Burner or stinger syndrome is a rare sports injury caused by direct or indirect trauma during high-speed or contact sports mainly in young athletes. It affects peripheral nerves, plexus trunks or spinal nerve roots, causing paralysis, paresthesia and pain. We report the case of a 57-year-old male athlete suffering from burner syndrome related to a lumbar nerve root. He presented with prolonged pain and partial paralysis of the right leg after a skewed landing during the long jump. He was initially misdiagnosed since the first magnet resonance imaging was normal whereas electromyography showed denervation. The insurance company refused to pay damage claims. Partial recovery was achieved by pain medication and physiotherapy. Burner syndrome is an injury of physically active individuals of any age and may appear in the cervical and lumbar area. MRI may be normal due to the lack of complete nerve transection, but electromyography typically shows pathologic results.
Aged ; Athletes ; Athletic Injuries ; Denervation ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Insurance ; Leg ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuralgia ; Paralysis ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spine ; Sports

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a very rare type of sarcoma, with an incidence of 0.001%. MPNST has a 5-year survival rate near 80%, so successful reconstruction techniques are important to ensure the patient's quality of life. Sarcoma of the forearm is known for its poor prognosis, which leads to wider excision, making reconstruction even more challenging due to the unique anatomical structure and delicate function of the forearm. A 44-year-old male presented with a large mass that had two aspects, measuring 9×6 cm and 7×5 cm, on the dorsal aspect of the right forearm. The extensor compartment muscles (EDM, EDC, EIP, EPB, EPL, ECRB, ECRL, APL) and invaded radius were resected with the mass. Tendon transfer of the entire extensor compartment with skin defect coverage using a 24×8 cm anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator free flap was performed. The patient was discharged after 18 days without wound complications, and has not complained of discomfort during supination, pronation, or wrist extension/flexion through 3 years of follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful reconstruction of the entire forearm extensor compartment with ALT free flap coverage after resection of MPNST.
Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm* ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Muscles ; Neurilemmoma ; Peripheral Nerves ; Prognosis ; Pronation ; Quality of Life ; Radius ; Sarcoma ; Skin* ; Supination ; Surgical Flaps ; Survival Rate ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons* ; Thigh ; Wounds and Injuries ; Wrist

In the evaluation of peripheral nerve injury, nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography mainly focus on anatomical localization and functional evaluation of lesions. Whereas neuromuscular ultrasound has an advantage in structural assessment of lesions. In addition, muscle ultrasound can also be used to demonstrate muscle denervation without causing pain. We report a case of traumatic ulnar nerve injury at hand in which muscle ultrasound contributed to precise localization by provided detailed information about the extent of muscle denervation.
Electromyography ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscle Denervation ; Needles ; Neural Conduction ; Neuroanatomy ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; Ultrasonography

The genitofemoral nerve (GFN) has its unique anatomic characteristics of location, run and function in the male urinary system and its relationship with the ureter, deferens and inguinal region is apt to be ignored in clinical anatomic application. Clinical studies show that GFN is closely correlated with postoperative ureteral complications and pain in the inguinal region after spermatic cord or hernia repair. GFN transplantation can be used in the management of erectile dysfunction caused by cavernous nerve injury. Therefore, GFN played an important role in the clinical application of uroandrology. This review summarizes the advances in the studies of GFN in relation to different diseases in uroandrology.
Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; surgery ; Hernia, Inguinal ; surgery ; Humans ; Inguinal Canal ; innervation ; Lumbosacral Plexus ; injuries ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; etiology ; Peripheral Nerves ; transplantation ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; surgery ; Ureter ; innervation ; surgery ; Urogenital System ; innervation ; Vas Deferens ; innervation

A nerve block is an effective tool for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. If a diagnostic nerve block is successful for pain relief and the subsequent therapeutic nerve block is effective for only a limited duration, the next step that should be considered is a nerve ablation or modulation. The nerve ablation causes iatrogenic neural degeneration aiming only for sensory or sympathetic denervation without motor deficits. Nerve ablation produces the interruption of axonal continuity, degeneration of nerve fibers distal to the lesion (Wallerian degeneration), and the eventual death of axotomized neurons. The nerve ablation methods currently available for resection/removal of innervation are performed by either chemical or thermal ablation. Meanwhile, the nerve modulation method for interruption of innervation is performed using an electromagnetic field of pulsed radiofrequency. According to Sunderland's classification, it is first and foremost suggested that current neural ablations produce third degree peripheral nerve injury (PNI) to the myelin, axon, and endoneurium without any disruption of the fascicular arrangement, perineurium, and epineurium. The merit of Sunderland's third degree PNI is to produce a reversible injury. However, its shortcoming is the recurrence of pain and the necessity of repeated ablative procedures. The molecular mechanisms related to axonal regeneration after injury include cross-talk between axons and glial cells, neurotrophic factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and their receptors. It is essential to establish a safe, long-standing denervation method without any complications in future practices based on the mechanisms of nerve degeneration as well as following regeneration.
Axons ; Classification ; Denervation ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Extracellular Matrix ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Block ; Nerve Degeneration ; Nerve Fibers ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Nerve Regeneration ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Recurrence ; Regeneration* ; Sympathectomy ; Wallerian Degeneration

The superficial peroneal nerve is vulnerable to damage from ankle sprain injuries and fractures as well as surgery to this region. And it is also one of the most commonly involved nerves in complex regional pain syndrome type II in the foot and ankle region. We report two cases of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of superficial peroneal nerve for reduction of allodynia in CRPS patients.
Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Causalgia ; Foot ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia* ; Neuralgia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peroneal Nerve* ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment* ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We compared three methods of ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block, which were single, and double perivascular (PV) infiltration techniques, and a perineural (PN) injection technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 78 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II undergoing surgery of the forearm, wrist, or hand were randomly allocated to three groups. 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 5 microg/mL was used. The PN group (n=26) received injections at the median, ulnar, and radial nerve with 8 mL for each nerve. The PV1 group (n=26) received a single injection of 24 mL at 12-o'clock position of the axillary artery. The PV2 group (n=26) received two injections of 12 mL each at 12-o'clock and 6-o'clock position. For all groups, musculocutaneous nerve was blocked separately. RESULTS: The PN group (391.2+/-171.6 sec) had the longest anesthetic procedure duration than PV1 (192.8+/-59.0 sec) and PV2 (211.4+/-58.6 sec). There were no differences in onset time. The average induction time was longer in PN group (673.4+/-149.6 sec) than PV1 (557.6+/-194.9 sec) and PV2 (561.5+/-129.8 sec). There were no differences in the success rate (89.7% vs. 86.2% vs. 89.7%). CONCLUSION: The PV injection technique consisting of a single injection in 12-o'clock position above the axillary artery in addition to a musculocutaneous nerve block is equally effective and less time consuming than the PN technique. Therefore, the PV technique is an alternative method that may be used in busy clinics or for difficult cases.
Adult ; Anesthetics, Local/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Brachial Plexus/*drug effects/*ultrasonography ; Brachial Plexus Block/adverse effects/*methods ; Female ; Forearm/surgery ; Hand/surgery ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nerves/ultrasonography ; Prospective Studies ; Single-Blind Method ; Treatment Outcome ; *Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Upper Extremity/innervation/*surgery ; Vascular System Injuries/etiology ; Wrist/surgery

Damage to peripheral nerves or the spinal cord is often accompanied by neuropathic pain, which is a complex, chronic pain state. Increasing evidence indicates that alterations in the expression and activity of gap junction channels in the spinal cord are involved in the development of neuropathic pain. Thus, this review briefly summarizes evidence that regulation of the expression, coupling, and activity of spinal gap junction channels modulates pain signals in neuropathic pain states induced by peripheral nerve or spinal cord injury. We particularly focus on connexin 43 and pannexin 1 because their regulation vastly attenuates symptoms of neuropathic pain. We hope that the study of gap junction channels eventually leads to the development of a suitable treatment tool for patients with neuropathic pain.
Chronic Pain ; Connexin 43 ; Gap Junctions* ; Hope ; Humans ; Neuralgia* ; Neuroglia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries

Peripheral nerve injuries remain a challenge for reconstructive surgeons with many patients obtaining suboptimal results. Understanding the level of injury is imperative for successful repair. Current methods for distinguishing healthy from damaged nerve are time consuming and possess limited efficacy. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an emerging optical biopsy technology that enables dynamic, high resolution, sub-surface imaging of live tissue. Porcine sciatic nerve was either left undamaged or briefly clamped to simulate injury. Diluted fluorescein was applied topically to the nerve. CLE imaging was performed by direct contact of the probe with nerve tissue. Images representative of both damaged and undamaged nerve fibers were collected and compared to routine H&E histology. Optical biopsy of undamaged nerve revealed bands of longitudinal nerve fibers, distinct from surrounding adipose and connective tissue. When damaged, these bands appear truncated and terminate in blebs of opacity. H&E staining revealed similar features in damaged nerve fibers. These results prompt development of a protocol for imaging peripheral nerves intraoperatively. To this end, improving surgeons' ability to understand the level of injury through real-time imaging will allow for faster and more informed operative decisions than the current standard permits.
Biopsy* ; Blister ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Fluorescein ; Histological Techniques ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Nerve Fibers ; Nerve Tissue ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Sciatic Nerve ; Trauma, Nervous System

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) applied proximal to the injured peripheral nerve on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in a neuropathic pain rat model. METHODS: Nineteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. All rats underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI) procedure. After 7 days of CCI, withdrawal frequency of affected hind paw to mechanical stimuli and withdrawal latency of affected hind paw to heat stimulus were measured. They were randomly divided into two groups: group A, CCI group (n=9) and group B, CCI treated with PRF group (n=10). Rats of group B underwent PRF procedure on the sciatic nerve. Withdrawal frequency and withdrawal latency were measured at 12 hours, and 7 days after PRF. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed using a TNF-alpha antibody. RESULTS: Before PRF, withdrawal frequency and withdrawal latency were not different in both groups. After PRF, withdrawal frequency decreased and withdrawal latency prolonged over time in group B. There was significant interaction between time and group for each withdrawal frequency and withdrawal latency. Group B showed decreased TNF-alpha immunoreactivity of the spinal cord and sciatic nerve at 7 days. CONCLUSION: PRF applied proximal to the peripheral nerve injury is potentially helpful for the reduction of neuropathic pain by neuromodulation of inflammatory markers.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Constriction* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Neuralgia ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; Spinal Cord ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha