Outcome of Surgical Treated Isolated Pronator Teres Syndromes—A Retrospective Cohort Study and Complete Review of the Literature

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the occurrence of postoperative carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the functional outcome of patients with primary pronator teres syndrome (PTS), and review complete literature regarding this topic. Material and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in patients with PTS at a single center. In all patients, a numeric Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Pinch-Test, Jamar hand dynamometer test (JAMAR), and the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score were analyzed preoperatively and at final follow-up to assess outcome. Additionally, a complete review of the literature was performed, including all data dealing with pronator teres syndrome. Results: Ten female and two male patients were included with a mean age of 49 years. Significant improvement in DASH and numeric VAS was detected at latest postoperative follow-up. In three patients, clinical signs of CTS pathology were detected during the follow-up period. One patient needed to be treated surgically, and in the other two patients, a conservative management was possible. In one patient (8%), a PTS recurrence was detected. All patients presented satisfied at latest follow-up. Conclusion: In one-fourth of our patients, a CTS occurred during the follow-up period. Therefore, focusing on double-crush syndrome in unclear or mixed symptoms is necessary to avoid multiple operations. Furthermore, it seems that assessment with NCV is not enough for diagnosing PTS; therefore, further research is needed to clarify this problem.

Spasticity syndrome in cerebral pathology: evaluation and clinical models

Knowing the frequency of spasticity patterns in different muscles allows correcting the botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) administration schemes and creating spasticity models that could predict the drug consumption and treatment cost.Objective: to develop clinical spasticity models based on the frequencies of the spastic syndrome in the muscles of the extremities in post-stroke patients to optimize BoNT administration.Patients and methods. We examined 129 patients of both sexes aged 61.2±8.0 years with post-stroke spasticity (mean time after the stroke – 4.6±2.2). Twenty-seven muscles were tested for spasticity: shoulder girdle (n=3), upper (n=9) and lower (n=15) extremities. We used the original manual testing methods (MTM) of spasticity and the Tardieu scale (TS).Results and discussion. We observed the following frequencies of spasticity in the arm muscles: pectoralis major, brachioradialis, pronator teres, fl. carpi radialis, fl. digitorum profundus et superfacialis, fl. pollicis long. – over 70%, subscapularis – 61%, brachialis – 56.6%, biceps brachii – 35.8%. Frequencies of spasticity in the leg muscles were: semitendinosus, semimembranosus, fl. digitorum long. – 37.5%, gracilis – 21.4%, cap. med. gastrocnemius – 48%, tibialis post. – 39.2%, soleus – 19.6%, fl. halluces long. – 23%. There was no spasticity in the hip adductors; low spasticity incidence was seen in fl. digitorum brev. et fl. halluces brev. (<10%), tibialis ant., rectus femoris (<5%); biceps femoris, teres major, fl. carpi ulnaris, and cap. lat. gastrocnemius (<2%). Based on the frequency of identified spastic patterns, we created four models of patients with arm spasticity and five models – with leg spasticity with the calculation of the necessary doses of BoNT.Conclusion. We propose several spasticity models, which allow calculating the treatment costs, considering the frequency of involvement of specific muscles in spasticity evaluation, and tracking the rehabilitation follow-up of the patient's transition from one clinical model to another.

Influence of Continuous Elbow Valgus Stress on the Medial Elbow Joint Space

Background: To investigate the effect of ulnar collateral ligament stretching due to the "creep phenomenon," the effect of accumulating elbow valgus stress on ligaments must be clarified. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of continuous elbow valgus stress on the medial elbow joint space (JS). Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: The authors measured the JS of the nondominant elbow joints of 20 healthy male university students (age, 21.4 ± 0.5 years; height, 171.4 ± 6.5 cm; weight, 65.7 ± 9.1 kg). The participants were seated with their shoulder at 90° of abduction and external rotation and their elbow at 30° of flexion, and elbow valgus stress was maintained at loads of 30 and 60 N using a Telos stress device. The JS was measured on ultrasound images of the medial elbow joint with the elbow in the start limb position (0 N) and then immediately (0 seconds) and at 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 seconds after loading. In addition, muscle activity of the pronator teres muscle during JS measurement was monitored to examine the presence or absence of defensive contraction due to pain. Analysis of variance and the Bonferroni method for post hoc testing were used for statistical analysis. Results: No participants showed defensive contractions of the pronator teres. At 30 N, JS was significantly larger 60 seconds after loading compared with immediately after loading ( P = .007). At 60 N, JS was significantly larger after 120 seconds, as the loading time of valgus stress increased, compared with immediately after loading ( P = .002). Conclusion: JS was significantly larger immediately after loading of valgus stress, with an increase in continuous elbow valgus stress after 60 seconds at 30 N and after 120 seconds at 60 N. These results suggest that a creep phenomenon may develop around the soft tissue of the elbow when loaded by a continuous valgus stress. Clinical Relevance: JS is significantly increased by continuous elbow valgus stress.

Restoration of forearm supination by combining pronator teres with allogeneic tendon

Background Many solutions have been proposed in treating of forearm supination. Comparing with other supination function reconstructions, pronator teres rerouting is believed to be less effective due to its insufficient supination strength. The aim of this study is to introduce a modified procedure, and compare its result with two previous approaches. Patients and methods From 2015 to 2020, 11 patients have restored forearm supination by rerouting of the pronator teres weave sutured with allogeneic tendons. The average follow-up period was 17.5 months (12 to 24). The range of active supination at the final follow-up was recorded. Results Almost all patients acquired good supination range. The average active post-operative supination was 72.7° (60° to 80°) at the final follow-up. No complication was observed. All patients retained full range of pronation. Conclusions This study provides a modified supination function reconstruction with simple operating, fine results, low risks, and no affecting of pronation function. The use of allogeneic tendon makes up for the muscles with insufficient length, making it valuable to reconsider those rebuilding operations that were once considered unpromising by many.

Safety of Dry Needling of the Pronator Teres Muscle in Cadavers: A Potential Treatment for Pronator Syndrome

Background Entrapment of the median nerve at the pronator teres muscle can contribute to symptoms in the forearm and wrist. The pronator teres is also involved in patterns of spasticity observed in people who had suffered a stroke. Research on treatment efficacy with dry needling is scarce. Objective To determine if a solid filiform needle safely penetrates the pronator teres muscle during the clinical application of dry needling. Design A cadaveric descriptive study. Methods Needle insertion of the pronator teres was conducted in ten cryopreserved forearms with a 30 ×0.32 mm filiform needle. With the forearm supinated, the needle was inserted 3 cm distal to the mid-point between the biceps tendon insertion and the medial epicondyle. The needle was advanced in a cranial and medial direction to a depth clinically judged to be in the pronator teres muscle. Safety was assessed by measuring the distance from the needle to the surrounding neurovascular bundles. Results Accurate needle penetration of the pronator teres was observed in 100% of the specimens (mean needle penetration: 16.7 ± 4.3 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.6 to 19.7 mm). No neurovascular bundles were pierced in any of the specimen’s forearms. The distances from the tip of the needle to the surrounding neurovascular bundles were 16.4 ± 3.9 mm (95% CI 13.6 to 19.2 mm) to the ulnar nerve (A), 9.0 ± 2.2 mm (95% CI 7.3 to 19.5 mm) to the median nerve (B), and 12.8 ± 4.0 mm (95% CI 10.0 to 15.7 mm) to brachial artery (C). Conclusions The results from this cadaveric study support the assumption that needling of the pronator teres using described anatomical landmarks can be accurately and safely conducted by an experienced clinician.

Functional Restoration of a Midforearm Level Amputation using the Second Toe Transfer

Unilateral midforearm level amputation is a severely debilitating situation. The present solution for this problem is either restoration of function using a prosthetic hand, or a vascularized composite allotransplant (VCA) in some very selected cases. In cases of distal forearm level amputations, even vascularized second toe transfer could be done on the radial side of the hand to achieve good functional restoration. We present a case of midforearm level amputation in which the second toe transfer has been done above the level of insertion of pronator teres muscle to achieve meaningful function. This report highlights the fact that a single toe transfer could be helpful in achieving meaningful prehension, even at this proximal.

Dextrose hydrodissection with ultrasound-guided as optional therapy in pronator teres syndrome: A case report

Pronator teres syndrome (PTS) is a rare peripheral neuropathy of the proximal median nerve that occurs due to compression of the pronator teres muscle or its surrounding anatomical structures. Treatment options in cases of pronator syndrome include conservative therapy (oral, physical, intervention) to surgical therapy. Dextrose hydrodissection with ultrasound guided is an interventional therapy option in cases of peripheral neuropathy. This study presented a case of 50 year old female with chronic pronator teres syndrome who received ultrasound-guided 5% dextrose hydrodissection therapy and experienced satisfactory resolution within 6 months of post injection evaluation.