Biomedical subjects

Andrew Haig

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew Haig.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cadaver evaluation of EMG needle insertion techniques used to target muscles of the thorax.

STUDY DESIGN: Measure the accuracy of needle insertion in thoracic muscles of human cadavers. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the effectiveness of known EMG techniques for sampling thoracic innervated muscles. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The evaluation of thoracic radiculopathies requires accurate electrodiagnostic techniques for evaluating the thoracic myotomes. METHODS: An American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine certified physician placed needles into pertinent muscles of the thorax and an anatomist serving as a blinded dissector recorded the path and accuracy of needle. RESULTS: Needle examination of thoracic muscles was as accurate as limb needle examination. No notable risks are noted in multifidus sampling. However, in the cadaver, some risks were noted in association with placements in the intercostal muscles. The target muscle was reliably sampled, but the rib or vertebral level was difficult to landmark in the cadaver. CONCLUSIONS: Needle examination of the thoracic multifidus and intercostals is reliable, although further confirmation is needed to accurately verify the appropriate vertebral or rib level being sampled.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Diaphragm needle placement techniques evaluated in cadaveric specimens.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safest and most accurate method of diaphragm needle placement for electromyography. DESIGN: Single blinded study. SETTING: University anatomy laboratory. CADAVERS: Five cadavers. INTERVENTIONS: Needle placement in the diaphragm by an American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine physician, blinded dissection by a doctoral candidate anatomist. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Accurate needle placement in the diaphragm, proximity or penetration of organs, vessels, or nerves, defined as cautions (proximity) and dangers (penetration). RESULTS: The anterior axillary approach was most accurate at the above-the-seventh and eighth-rib locations. The risk of dangers of needle placement in the diaphragm was greater on the right than left side. CONCLUSIONS: Needle placement in the diaphragm is safe and most accurate at the anterior axillary line superior to the eighth rib. If the side of needle placement does not matter for the study being done, the left side should be chosen because it leads to a lower risk of danger to the patient.

Cadaver↗

PubMed2005

Cadaveric study of methods for subscapularis muscle needle insertion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy for three methods for needle insertion into the subscapularis muscle for electromyography, botulinum toxin injection, and phenol nerve block. DESIGN: Three needle insertion methods were evaluated by cadaver injection by an American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine certified physician. An anatomist, blinded to the method used, served as the dissector to evaluate the effectiveness of the methods tested. RESULTS: A posterior axillary approach was most effective for needle insertion into the subscapular muscle compared with a medial scapular or a superior scapular approach. No approach was ideal for subscapular nerve injection. CONCLUSIONS: A posterior axillary approach is best for needle insertion of the subscapularis muscle for electromyography or botulinum toxin injection. Subscapular nerve injection is difficult from all of the three approaches tested.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Cross-cultural adaption of the Manniche questionnaire for German-speaking low back pain patients.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a cross-cultural version of the Manniche Low Back Pain Rating Scale (MRS) for use in German-speaking low back pain patients. BACKGROUND: Clinical intervention research in back pain would be enormously facilitated if a small number of relevant, patient-centred questionnaires became internationally used. MRS seems to be particularly suitable for cross-cultural adaptation due to its coverage of multidimensional back pain-specific health domains. METHODS: MRS was translated and back-translated, pretested and reviewed by a committee. The German version was tested in 126 patients with low back pain from all countries of German-speaking Europe. Reliability (subsample n = 20), dimensionality and construct validity was assessed. Single-dimensionality, higher correlations of MRS with the physical scales compared with the mental scales of the MOS SF-36, a moderate to good correlation with the Roland Morris Questionnaire and a low correlation with the Finger Floor Distance were hypothesized. RESULTS: Spearman's Rho for test-retest reliability was 0.98 (p < 0.001); Cronbach's alpha 0.95. Factor analysis revealed only 1 factor with an Eigenvalue >1 [3.25]. MRS was strongly correlated with the Roland Morris Questionnaire (r = 0.91), and slightly correlated with the Finger Floor Distance (r = 0.23). Correlations of MRS with domains of the SF-36 "Physical Functioning", "Role Physical" and "Bodily Pain" were higher (r -0.66 to -0.72) than with "Role Emotional", "Mental Health" and "Social Functioning" (r -0.34 to -0.61). CONCLUSION: The German version of the MRS seems to be reliable, uni-dimensional and construct valid for the assessment of functional status in German-speaking low back pain patients.

Adult↗