A Case of Dentatotomy for Pain and Spasticity and Systematic Review

Author(s):  
Francisco Alberto Villegas-López ◽  
Armando Armas-Salazar ◽  
Jesús Q. Beltrán ◽  
Noé Téllez-León ◽  
Ana Arellano-Alcántara ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Surgical interventions for spasticity aim to improve motor function and pain in cases that are refractory to medical treatment. Ablation of the cerebellar dentate nucleus (dentatotomy) may be a useful alternative. <b><i>Case Report:</i></b> A 55-year-old male patient with spasticity, secondary to a traumatic cervical spinal cord injury with quadriparesis, had bilateral lumbar DREZotomy with an improvement that lasted for 6 years. Ten years after the DREZotomy, a progressive increased spasticity manifested as spastic diplegia (Ashworth 4) and spontaneous muscle painful spasms (Penn 4), as well as spasticity in the upper extremities, predominantly on the right side (Ashworth 3). A right radio frequency dentatotomy was performed with intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring. Spasticity scales were applied at the following times: preoperative and at 1 and 8 months after surgery. During the first month, the patient presented a clear decrease in spasticity ipsilateral to the side of lesioning (Ashworth 1) and of painful spasms in the lower extremities (Penn 1). After 8 months, spasticity ipsilateral to the injury decreased even more to Ashworth (0), but a progressive increase in muscle spasms of lower extremities was observed (Penn 2). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Stereotactic dentatotomy may be an effective surgical alternative for management of spasticity associated with painful spasms in selected patients.

Author(s):  
E Leck ◽  
S Barry ◽  
S Christie

Background: On February 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the Criminal Code absolute prohibition on assisted dying, and in June 2016 the new law, Bill C-14, came into effect allowing for medical assistance in dying. We sought to determine the attitudes and opinions of Canadian neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons regarding MAID. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was sent out to members of the Canadian Spine Society (CSS), which included 21 questions pertaining to opinions regarding MAID. Responses were collected between May-June 2016. Results: A total of 51 surgeons responded to the survey, comprised of a mix of spine surgeons from across the country. The majority of surgeons supported MAID (62.8%), and right of physicians to participate (82.4%). Most surgeons supported the right to conscientious objection (90.1%), but also mandatory duty to refer (49.0%). The conditions most frequently felt to be appropriate for MAID included metastatic spine tumour (76.5%), malignant intramedullary tumour (64.7%), primary malignant spine tumour (54.9%), cervical spinal cord injury with tetraplegia (49.0%) and multiple myeloma (33.3%). Conclusions: This study highlights the complex landscape that exists when discussing MAID, but also the overall support of physicians, and need for ongoing conversations, particularly with issues not addressed by the current legislation.


Author(s):  
H.P. Goodkin ◽  
J.G. keating ◽  
T.A. Martin ◽  
W.T. Thach

ABSTRACT:A patient with an infarct in the distribution of the right superior cerebellar artery was studied with regard to his ability to make simple movements (visually triggered, self-terminated ballistic wrist movements), and compound movements (reaching to a visual target and precision pinch of a seen object). Movements on the right side of the body alone were affected. Control movements were made by the normal left upper extremity. Wrist movement on the right side was normal in reaction time, direction, peak velocity, and end-point position control ascompared to the left. By contrast, both reaching and pinching movements on the right were impaired. Reaching movements showed marked decomposition of the compound elbow-shoulder movement into seriatim simple movements madealternately at elbow and shoulder. Pinching movements were not made, and instead winkling movements (a movement of index alone) were substituted. These results are compared to similar results of controlled inactivation of the cerebellar dentate nucleus in monkeys. We conclude that one function of the cerebellum may be to combine elements in the movement repertoires of downstream movement generators. When that ability is lost, a strategy may be voluntarily adopted of using the preserved simple movements in place of the impaired compound movements.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-27
Author(s):  
Lynne Brady Wagner

When a patient decides to forego life-sustaining treatment it can be a challenging situation for all parties involved. Patients who have decision-making capacity have the right to accept or refuse medical treatment. It is critical for clinicians to understand how to deal with these cases and what information and supports can be provided to patients to help them make fully informed and self-determining decisions. When a patient is facing a life with severe disability special considerations and an experienced approach are important in helping patients understand the full range of options. This case-based discussion will explore some of the issues involved in a scenario of a patient with a cervical spinal cord injury who requests to terminate his ventilator. Suggestions for managing situations such as these will be described.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yustinus Robby Budiman Gondowardojo ◽  
Tjokorda Gde Bagus Mahadewa

The lumbar vertebrae are the most common site for fracture incident because of its high mobility. The spinal cord injury usually happened as a result of a direct traumatic blow to the spine causing fractured and compressed spinal cord. A 38-year-old man presented with lumbar spine’s compression fracture at L2 level. In this patient, decompression laminectomy, stabilization, and fusion were done by posterior approach. The operation was successful, according to the X-Ray and patient’s early mobilization. Pneumothorax of the right lung and pleural effusion of the left lung occurred in this patient, so consultation was made to a cardiothoracic surgeon. Chest tube and WSD insertion were performed to treat the comorbidities. Although the patient had multiple trauma that threat a patient’s life, the management was done quickly, so the problems could be solved thus saving the patient’s life. After two months follow up, the patient could already walk and do daily activities independently.


2020 ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
V.М. Аntonyuk-Kysil ◽  
◽  
І.Y. Dziubanovskyi ◽  
V.М. Yenikeeva ◽  
S.І. Lichner ◽  
...  

The objective: to evaluate the results of planned open surgical interventions (POSI) in pregnant women with primary symptomatic chronic vein disease (PSCVD). Materials and methods. The study included 457 pregnant women operated on a routine basis with PSCVD. The patients underwent ultrasound duplex angioscanning (USDA) of the veins of the lower extremities, inguinal canals, and iliac veins. The severity of the clinical manifestations of PSCVD was evaluated on a VCSS scale. With the help of the circadian visual-analog scale, the dynamics after the operative pain were studied. The effect of POSI on uterine tone and cardiac function of the fetus was investigated using cardiotocography. When forming the results for POSI, data from USDA, the severity of clinical and cosmetic manifestations of PCVD, the need for active prevention of thrombophlebetic, thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, minimization of surgical childbirth were taken into account. The results of treatment were studied in 2 groups of patients. Patients of the first group were treated with conservative therapy, the second group – POSI. Parametric indicators, which were presented as mean and standard error M(SD), were used for statistical data processing of the study, and their reliability was estimated using Student’s t-test. The species was determined to be significant at p<0.05. Results. 495 POSI were performed at 28-38 weeks gestation in an obstetric hospital (perinatal center), by a vascular surgeon from the staff of the center, who was familiarized with the peculiarities of working with this contingent of patients. Surgery was performed under local anesthesia in 346 (75.49%) pregnant women at one extremity, in 111 (24.51%) – at two in one session. According to the results of the study, it was noted that in the first group 33.7% of patients had a positive clinical result due to the reduction of pain syndrome, while 67.5% of patients had an increase and spread of varicose transformation in the area of saphenous and/or non-saphenous veins with spread of pathological venous reflux in the distal direction. 78% of patients had the need to administer prophylactic doses of low molecular weight heparins, both during pregnancy and in postpartum period. Out of 126 pregnant women with pronounced varicose veins of the external genital organs and perineum in 36 (28.6%) deliveries were performed by caesarean section. In 9 (3%) patients there was an acute thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous veins of the lower extremities, which required 5 pregnant women to undergo urgent surgery when the inflammatory process had spread to the middle and above along the femoral vein of the large subcutaneous vein. Pregnant women of the second group with PSCVD on the basis of obstetric hospital (perinatal center) POSI were performed in the organization, which laid the ideology of the FTS program, strictly individual indications for intervention in the optimal terms of pregnancy, multidisciplinary management of patients, due to this in 93% of operated patients regression of clinical manifestations of the disease was noted, whch contributed to the correct and safe delivery of pregnancy with 100% absence of preterm birth, abnormalities in fetal development, pregnancy course, negative impact on obstetric and somatic condition of the pregnant woman. No hemorrhagic, thrombophlebic, thromboembolic complications were noted. Patients in the postoperative period did not require medical support, as during the period of pregnancy, during delivery and in the postpartum period. There were no indications for surgical delivery. 2.4% of patients experienced complications of post-operative wounds in the form of cheese, which had no effect on pregnancy and was eliminated before delivery. In the postoperative period, if necessary, it was recommended to use elastic compression class garments 1–2. Conclusion. POSI made at PSCVD in optimal terms of pregnancy in a specialized obstetric hospital by a vascular surgeon in strictly individual indications is safe, both for the fetus and the pregnant woman. It is promising to further study the results of POSI in pregnant women with PSCVD to introduce it into the arsenal of treatment of this pathology. Key words: FTS ideology, planned open surgical interventions in pregnant women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Sunshine ◽  
Antonino M. Cassarà ◽  
Esra Neufeld ◽  
Nir Grossman ◽  
Thomas H. Mareci ◽  
...  

AbstractRespiratory insufficiency is a leading cause of death due to drug overdose or neuromuscular disease. We hypothesized that a stimulation paradigm using temporal interference (TI) could restore breathing in such conditions. Following opioid overdose in rats, two high frequency (5000 Hz and 5001 Hz), low amplitude waveforms delivered via intramuscular wires in the neck immediately activated the diaphragm and restored ventilation in phase with waveform offset (1 Hz or 60 breaths/min). Following cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), TI stimulation via dorsally placed epidural electrodes uni- or bilaterally activated the diaphragm depending on current and electrode position. In silico modeling indicated that an interferential signal in the ventral spinal cord predicted the evoked response (left versus right diaphragm) and current-ratio-based steering. We conclude that TI stimulation can activate spinal motor neurons after SCI and prevent fatal apnea during drug overdose by restoring ventilation with minimally invasive electrodes.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bravi ◽  
Stefano Caputo ◽  
Sara Jayousi ◽  
Alessio Martinelli ◽  
Lorenzo Biotti ◽  
...  

Residual motion of upper limbs in individuals who experienced cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) is vital to achieve functional independence. Several interventions were developed to restore shoulder range of motion (ROM) in CSCI patients. However, shoulder ROM assessment in clinical practice is commonly limited to use of a simple goniometer. Conventional goniometric measurements are operator-dependent and require significant time and effort. Therefore, innovative technology for supporting medical personnel in objectively and reliably measuring the efficacy of treatments for shoulder ROM in CSCI patients would be extremely desirable. This study evaluated the validity of a customized wireless wearable sensors (Inertial Measurement Units—IMUs) system for shoulder ROM assessment in CSCI patients in clinical setting. Eight CSCI patients and eight healthy controls performed four shoulder movements (forward flexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation) with dominant arm. Every movement was evaluated with a goniometer by different testers and with the IMU system at the same time. Validity was evaluated by comparing IMUs and goniometer measurements using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Limits of Agreement (LOA). inter-tester reliability of IMUs and goniometer measurements was also investigated. Preliminary results provide essential information on the accuracy of the proposed wireless wearable sensors system in acquiring objective measurements of the shoulder movements in CSCI patients.


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