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Bilateral lumbosacral plexopathy after mesenteric thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: A case of lumbosacral plexopathy (LSP) following operation for mesenteric thrombosis. DESIGN: Case report of a 64-year-old man who developed weakness and numbness of the distal legs after an operation for mesenteric thrombosis. SETTING: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain. SUBJECT: Single patient case report. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical and electromyography follow-up of the patient between October 1996 and August 1997. RESULTS: Physical examination revealed marked lower extremity weakness, hypotonia, hyporreflexia and normal bowel and bladder function. Electromyography demonstrated marked denervation of all major muscle groups, and sensory nerve conduction showed absence of responses in all peripheral nerves, in both legs. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, bilateral LSP following an intervention of mesenteric thrombosis, has never been reported in the literature. Diagnosis of LSP might be based on electromyography and nerve conduction studies that demonstrate electrodiagnostic criteria for LSP, including denervation in muscles innervated by at least two lumbosacral segmental levels and involving at least two different peripheral nerves, without paraspinal involvement.

Electromyography↗

Examination of the variations of lateral femoral cutaneous nerves: report of two cases.

The origins, courses and relations of lateral femoral cutaneous nerves (LFCNs) were examined bilaterally in 28 cadavers, and the variations were observed in two. On the right side of one cadaver, the ventral rami of the first and second lumbar spinal nerves were united and then this nerve was divided into four branches. From medial to lateral, these branches were the obturator nerve, the femoral nerve, the medially located LFCN and the laterally located LFCN. On the left side of another cadaver, there were three LFCNs. All of these nerves pierced the psoas major muscle anterolaterally. Two of these nerves, which pierced the psoas major muscle more proximally than the third, united with each other by a communicating branch anterior to the iliacus muscle. These types of variations are very important, especially in the presence of paresthesias or pain in the anterior thigh, lateral thigh and gluteal region. In these cases, surgeons must always remember the possible variations of the LFCN during surgical procedures in order to prevent injury and the occurrence of meralgia paresthetica.

Bone Transplantation↗

Medium-term results of permanent sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Anal sphincter surgery for faecal incontinence is associated with significant morbidity and a variable outcome. Sacral nerve stimulation may provide a good functional outcome with minimal morbidity. This paper reports the experience in a single centre over 5 years. METHODS: Fifteen consecutive patients (14 women), median age 60 (range 37-71) years, underwent temporary, and subsequent permanent, stimulation. All had incontinence to solid or liquid stool; the aetiology was obstetric injury (seven patients), scleroderma (four), idiopathic (two), fistula surgery (one) and repaired rectal prolapse (one). Median duration of symptoms was 6 (range 2-15) years. Clinical evaluation, endoanal ultrasonography, bowel diary, quality of life questionnaire (Short Form (SF) 36) and anorectal physiological testing were performed before and after stimulation. RESULTS: Continence had improved in all patients at median follow-up of 24 (range 3-60) months. Eleven patients were fully continent. Episodes of faecal incontinence decreased from median (range) 11 (2-30) per week before stimulation to 0 (0-4) per week after permanent stimulation (P < 0.001). Urgency improved in all patients (median (range) ability to defer less than 1 (0-1) versus 8 (1-15) min; P = 0.01). 'Social function' and 'role-physical' subscales of the SF36 improved significantly. Mean resting pressure (35 versus 49 cmH2O with temporary stimulation; P < 0.05) and squeeze pressure increment (43 versus 69 cmH2O with permanent stimulation; P < 0.01) increased. Rectal sensitivity to initial distension changed (mean 47 versus 34 ml air; P < 0.05). There were no major complications. CONCLUSION: Sacral nerve stimulation is a safe and effective treatment for faecal incontinence when conventional treatment has failed. There is minimal morbidity. The benefit is maintained in the medium term.

Adult↗

Permanent sacral nerve stimulation for treatment of idiopathic constipation.

BACKGROUND: Constipation can usually be managed using conservative therapies. A proportion of patients require more intensive treatment. Surgery provides variable results. This paper describes an alternative approach, in which the neural control of the bowel and pelvic floor is modified, using permanent sacral nerve stimulation. METHODS: Four women (aged 27-36 years), underwent temporary and then permanent stimulation. All had idiopathic constipation, resistant to maximal therapy, with symptoms for 8-32 years. Clinical evaluation, bowel diary, Wexner constipation score, symptom analogue score, quality of life questionnaire and anorectal physiology were completed. RESULTS: There was a marked improvement in all patients with temporary, and in three with permanent, stimulation. Median follow-up was 8 (range 1-11) months. Bowel frequency increased from 1-6 to 6-28 evacuations per 3 weeks. Improvement occurred, at longest-follow-up, in median (range) evacuation score (4 (0-4) versus 1 (0-4)), time with abdominal pain (98 (95-100) versus 12 (0-100) per cent), time with bloating (100 (95-100) versus 12 (5-100) per cent), Wexner score (21 (20-22) versus 9 (1-20)), analogue score (22 (16-32) versus 80 (20-98)) and quality of life. Maximum anal resting and squeeze pressures increased. Rectal sensation was altered. Transit time normalized in one patient. CONCLUSION: Permanent sacral nerve stimulation can be used to treat patients with resistant idiopathic constipation.

Adult↗

Cutaneous innervation in man before and after lumbar sympathectomy: evidence for interruption of both sensory and vasomotor nerve fibres.

BACKGROUND: Rest pain and severe ischaemia in patients who are unable to be offered (further) surgery to revascularize the lower limb is still problematic. Lumbar sympathectomy has been used for many years but the mechanisms by which this works are not absolutely clear. Both sensory and vasomotor fibres travel in the lumbar sympathetic chain and the effects of lumbar sympathectomy on these nerve types have been investigated in the present paper. METHODS: Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect neuropeptides contained in sensory and vasomotor nerves in the lower limb skin of (i) patients having amputations for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) after previous (chemical or surgical) sympathectomy; (ii) patients having amputations for PVD without previous (chemical or surgical) sympathectomy; and in control normal skin. The three groups are compared and the results are discussed. RESULTS: Normal and PVD controls had intact sensory and vasomotor nerves around dermal cutaneous blood vessels, but these were completely or virtually completely lost after lumbar sympathectomy, by either chemical or surgical means. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar sympathectomy severs both vasomotor and sensory fibres, suggesting that relief of rest pain may be explained not only by increased cutaneous and muscle blood flow, but also by nociceptive sensory denervation.

Aged↗

Acute suppression of idiopathic detrusor instability with magnetic stimulation of the sacral nerve roots.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of magnetic stimulation of the S3 nerve root on unstable contractions in patients with idiopathic detrusor instability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with idiopathic instability were studied. The S3 nerve root was localized by mapping the response of the toe flexor muscles and anal sphincter to magnetic stimulation at different sites. Unstable contractions were provoked by rapidly infusing saline into the bladder and the effect of magnetic stimulation of S3 on contractions was assessed. RESULTS: Magnetic stimulation relieved the sensation of urinary urgency and reduced the duration and amplitude of provoked contractions in all patients. Stimulation reduced the area under the pressure/time curve by 80-98%. In some patients there was a shortlived residual suppressive effect lasting up to 90 s. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic stimulation of S3 acutely abolishes unstable contractions in patients with idiopathic detrusor instability.

Electromyography↗

An animal model for the neuromodulation of neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an animal model to examine the pathophysiology by which S3 sacral root electrostimulation alters the micturition reflex in patients with bladder hyper-reflexia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chronic sacral nerve root electrostimulation was applied to spinally transected rats; 21 animals were divided into four groups. The spinal cord was completely transected at the T10-11 level and stainless-steel electrodes implanted into the sacral foramen in 17 animals; these animals were subsequently divided into two groups (1 and 2). Six rats in group 1 underwent sacral root elctrostimulation for 2 h/day and five in group 2 for 6 h/day, for 21 days. The sham group (group 3, six rats) received no stimulation and four rats were used as healthy controls (group 4). Voiding frequency was recorded and each animal was evaluated cystometrically at the end of the stimulation period. The results were compared with the sham and control groups. RESULTS: Spinal cord transection resulted in bladder areflexia and complete urinary retention; 7-9 days after the injury, the bladder recovered its activity. Twenty-one days after transection all animals had evidence of uninhibited bladder contractions. The mean (SD) hourly frequency of urination was 0.66 (0.18) in healthy controls, 0.83 (0.21) in group 1, 0.87 (0.34) in group 2 and 1.1 (0.31) in group 3. There was a significant decrease in eh cystometric signs of bladder hyper-reflexia in groups 1 and 2 when compared with group 3. CONCLUSIONS: This work reports and initial study showing that chronic electrostimulation of sacral nerve roots can reduce the signs of bladder hyper-reflexia in the spinally injured rat. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the rat as an animal model to determine the effects of chronic electrostimulation on the micturition reflex.

Animals↗

Improved sacral neuromodulation in the treatment of the hyperactive detrusor: signal modification in an animal model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate different stimulation signals for the peripheral nerve evaluation test (PNE, carried out before implanting a sacral neuromodulator for functional voiding dysfunction) in an animal model and to determine their efficacy, as up to 80% of patients do not respond to the PNE test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PNE foramen electrodes were placed in the S3 of 12 anaesthetized Göttingen minipigs. First, detrusor instabilities were induced by the intravesical instillation of formalin. A 10-min stimulation phase with both a quasi-trapezoidal (QT) signal and a rectangular signal followed. An interval of 30 min elapsed between the series of stimulations. The attained bladder pressure values were registered on a urodynamic unit and evaluated as contractions and amplitudes per minute. Six minipigs were treated in the same way but were not stimulated and served as a control group. RESULTS: After formalin instillation, the mean (sd) number of involuntary detrusor contractions was 3.5 (0.8)/min and the sum of amplitudes 7.2 (1.1) cmH2O/min. Subsequent NaCl instillation and QT-stimulation reduced the contractions to 0.3 (0.3)/min and the sum of amplitudes to 0.8 (0.4) cmH2O/min. Stimulation with a rectangular signal, as used in the PNE test, followed after an interval of 10 min, giving 1.1 (0.1) contractions/min and a sum of amplitudes of 5.1 (2.4) cmH2O/min. Within the control group there was no significant reduction. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that QT-stimulation suppresses uncontrollable detrusor contractions in the minipig more effectively than the conventional rectangular stimulation presently applied in sacral neuromodulation.

Animals↗

Hyperbaric oxygen corrects sacral plexopathy due to osteoradionecrosis appearing 15 years after pelvic irradiation.

In 1982, a 55-year-old woman was treated by total cystectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy for a leiomyosarcoma of the bladder. Fifteen years later she presented with symptoms and signs of sacral plexopathy. Investigations revealed osteoradionecrosis of the sacrum. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) was instituted and progressive resolution of the neurological complaints followed. HBO2 should be considered when managing late-onset sequelae in previously irradiated patients.

Bone Diseases↗

Plasma catecholamines in Buerger's disease: effects of cigarette smoking and surgical sympathectomy.

OBJECTIVES: to study the influence of tobacco exposure and sympathectomy on basal sympathoadrenal function of patients with Buerger's disease. DESIGN: plasma catecholamines were measured before and after smoking, in patients with Buerger's disease (n=13), in patients with Buerger's disease submitted to surgical bilateral lumbar sympathectomy (n=13), and in healthy volunteers (n=16). MATERIALS AND METHODS: venous blood samples were collected before and 2h after smoking one cigarette (0.9mg nicotine). Plasma concentrations (pg/ml) of dihydroxiphenylalanine (pL-DOPA), noradrenalin (pNA), adrenalin (pAD) and 3,4-dihydroxiphenylacetic acid (pDOPAC) were determined. RESULTS: Buerger's patients have low basal plasma catecholamines compared to volunteers: pNA (501 (196-927) vs 1858 (968-3663)) and pAD (71 (31-109) vs 193 (116-334)). Sympathectomy increased pL-DOPA, pAD and pDOPAC, but not pNA. After smoking, pNA only decreased in volunteers (1858 (968-3663) vs 1064 (535-2393)). In Buerger+sympathectomy group, smoking lowered pAD (700 (58-3379) vs 278 (54-429)). CONCLUSIONS: in Buerger's disease there is an impairment of sympathoadrenal function with an altered peripheral adrenergic response to cigarette smoking. Patients submitted to sympathectomy have high pAD, but this benefit is reversed after smoking. This might be clinically relevant given the association between cigarette smoking and the manifestations of Buerger's disease and the controversy on the effectiveness of sympathectomy in the management of the disease.

Adrenal Glands↗

Assessment of sphincter muscle function before and after posterior sagittal anorectoplasty using a magnetic spinal stimulation technique.

PURPOSE: The authors used a magnetic spinal stimulation technique to assess both the preoperative sphincter function and the effect of operative intervention on the sphincter muscle in patients with anorectal malformations. METHODS: The authors examined 5 patients with an anorectal malformation consisting of 4 high-type cases and 1 intermediate-type case, that all had undergone posterior sagittal anorectoplasty during the previous 2-year period. Control data also were obtained from 11 age-matched healthy children. A contraction of the external anal sphincter (EAS) was evoked by magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots with a figure-of-eight coil at the level of the lumber and sacral segments. EAS electromyograms then were recorded at the anal verge. RESULTS: The preoperative motor latencies at L4 stimulation increased significantly more in the patients than in the controls (5.9 +/- 0.5 msec v 4.1 +/- 0.7 msec during left side recording). In the postoperative examination (1 to 5 months after operation), the mean maximum amplitude decreased slightly without any significant difference, where as the latency was almost identical to the preoperative data. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the neurologic function of EAS was congenitally disturbed, and the current operative technique had no significant effect on the sphincter function.

Anal Canal↗

Recent innovations in the management of fecal incontinence.

The importance of having a reproducible scoring system to objectively assess the severity of fecal incontinence and its response to treatment is stressed, and a number of methods are described. The approach to conservative treatment and investigation is outlined. Recent advances in the surgical management of fecal incontinence including the electrically stimulated gracilis neosphincter, sacral nerve stimulation, the artificial anal sphincter, internal anal sphincter augmentation, rectal augmentation, and antegrade colonic irrigation are described in detail.

Anal Canal↗