Background/Aims: Pediatric patients with suspected gastroparesis often undergo antroduodenal manometry (ADM) and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) for diagnostic purposes. However, it is unknown if delayed gastric emptying (DGE) correlates with manometric findings. This study evaluates whether ADM parameters differ between normal and abnormal GES in pediatric patients. Methods: Data from pediatric patients undergoing ADM and GES at Nationwide Children’s Hospital from 2011-2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Manometry parameters including motility index (Ln [sum of amplitudes × number of contractions + 1]), number of antral contractions, and direction of the phase III migrating motor complex (MMC) were compared to GES results from age-matched patients with DGE (n = 32) and normal gastric emptying (NGE) (n = 32) of similar sex, body mass index, and weight. Results: Children with DGE had a lower post-prandial antral motility index and antral contraction number than those with NGE (9.4 vs 11.2, P = 0.005; 21.8 vs 49.6, P < 0.001). The gastric emptying percentage at 4 hours was lower in patients with retrograde phase III (59.2% vs 83.9%,P = 0.022) and in those without an antral component in the fasting phase III of the migrating motor complex (70.3% vs 86.5%, P = 0.003). Post-prandial antral hypomotility occurred more frequently in the DGE group than in the NGE group (41% vs 9%, P = 0.008). Conclusions ADM findings differ between children with DGE and NGE. Children with DGE are more likely to have abnormal fasting phase III patterns and decreased post-prandial antral activity during ADM testing.

Baseball pitchers have commonly been reported to have an increased risk of ulnar neuropathy due to throwing mechanics at the elbow. However, this patient population has a low incidence of other peripheral compressive neuropathies, including anterior interosseous nerve syndrome. We report a unique case of a 31-year-old male who presented with anterior interosseous nerve syndrome secondary to repetitive throwing. He had a favorable outcome following surgical decompression. This case demonstrates that clinicians should consider anterior interosseous nerve syndrome in the differential diagnosis when high-level baseball pitchers present with pain and weakness in the hand and forearm.

Methods: Thirty patients with PDVO of the lumbar or thoracic spine treated with transforaminal interbody debridement and fusion (TIDF) with AIBG between March 2014 and May 2022 were reviewed (AIBG group). For comparative analysis, 28 PDVO patients who underwent TIDF without AIBG between January 2009 and June 2011 were enrolled (non-AIBG group). The minimum follow-up duration was 2 years. Clinical characteristics and surgical indications were comparable in the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the postoperative antibiotics course were compared between the two groups. Results: Surgical treatment for PDVO resulted in clinical improvement and adequate infection control. Despite the shorter postoperative intravenous antibiotic duration (mean: 19.0 days vs. 39.8 days), the AIBG group had significantly lower CRP levels at postoperative 4 and 6 weeks. The mean Visual Analog Scale pain scores improved from 7.3 preoperatively to 2.2 at 6 weeks postoperatively. The average angle correction at the last follow-up was 7.9°. Conclusions TIDF with AIBG for PDVO can achieve local infection control with a faster reduction in CRP levels, leading to a shorter antibiotic duration.

Baseball pitchers have commonly been reported to have an increased risk of ulnar neuropathy due to throwing mechanics at the elbow. However, this patient population has a low incidence of other peripheral compressive neuropathies, including anterior interosseous nerve syndrome. We report a unique case of a 31-year-old male who presented with anterior interosseous nerve syndrome secondary to repetitive throwing. He had a favorable outcome following surgical decompression. This case demonstrates that clinicians should consider anterior interosseous nerve syndrome in the differential diagnosis when high-level baseball pitchers present with pain and weakness in the hand and forearm.

Methods: Thirty patients with PDVO of the lumbar or thoracic spine treated with transforaminal interbody debridement and fusion (TIDF) with AIBG between March 2014 and May 2022 were reviewed (AIBG group). For comparative analysis, 28 PDVO patients who underwent TIDF without AIBG between January 2009 and June 2011 were enrolled (non-AIBG group). The minimum follow-up duration was 2 years. Clinical characteristics and surgical indications were comparable in the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the postoperative antibiotics course were compared between the two groups. Results: Surgical treatment for PDVO resulted in clinical improvement and adequate infection control. Despite the shorter postoperative intravenous antibiotic duration (mean: 19.0 days vs. 39.8 days), the AIBG group had significantly lower CRP levels at postoperative 4 and 6 weeks. The mean Visual Analog Scale pain scores improved from 7.3 preoperatively to 2.2 at 6 weeks postoperatively. The average angle correction at the last follow-up was 7.9°. Conclusions TIDF with AIBG for PDVO can achieve local infection control with a faster reduction in CRP levels, leading to a shorter antibiotic duration.

Background/Aims: Pediatric patients with suspected gastroparesis often undergo antroduodenal manometry (ADM) and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) for diagnostic purposes. However, it is unknown if delayed gastric emptying (DGE) correlates with manometric findings. This study evaluates whether ADM parameters differ between normal and abnormal GES in pediatric patients. Methods: Data from pediatric patients undergoing ADM and GES at Nationwide Children’s Hospital from 2011-2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Manometry parameters including motility index (Ln [sum of amplitudes × number of contractions + 1]), number of antral contractions, and direction of the phase III migrating motor complex (MMC) were compared to GES results from age-matched patients with DGE (n = 32) and normal gastric emptying (NGE) (n = 32) of similar sex, body mass index, and weight. Results: Children with DGE had a lower post-prandial antral motility index and antral contraction number than those with NGE (9.4 vs 11.2, P = 0.005; 21.8 vs 49.6, P < 0.001). The gastric emptying percentage at 4 hours was lower in patients with retrograde phase III (59.2% vs 83.9%,P = 0.022) and in those without an antral component in the fasting phase III of the migrating motor complex (70.3% vs 86.5%, P = 0.003). Post-prandial antral hypomotility occurred more frequently in the DGE group than in the NGE group (41% vs 9%, P = 0.008). Conclusions ADM findings differ between children with DGE and NGE. Children with DGE are more likely to have abnormal fasting phase III patterns and decreased post-prandial antral activity during ADM testing.

Baseball pitchers have commonly been reported to have an increased risk of ulnar neuropathy due to throwing mechanics at the elbow. However, this patient population has a low incidence of other peripheral compressive neuropathies, including anterior interosseous nerve syndrome. We report a unique case of a 31-year-old male who presented with anterior interosseous nerve syndrome secondary to repetitive throwing. He had a favorable outcome following surgical decompression. This case demonstrates that clinicians should consider anterior interosseous nerve syndrome in the differential diagnosis when high-level baseball pitchers present with pain and weakness in the hand and forearm.

Methods: Thirty patients with PDVO of the lumbar or thoracic spine treated with transforaminal interbody debridement and fusion (TIDF) with AIBG between March 2014 and May 2022 were reviewed (AIBG group). For comparative analysis, 28 PDVO patients who underwent TIDF without AIBG between January 2009 and June 2011 were enrolled (non-AIBG group). The minimum follow-up duration was 2 years. Clinical characteristics and surgical indications were comparable in the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the postoperative antibiotics course were compared between the two groups. Results: Surgical treatment for PDVO resulted in clinical improvement and adequate infection control. Despite the shorter postoperative intravenous antibiotic duration (mean: 19.0 days vs. 39.8 days), the AIBG group had significantly lower CRP levels at postoperative 4 and 6 weeks. The mean Visual Analog Scale pain scores improved from 7.3 preoperatively to 2.2 at 6 weeks postoperatively. The average angle correction at the last follow-up was 7.9°. Conclusions TIDF with AIBG for PDVO can achieve local infection control with a faster reduction in CRP levels, leading to a shorter antibiotic duration.