to the Editor: Internal neurolysis for trigeminal neuralgia

Letter to the Editor: Internal neurolysis for trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia without neurovascular compression presents earlier than trigeminal neuralgia with neurovascular compression.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) occurs and recurs in the absence of neurovascular compression (NVC). To characterize what may be distinct patient populations, the authors examined age at onset in patients with TN with and without NVC. A retrospective review of patients undergoing posterior fossa surgery for Type I TN at Oregon Health & Science University from 2009 to 2013 was undertaken. Charts were reviewed, and imaging and operative data were collected for patients with and without NVC. Mean, median, and the empirical cumulative distribution of onset age were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Student t-test, Wilcoxon and Kolmogorov-Smirnoff tests, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model. The charts of 219 patients with TN were reviewed. There were 156 patients who underwent posterior fossa exploration and microvascular decompression or internal neurolysis: 129 patients with NVC and 27 without NVC. Mean age at symptoms onset for patients with and without NVC was 51.1 and 42.6 years, respectively. This difference (8.4 years) was significant (t-test: p = 0.007), with sufficient power to detect an effect size of 8.2 years. Median age between groups with and without NVC was 53.25 and 41.2 years, respectively (p = 0.003). Histogram analysis revealed a bimodal age at onset in patients without NVC, and cumulative distribution of age at onset revealed an earlier presentation of symptoms (p = 0.003) in patients without NVC. Chi-square analysis revealed a trend toward female predominance in patients without NVC, which was not significant (p = 0.08). Multivariate analysis revealed that age at onset was related to NVC but not sex, symptom side or distribution, or patient response to medical treatment. NVC is neither sufficient nor necessary for the development of TN. Patients with TN without NVC may represent a distinct population of younger, predominantly female patients. Further research into the pathophysiology underlying this debilitating disease is needed.

The outcomes of late term surgical treatment of penetrating peripheral nerve injuries

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the follow-up results of patients who received late-term surgical treatment for peripheral nerve lesions caused by penetrating injuries. The study included 25 patients who underwent surgery for peripheral nerve injuries in our clinic between 2007 and 2013. The patients were evaluated with respect to age, gender, etiology of the trauma, the affected nerve, clinical examinations, electrophysiological findings, surgical techniques and functional outcomes. The study included 30 nerves of 25 patients (19 male, 6 female; mean age 30.1 years). The mean time between the initial injury and admission to our clinic was 11.5 months (range, 3 to 30 months). Cuts caused by glass were the most common cause of injury (68.5%). The most commonly injured nerves in our patients were the median nerve (43.4%) and ulnar nerve (26.6%). External neurolysis and decompression were performed in eleven patients, epineurotomy and internal neurolysis were performed in eight patients, epineural repair was performed in fourteen patients, fascicular repair was performed in three patients, and interfascicular anastomosis using sural nerve grafting was performed in five patients. Postoperative motor strength and electrophysiological analyses showed significant improvements. Better outcomes were obtained in cases with median nerve injuries rather than other nerve injuries. Additionally, patients undergoing external neurolysis and decompression exhibited better outcomes than those undergoing other surgical approaches. Although surgical treatment is recommended as early as possible for peripheral nerve injuries, late-term surgical treatments may provide positive outcomes.

Surgical removal of intraneural perineurioma arising in the brachial plexus using an interfascicular dissection technique.

Surgical removal of intraneural perineurioma arising in the brachial plexus using an interfascicular dissection technique.

Secondary Nerve Lengthening to Obtain Full Knee Extension in Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome

Microsurgical nerve lengthening was performed in two siblings presenting a popliteal pterigium syndrome with a knee flexion contracture of 80 degrees. After the first attempt for nerve lengthening and knee extension elsewhere, a repeated lengthening was required due to continuing tip-toe walking and recurrent knee contracture at the age of 3 years. An extensive external and internal interfascicular microsurgical neurolysis resulted in a lengthening of the nerves. A full length of leg procedure had to be performed, inclusive of Achilles tendon lengthening to obtain a complete extension of the knee and a 90-degree ankle flexion. Maintaining the leg in a fully extended position was obtained with a dynamic splinting in the first month after the operation. When timing the operation we have to consider the importance of adequate precision of the microsurgical neurolysis, down to the identification of the Fontana bands, and the adequate postoperative splinting.

Hourglass-Like Constrictions of Peripheral Nerve in the Upper Extremity

The development of an hourglass-like constriction in the nerve is rare, and its origin is unknown. Its clinical manifestations are not well documented, and the treatment protocol has not been established. To identify the cause, presentation, and possible treatment for patients with nerve palsies secondary to an hourglass-like constriction in the affected nerves. Patients presenting with peripheral nerve palsy caused by an hourglass-like constriction of nerves were retrospectively investigated in 2 hand centers. The patients' presentation and neurological findings were reviewed, and the immunohistochemistry of excised specimens was studied. Forty-two patients who presented with 47 nerve palsies were examined. Forty-one patients experienced a sudden onset of pain in the upper limb, followed by flaccid paralysis in the affected muscles. Ten patients had multiple nerve involvement. Surgical exploration found 1 or more hourglass-like constrictions in the nerve. The treatments included internal neurolysis, neurorrhaphy, and nerve grafting. Thirty-one of 42 patients (36 nerves) were followed up for a mean of 48 months (range, 8-157 months). Fifteen of 16 nerves treated by neurolysis, 10 of 13 nerves treated by neurorrhaphy, and 4 of 7 nerves treated by nerve grafting had good recovery. CD8-positive T-lymphocyte infiltration was observed in all the excised specimens. The clinical presentation of patients with hourglass-like constrictions in their nerves is similar to that of patients with neuralgic amyotrophy. Histochemical analysis suggests that the pathogenesis may be immunological in origin. The role of surgery in this condition is uncertain.

Obturator Nerve Anatomy and Relevance to One Stage Facial Reanimation

INTRODUCTION: Single stage facial reanimation with a partial gracilis muscle coapted to the contralateral facial nerve seems an optimal surgical solution yet hasn’t supplanted the two-stage approach.1–5 Insufficient obturator nerve length may limit reach to sizeable contralateral facial nerve branches possibly necessitating interposition nerve grafting, compromise optimal muscle positioning, or risk nerve coaptation under tension. The study evaluates whether retroperitoneal obturator nerve dissection would effectively lengthen the nerve thus obviating the aforementioned limitations. METHODS: Ten hemifaces and obturator nerves of five cadavers were dissected. Facial measurements included modiolus to contralateral facial nerve branches of sufficient size at the vertical line of the lateral orbital rim. Obturator nerve measurements included gracilis neurovascular hilum to: 1) obturator canal entry point (ab) 2) intra-obturator canal point where additional adductor branches are inseparable by internal neurolysis (ac) 3) retroperitoneal point of separation between anterior and posterior obturator branches (ad). Obturator nerve reach for cross facial nerve coaptation was assessed. RESULTS: Succesful coaptation was achieved with obturator nerve dissection to point b in approximately 20%, to point c in 60-70%, and to retroperitoneal point d in 90-100% of the time CONCLUSION: Successful coaptation to large contralateral facial nerve branches is feasible in 90-100% of cases if the entire anterior obturator branch is harvested. Yet, the increased risk of retroperitoneal dissection and sacrifice of additional adductor branches decreases the viability of this approach. Obturator canal dissection (point c) provides reach in 60-70% of cases but short interposition nerve grafting may prove necessary.

Karpal tünel serbestleştirilmesi yapılan ardı ardına 972 olgunun değerlendirilmesi: Ek olarak uygulanan girişimlerin rolü

Objectives: Carpal tunnel release is one of the most commonly performed operations in hand surgery. Carpal tunnel release is simply defined as division of transverse carpal ligament. Ancillary procedures such as neurolysis, mass removal, and synovectomy may be indicated in selected cases. The purpose of this study is to analyse the range and frequency of ancillary procedures in a series of open carpal tunnel releases. Methods: In this study, an analysis of 972 consecutive open carpal tunnel releases was performed in 694 patients to assess the frequency of required additional procedures. Operation notes of these patients were reviewed in terms of ancillary procedures to standard carpal tunnel release. Results: Fifty-six of 972 (5.76%) cases required an ancillary surgical intervention. Ganglia removal for 9 (0.92%), synovectomy for 8 (0.82%), internal neurolysis for 13 (1.33%), external neurolysis for 23 (2.36%), segmental neurectomy and nerve repair for 3 (0.3%) patients were performed. Conclusion: Additional procedures is advocated as adjuncts to the carpal ligament release, in an effort to decrease the failure rate after operation in indicated cases.

Our experience with surgical treatment of perinatal brachial plexus palsy – results in different types of lesions

Perinatal brachial plexus palsies can be divided into upper (C5-C6), upper-middle (C5-C6-C7) and total injuries (C5-Th1). The study aimed to evaluate the results of surgical repair in the different types of palsies. The patient population comprised 80 children who underwent primary repair of the brachial plexus (external neurolysis, internal neurolysis, direct neurorrhaphy, nerve grafts, extraanatomical intraplexus reconstruction, extraanatomical extraplexus reconstruction). 31 patients were additionally subjected to 39 tenomioplasty procedures. Widely recognised assessment scales were used to evaluate the outcome of surgical treatment of different types of palsies in 70 patients. Good and very good post-operative function of the glenohumeral and elbow joints was demonstrated in all patients with upper palsy. In the group of upper-middle injuries, 61.5% of patients presented good and very good function of the shoulder joint and 76.9% had good function of the elbow. In subjects with total brachial plexus palsy, good function of the glenohumeral was demonstrated by 51.2%, good function of the elbow by 61% and 53.6% presented with a functionally useful hand. 1. While surgical repair may be indicated in brachial plexus injuries at all levels, it is usually inevitable in total and upper-middle palsies. 2. The surgical outcome depends on the extent of baseline damage to the brachial plexus, with the best prognosis in insolated upper palsies.

Vascular Malformations, Rare Causes of Sciatic Neuropathy: A Case Series

Sciatica is typically a clear-cut symptom complex commonly related to an impingement at the spinal nerve level. Etiologies of sciatic neuropathy outside the neural foramina are uncommon. To describe 4 patients presenting with radiating leg pain due to sciatic nerve involvement, all with a vascular etiology. Four patients presenting with neuropathic pain were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging was used to identify these lesions, which most commonly showed diffuse T2 changes with nerve enhancement upon administration of contrast. Exploration revealed vascular lesions. All patients went on to external and limited internal neurolysis of the involved sciatic nerve segment. Intraoperative histological study confirmed the presence of a venous angioma, an arteriovenous malformation, a venous malformation associated with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, and a capillary hemangioma. Follow-up demonstrated stable neurological examinations with reduction in pain at 1 year or greater. In patients with sciatic distribution symptoms and signs, after initial negative spine imaging, high-resolution imaging of the sciatic nerve itself should be undertaken to address rarer causes such as vascular abnormalities. In these cases, exploration and fascicular biopsy provided a diagnosis; external and limited internal neurolysis improved pain.