Application of ultrasound-guided C5 nerve root block using polydeoxyribonucleotide in traumatic C5 nerve root injury caused by fracture of the articular process of the cervical spine

Object Deltoid muscle weakness due to C-5 nerve root injury following cervical spine surgery is an uncommon but potentially debilitating complication. Symptoms can manifest upon emergence from anesthesia or days to weeks following surgery. There is conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of spontaneous electromyography (spEMG) monitoring in detecting evolving C-5 nerve root compromise. By contrast, transcranial electrical stimulation–induced motor evoked potential (tceMEP) monitoring has been shown to be highly sensitive and specific in identifying impending C-5 injury. In this study the authors sought to 1) determine the frequency of immediate versus delayed-onset C-5 nerve root injury following cervical spine surgery, 2) identify risk factors associated with the development of C-5 palsies, and 3) determine whether tceMEP and spEMG neuromonitoring can help to identify acutely evolving C-5 injury as well as predict delayed-onset deltoid muscle paresis. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed the neuromonitoring and surgical records of all patients who had undergone cervical spine surgery involving the C-4 and/or C-5 level in the period from 2006 to 2008. Real-time tceMEP and spEMG monitoring from the deltoid muscle was performed as part of a multimodal neuromonitoring protocol during all surgeries. Charts were reviewed to identify patients who had experienced significant changes in tceMEPs and/or episodes of neurotonic spEMG activity during surgery, as well as those who had shown new-onset deltoid weakness either immediately upon emergence from the anesthesia or in a delayed fashion. Results Two hundred twenty-nine patients undergoing 235 cervical spine surgeries involving the C4–5 level served as the study cohort. The overall incidence of perioperative C-5 nerve root injury was 5.1%. The incidence was greatest (50%) in cases with dual corpectomies at the C-4 and C-5 spinal levels. All patients who emerged from anesthesia with deltoid weakness had significant and unresolved changes in tceMEPs during surgery, whereas only 1 had remarkable spEMG activity. Sensitivity and specificity of tceMEP monitoring for identifying acute-onset deltoid weakness were 100% and 99%, respectively. By contrast, sensitivity and specificity for spEMG were only 20% and 92%, respectively. Neither modality was effective in identifying patients who demonstrated delayed-onset deltoid weakness. Conclusions The risk of new-onset deltoid muscle weakness following cervical spine surgery is greatest for patients undergoing 2-level corpectomies involving C-4 and C-5. Transcranial electrical stimulation–induced MEP monitoring is a highly sensitive and specific technique for detecting C-5 radiculopathy that manifests immediately upon waking from anesthesia. While the absence of sustained spEMG activity does not rule out nerve root irritation, the presence of excessive neurotonic discharges serves both to alert the surgeon of such potentially injurious events and to prompt neuromonitoring personnel about the need for additional tceMEP testing. Delayed-onset C-5 nerve root injury cannot be predicted by intraoperative neuromonitoring via either modality.

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Ultrasound-guided selective nerve root block versus fluoroscopy-guided interlaminar epidural block for the treatment of radicular pain in the lower cervical spine: a retrospective comparative study

Journal of Ultrasound ◽

10.1007/s40477-018-0344-z ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 167-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ki Deok Park ◽

Woo Yong Lee ◽

Sang Hyun Nam ◽

Myounghwan Kim ◽

Yongbum Park

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Nerve Root ◽

Radicular Pain ◽

Epidural Block ◽

Lower Cervical Spine ◽

Ultrasound Guided ◽

Nerve Root Block ◽

Retrospective Comparative Study ◽

Selective Nerve Root Block

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Nerve injury following ultrasound-guided nerve root block with 2% lidocaine for shoulder manipulation: a case report

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/03000605211047770 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (9) ◽

pp. 030006052110477

Author(s):

Soyoung Kwak ◽

Min Cheol Chang

Keyword(s):

Nerve Root ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Adhesive Capsulitis ◽

Numeric Rating Scale ◽

University Hospital ◽

Nerve Root Block ◽

Nerve Root Injury ◽

Root Injury ◽

Shoulder Abductor ◽

The Right

Shoulder manipulation under ultrasound (US)-guided C5 and C6 nerve root block is effective for treating refractory adhesive capsulitis (AC). We herein report the development of cervical nerve root injury following manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) in a patient with AC. A 47-year-old woman underwent shoulder manipulation under US-guided C5 and C6 root block with 2% lidocaine for the management of AC-induced shoulder pain. For the procedure, 3 mL of 2% lidocaine (total of 6 mL) was injected around each C5 and C6 nerve root under US guidance. Seven days after the procedure, the patient visited a university hospital because of severe neuropathic pain (numeric rating scale score of 9) in the right anterior arm, lateral arm, and forearm areas. Sensory deficits in the corresponding C5 and C6 dermatomes and motor weakness of the right shoulder abductor, elbow flexor, and wrist extensor were observed. Electrophysiologic studies demonstrated C5 and C6 nerve root injury. The patient was diagnosed with right C5 and C6 nerve root injury following MUA, and lidocaine toxicity or ischemia was the suspected cause. Clinicians should be mindful of the possibility of this complication.

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Rating Spinal Nerve Extremity Impairment Using the Sixth Edition

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2009.julaug01 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Christopher R. Brigham

Keyword(s):

Nerve Root ◽

Spinal Nerve ◽

Upper Extremities ◽

Motor Deficits ◽

Nerve Injuries ◽

Sixth Edition ◽

Federal Employee ◽

Nerve Root Injury ◽

Root Injury ◽

Rating Process

Abstract The AMAGuides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Sixth Edition, does not provide a separate mechanism for rating spinal nerve injuries as extremity impairment; radiculopathy was reflected in the spinal rating process in Chapter 17, The Spine and Pelvis. Certain jurisdictions, such as the Federal Employee Compensation Act (FECA), rate nerve root injury as impairment involving the extremities rather than as part of the spine. This article presents an approach to rate spinal nerve impairments consistent with the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, methodology. This approach should be used only when a jurisdiction requires ratings for extremities and precludes rating for the spine. A table in this article compares sensory and motor deficits according to the AMA Guides, Sixth and Fifth Editions; evaluators should be aware of changes between editions in methodology used to assign the final impairment. The authors present two tables regarding spinal nerve impairment: one for the upper extremities and one for the lower extremities. Both tables were developed using the methodology defined in the sixth edition. Using these tables and the process defined in the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, evaluators can rate spinal nerve impairments for jurisdictions that do not permit rating for the spine and require rating for radiculopathy as an extremity impairment.

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