Nerve Ultrasound in Traumatic and Iatrogenic Peripheral Nerve Injury

Peripheral nerve injury is a potentially debilitating disorder that occurs in an estimated 2–3% of all patients with major trauma, in a similar percentage of medical procedures. The workup of these injuries has traditionally been clinical, combined with electrodiagnostic testing. However, this has limitations, especially in the acute phase of the trauma or lack of any recovery, when it is very important to determine nerve continuity and perform surgical exploration and repair in the case of the complete transection or intraneural fibrosis. Ultrasound can help in those situations. It is a versatile imaging technique with a high sensitivity of 93% for detecting focal nerve lesions. Ultrasound can assess the structural integrity of the nerve, neuroma formation and other surrounding abnormalities of bone or foreign bodies impeding the nerve. In addition, this can help to prevent iatrogenic nerve injury by marking the nerve before the procedure. This narrative review gives an overview of why and how nerve ultrasound can play a role in the detection, management and prevention of peripheral nerve injury.

Percutaneous and Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique for Achilles Tendon Repair

Category: Ankle; Sports; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Achilles tendon rupture is a traumatic injury that can cause considerable morbidity and reduced function. The optimal treatment method for this injury remains controversial. Non-operative intervention puts patients at higher risk of re-rupture whereas surgical intervention has risks of infection and iatrogenic nerve injury. Recently, surgeons have established a less invasive surgical approach to repairing the achilles tendon. The ‘Percutaneous or Mini-Invasive’ technique was adopted in order to reduce infection rates and wound breakdown. However, due to the scarce amount of literature reported, the efficacy of this procedure still remains under scrutiny. The goal of this study was to examine the functional outcomes of patients treated at our facility for a ruptured achilles tendon using the percutaneous and minimally invasive surgical technique. Methods: From 2014 to 2020 eighty-one patients underwent a percutaneous or mini invasive surgery at our facility for the treatment of a ruptured achilles tendon. Functional outcome scores were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle scoring system (AOFAS) and the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score (ATRS). Outcomes, complications, and any reoperations were recorded through retrospective chart review, direct patient examination, and phone calls to patients and their families. A statistical analysis was performed using Fischer’s Exact Test. Results were deemed statistically significant if the calculated p-value was less than 0.05. Results: The mean follow up for our patient cohort was 36.40 months (range, 6 to 71). The average age was 41.46 years (range, 17- 65). Mean pre-op AOFAS and ATRS were 45.60 and 47.18 respectively, compared to 90.29 and 87.97 after surgery (p-value <0.05). There were two significant complications reported post-operatively. One patient re-ruptured their Achilles tendon four months post-operatively. This patient was successfully treated with a mini invasive approach and reconstruction of the tendon. A second patient developed a superficial infection ten months post-operatively. This patient successfully underwent irrigation and debridement of the wound. Conclusion: The pre-op and post-op AOFAS and ATRS scores were deemed statistically significant. A percutaneous and mini invasive approach to repair a ruptured achilles tendon, although new, offers promising functional outcome results and remains a viable treatment option to decrease the incidence rate of post-operative infection and iatrogenic nerve injury. However, a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of this procedure to other surgical methods would be necessary to further evaluate and validate our findings.

Essex-Lopresti injuries: an update

Reconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane is an emerging procedure implemented in the treatment of longitudinal radioulnar dissociation (LRUD), usually in its chronic setting, after Essex-Lopresti injuries of the forearm. There are no sufficient clinical data to support reconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane in acute LRUD injuries. Clinical and cadaveric studies comparing autografts (palmaris longus, flexor carpi radialis and bone-patellar-bone), allografts (Achilles tendon) and synthetic ligaments have not shown superiority of one technique versus another; however, they have shown special concerns with respect to the use of synthetic grafts. Latrogenic fracture, decrease of rotational range of movement, iatrogenic nerve injury (superficial radial and median nerve), donor site morbidity with autografts and recurrent instability are the complications reported in literature after interosseous membrane reconstruction. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4:143-150. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180072

Surgically relevant anatomy of the axillary and radial nerves in relation to the latissimus dorsi tendon in variable shoulder positions: A cadaveric study

Background The purpose of this study was to define the relationship of the axillary and radial nerves, particularly how these are affected with changing arm position. Methods Twenty cadaveric shoulders were dissected, identifying the axillary and radial nerves. Distances between the latissimus dorsi tendon and these nerves were recorded in different shoulder positions. Positions included adduction/neutral rotation, abduction/neutral rotation for the axillary nerve, adduction/internal rotation, adduction/neutral rotation, adduction/external rotation, and abduction/external rotation for the radial nerve. Results Width of the latissimus tendon at its humeral insertion was 29.3 ± 5.7 mm. Mean distance from the latissimus insertion to the axillary nerve in adduction/neutral rotation was 24.2 ± 7.1 mm, the distance increased to 41.1 ± 9.8 mm in abduction/neutral rotation. Mean distance from the latissimus insertion to the radial nerve was 15.3 ± 5.5 mm with adduction/internal rotation, 25.8 ± 6.9 mm in adduction/neutral rotation, and 39.5 ± 6.8 mm in adduction/external rotation. Mean distance increased with abduction/external rotated 51.1 ± 7.4 mm. Conclusions Knowing the axillary and radial nerve locations relative to the latissimus dorsi tendon decreases the risk of iatrogenic nerve injury. Understanding the dynamic nature of these nerves related to different shoulder positions is critical to avoid complications.

Operative versus non-operative treatment of humeral shaft fractures: A systematic review

Background Humeral shaft fractures are common but debate still occurs as to whether these are best managed operatively or non-operatively. We sought to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised studies to clarify the optimal treatment. Methods We performed a search for all randomised and non-randomised comparative studies on humeral shaft fracture. We included only those with an operative and non-operative cohort in adult patients. We undertook a meta-analysis of the following outcome measures: nonunion, malunion, delayed union, iatrogenic nerve injury and infection. Non-operative management was with a functional brace. Results Non-operative management resulted in a significantly higher nonunion rate of 17.6% compared to 6.3% with fixation. Operative management had a significantly higher iatrogenic nerve injury rate of 3.4% and infection rate of 3.7%. All nonunions within the included studies went on to union after plate fixation. There was no significant difference in delayed union or patient reported outcome measures. There was a significantly increased risk of malunion with non-operative treatment however this did not correlate with the outcome. Discussion Our findings suggest that in the majority of cases, humeral shaft fractures can be managed with non-operative treatment, and any subsequent nonunion should be treated with plate fixation.

Surgical “Safe Zone”: Rapid Anatomical Identification of the Lesser Occipital Nerve

Background Surgical intervention has established a vital role in the management of chronic headaches. The lesser occipital nerve (LON) is a common target in patients suffering from occipital neuralgia and is often resected as a first-line option. We endeavored to define the relationships of the LON in the posterolateral neck to facilitate its safe and rapid intraoperative identification. Methods Seven fresh cadavers (14 nerves) were dissected, and their relationships to the mastoid prominence and nearby spinal accessory nerve (SAN) and greater auricular nerve were noted. Results The distance from the mastoid to the emergence of the LON along the posterior sternocleidomastoid ranged from 36 to 51 mm (mean: 45.2 mm), with relative symmetry between the two nerves in the same cadaver. The SAN emerged an average of 54 mm from the mastoid prominence. Conclusion Exploration for the LON should begin at a point 40 mm from the mastoid prominence along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. If the point of exit of the LON is not identified within 10 mm of this exposure, our dissection continues cranially along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid, anterior to the trapezius. In rare cases the nerve may pierce the fibers of the muscle and ascend directly on top of the muscle belly. By limiting the caudal extend of the dissection, we can avoid exposure of the SAN and minimize the risk of iatrogenic nerve injury.