BACKGROUND: The transforaminal (TF) epidural steroid injection (ESI) is suggested as more effective than the interlaminar (IL) route due to higher delivery of medication at the anterior epidural space. However, serious complications such as spinal cord injury and permanent neural injury have been reported. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness, technical ease, and safety of the TF and parasagittal IL (PIL) ESI. METHODS: A total of 72 patients were randomized to either the PIL group (n = 41) or the TF group (n = 31) under fluoroscopic guidance. Patients were evaluated for effective pain relief by the numerical rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (%) before and 2 weeks after the ESI. The presence of concordant paresthesia, anterior epidural spread, total procedure time, and exposed radiation dose were also evaluated. RESULTS: Both the PIL and TF approach produced similar clinically significant improvements in pain and level of disability. Among the 72 patients, 27 PIL (66%) and 20 TF (64%) patients showed concordant paresthesia while 14 (34%) and 11 (36%) patients in the same respective order showed disconcordant or no paresthesia. Radiation dose and total procedure time required were compared; the PIL group showed a significantly lower radiation dose (30.2 ± 12 vs. 80.8 ± 26.8 [Cgy/cm²]) and shorter procedure time (96.2 ± 31 vs. 141.6 ± 30 seconds). CONCLUSIONS: ESI under fluoroscopic guidance with PIL or TF approach were effective in reducing the NRS and ODI. PIL ESI was a technically easier and simple method compared to TF ESI.
Epidural Space ; Humans ; Methods ; Paresthesia ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Treatment Outcome*

PURPOSE: To characterize associated reactions (ARs) in the contralateral arm across multiple muscles during unimanual tasks and to identify factors related to ARs in children with cerebral palsy (CP).MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of 35 children with CP. The extent of ARs of the contra-lateral, non-task hand was assessed while performing three unimanual tasks (opening and clenching the fist, a finger opposition task, and tapping fingers). The occurrence of ARs in each trial was evaluated separately for each task using a four-point scale (total scores ranged from 0 to 12). Surface electromyography (SEMG) was used to measure the firing activity of the muscles of the opposite arm during the task. The Manual Ability Classification System and Melbourne Assessment 2 (MA-2) were used to evaluate upper limb function.RESULTS: AR scores were higher in the more-affected limb than in the less-affected limb. SEMG data on the non-task hand showed motor overflow up to the elbow muscles in the more-affected limb. Root mean square ratios of EMG signals were significantly higher in children with ARs than in children without ARs. Multiple regression analysis showed both age and MA-2 to be significant factors related to ARs in the more-affected limb.CONCLUSION: Children with visible ARs showed motor overflow in the non-task limb during unimanual hand tasks. Age and upper limb function were significantly related to the extent of ARs in the more-affected limb of children with CP.
Arm ; Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Classification ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Elbow ; Electromyography ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Fires ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscles ; Prospective Studies ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVE: To find factors affecting hip and femoral deformities in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) by comparing various clinical findings with imaging studies including plain radiography and computed tomography (CT) imaging. METHODS: Medical records of 709 children with spastic CP who underwent thorough baseline physical examination and functional assessment between 2 to 6 years old were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-seven children (31 boys and 26 girls) who had both plain radiography of the hip and three-dimensional CT of the lower extremities at least 5 years after baseline examination were included in this study. RESULTS: The mean age at physical examination was 3.6 years (SD=1.6; range, 2–5.2 years) and the duration of follow-up imaging after baseline examination was 68.4 months (SD=22.0; range, 60–124 months). The migration percentage correlated with motor impairment and the severity of hip adductor spasticity (R1 angle of hip abduction with knee flexion). The femoral neck and shaft angle correlated with the ambulation ability and severity of hip adductor spasticity (R1 and R2 angles of hip abduction with both knee flexion and extension). CONCLUSION: Hip subluxation and coxa valga deformity correlated with both dynamic spasticity and shortening of hip adductor muscles. However, we found no correlation between femoral deformities such as femoral anteversion, coxa valga, and hip subluxation.
Bone Anteversion ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Coxa Valga ; Femur Neck ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip* ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Medical Records ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Muscles ; Physical Examination ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Walking

Patient controlled epidural anlagesia is a commonly used method for postoperative pain management. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal concentration of sufentanil for patient controlled epidural analgesia. Twenty eight patients who underwent elective gastrectomy were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups of 0.5 µg/mL (group S1) and 0.7 µg/mL (group S2). At 2 hours, 1 day, 2 days and 3 days after surgery, the patient's pain degree was checked by numerical rating scale (NRS) and the presence of side effects was assessed. In both groups, the NRS decreased linearly with time. The NRS of the two groups differed but the trend of decrease did not show significant difference. The overall incidence of side effects was 45.5% (group S1) and 58.8% (group S2), respectively. Patient controlled epidural analgesia using sufentanil was effective in controlling postoperative pain, which was found to decrease with time. When comparing the two concentrations used in this study, 0.5 µg/mL had a lower incidence of side effects than the concentration of 0.7 µg/mL, and the pain relief trends of the two concentrations were similar.
Analgesia, Epidural* ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methods ; Pain, Postoperative ; Sufentanil*