The transplantation of embryonic stem cells can effectively improve the creeping strength of nerves near an injury site in animals. Amniotic epithelial cells have similar biological properties as em-bryonic stem cells...The transplantation of embryonic stem cells can effectively improve the creeping strength of nerves near an injury site in animals. Amniotic epithelial cells have similar biological properties as em-bryonic stem cells; therefore, we hypothesized that transplantation of amniotic epithelial cells can repair peripheral nerve injury and recover the creeping strength of the brachial plexus nerve. In the present study, a brachial plexus injury model was established in rabbits using the C6root avulsion method. A suspension of human amniotic epithelial cells was repeatedly injected over an area 4.0 mm lateral to the cephal and caudal ends of the C6 brachial plexus injury site (1 × 106 cells/mL, 3μL/injection, 25 injections) immediately after the injury. The results showed that the decrease in stress and increase in strain at 7,200 seconds in the injured rabbit C6 brachial plexus nerve were mitigated by the cell transplantation, restoring the viscoelastic stress relaxation and creep properties of the brachial plexus nerve. The forepaw functions were also signiifcantly improved at 26 weeks after injury. These data indicate that transplantation of human amniotic epithelial cells can effec-tively restore the mechanical properties of the brachial plexus nerve after injury in rabbits and that viscoelasticity may be an important index for the evaluation of brachial plexus injury in animals.展开更多
Contralateral C7(cC7) root transfer to the healthy side is the main method for the treatment of brachial plexus root injury. A relatively new modification of this method involves cC7 root transfer to the lower trunk...Contralateral C7(cC7) root transfer to the healthy side is the main method for the treatment of brachial plexus root injury. A relatively new modification of this method involves cC7 root transfer to the lower trunk via the prespinal route. In the current study, we examined the effectiveness of this method using electrophysiological and histological analyses. To this end, we used a rat model of total brachial plexus injury, and cC7 root transfer was performed to either the lower trunk via the prespinal route or the median nerve via a subcutaneous tunnel to repair the injury. At 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the grasping test was used to measure the changes in grasp strength of the injured forepaw. Electrophysiological changes were examined in the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. The change in the wet weight of the forearm flexor was also measured. Atrophy of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Toluidine blue staining was used to count the number of myelinated nerve fibers in the injured nerves. Compared with the traditional method, cC7 root transfer to the lower trunk via the prespinal route increased grasp strength of the injured forepaw, increased the compound muscle action potential maximum amplitude, shortened latency, substantially restored tetanic contraction of the forearm flexor muscles, increased the wet weight of the muscle, reduced atrophy of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle, and increased the number of myelinated nerve fibers. These findings demonstrate that for finger flexion functional recovery in rats with total brachial plexus injury, transfer of the cC7 root to the lower trunk via the prespinal route is more effective than transfer to the median nerve via subcutaneous tunnel.展开更多
In the treatment of brachial plexus injury, nerves that are functionally less important are transferred onto the distal ends of damaged crucial nerves to help recover neuromuscular function in the target region. For e...In the treatment of brachial plexus injury, nerves that are functionally less important are transferred onto the distal ends of damaged crucial nerves to help recover neuromuscular function in the target region. For example, intercostal nerves are transferred onto axillary nerves, and accessory nerves are transferred onto suprascapular nerves, the phrenic nerve is transferred onto the musculocutaneous nerves, and the contralateral C7 nerve is transferred onto the median or radial nerves. Nerve transfer has become a major method for reconstructing the brachial plexus after avulsion injury. Many experiments have shown that nerve transfers for treatment of brachial plexus injury can help reconstruct cerebral cortical function and increase cortical plasticity. In this review article, we summarize the recent progress in the use of diverse nerve transfer methods for the repair of brachial plexus injury, and we discuss the impact of nerve transfer on cerebral cortical plasticity after brachial plexus injury.展开更多
Phrenic nerve transfer is a major dynamic treatment used to repair brachial plexus root avulsion. We analyzed 72 relevant articles on phrenic nerve transfer to repair injured brachial plexus that were indexed by Scien...Phrenic nerve transfer is a major dynamic treatment used to repair brachial plexus root avulsion. We analyzed 72 relevant articles on phrenic nerve transfer to repair injured brachial plexus that were indexed by Science Citation Index. The keywords searched were brachial plexus injury, phrenic nerve, repair, surgery, protection, nerve transfer, and nerve graft. In addition, we per-formed neurophysiological analysis of the preoperative condition and prognosis of 10 patients undergoing ipsilateral phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve in our hospital from 2008 to 201 3 and observed the electromyograms of the biceps brachii and motor conduc-tion function of the musculocutaneous nerve. Clinically, approximately 28% of patients had brachial plexus injury combined with phrenic nerve injury, and injured phrenic nerve cannot be used as a nerve graft. After phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve, the regener-ated potentials ifrst appeared at 3 months. Recovery of motor unit action potential occurred 6 months later and became more apparent at 12 months. The percent of patients recovering ‘ex-cellent’ and ‘good’ muscle strength in the biceps brachii was 80% after 18 months. At 12 months after surgery, motor nerve conduction potential appeared in the musculocutaneous nerve in seven cases. These data suggest that preoperative evaluation of phrenic nerve function may help identify the most appropriate nerve graft in patients with an injured brachial plexus. The func-tional recovery of a transplanted nerve can be dynamically observed after the surgery.展开更多
BACKGROUND Anesthesia plays an essential role in the successful surgical procedures for hand trauma.Compared with general anesthesia,brachial plexus block shows lots of benefits for the upper extremity.Specifically,ul...BACKGROUND Anesthesia plays an essential role in the successful surgical procedures for hand trauma.Compared with general anesthesia,brachial plexus block shows lots of benefits for the upper extremity.Specifically,ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block may overcome the issues of incomplete block and failure of anesthesia in such circumstances.The present study assessed the efficacy of ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block in clinical practice.AIM To explore the efficacy of ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block in rapid recovery surgery for hand trauma.METHODS A total of 68 patients with traumatic hand injuries treated at our hospital from January 2018 to June 2019 were selected.They were divided into an observation group and a control group with 34 patients in each group.The observation group underwent selective brachial plexus block guided by ultrasound and the control group underwent conventional brachial plexus block.The analgesic efficacy,intraoperative complications,wound healing time,and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups under different anesthesia.RESULTS The percentage of cases with analgesia graded as“excellent or very good”was higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,the incidence of intraoperative complications was lower and the wound healing time and length of hospital stay were shorter in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block has remarkable analgesic efficacy in patients with traumatic hand injuries.It can reduce the incidence of intraoperative complications,promote wound healing,and shorten the length of hospital stay.展开更多
Intercostal nerve transfer is a valuable procedure in devastating plexopathies. Intercostal nerves are a very good choice for elbow flexion or extension and shoulder abduction when the intraplexus donor nerves are not...Intercostal nerve transfer is a valuable procedure in devastating plexopathies. Intercostal nerves are a very good choice for elbow flexion or extension and shoulder abduction when the intraplexus donor nerves are not available. The best results are obtained in obstetric brachial plexus palsy patients, when direct nerve transfer is performed within six months from the injury. Unlike the adult posttraumatic patients after median and ulnar nerve neurotization with intercostal nerves, almost all obstetric brachial plexus palsy patients achieve protective sensation in the hand and some of them achieve active wrist and finger flexion. Use in combination with proper muscles, intercostal nerve transfer can yield adequate power to the paretic upper limb. Reinnervation of native muscles(i.e., latissimus dorsi) should always be sought as they can successfully be transferred later on for further functional restoration.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the reconstruction of the thumb and finger extension function in patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus. From April 2010 to January 2015, we ...This study aimed to investigate the reconstruction of the thumb and finger extension function in patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus. From April 2010 to January 2015, we enrolled in this study 4 patients diagnosed with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus via imaging tests, electrophysiological examinations, and clinical confirmation. Muscular branches of the radial nerve, which innervate the supinator in the forearm, were transposed to the posterior interosseous nerve to reconstruct the thumb and finger extension function. Electrophysiological findings and muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis, as well as the distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip, were monitored. All patients were followed up for 24 to 30 months, with an average of 27.5 months. Motor unit potentials(MUP) of the extensor digitorum communis appeared at an average of 3.8 months, while MUP of the extensor pollicis longus appeared at an average of 7 months. Compound muscle action potential(CMAP) appeared at an average of 9 months in the extensor digitorum communis, and 12 months in the extensor pollicis longus. Furthermore, the muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis both reached grade Ⅲ at 21 months. Lastly, the average distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip was 8.8 cm at 21 months. In conclusion, for patients with middle and lower trunk injuries of the brachial plexus, transposition of the muscular branches of the radial nerve innervating the supinator to the posterior interosseous nerve for the reconstruction of thumb and finger extension function is practicable and feasible.展开更多
Despite recent great progress in diagnosis and microsurgical repair, the prognosis in total brachial plexus-avulsion injury remains unfavorable.Insufficient number of donors and unreasonable use of donor nerves might ...Despite recent great progress in diagnosis and microsurgical repair, the prognosis in total brachial plexus-avulsion injury remains unfavorable.Insufficient number of donors and unreasonable use of donor nerves might be key factors. To identify an optimal treatment strategy for this condition, we conducted a retrospective review. Seventy-three patients with total brachial plexus avulsion injury were followed up for an average of 7.3 years. Our analysis demonstrated no significant difference in elbow-flexion recovery between phrenic nerve-transfer (25 cases), phrenic nerve-graft (19 cases), intercostal nerve (17 cases), or contralateral C7-transfer (12 cases) groups. Restoration of shoulder function was attempted through anterior accessory nerve (27 cases), posterior accessory nerve (10 cases), intercostal nerve (5 cases), or accessory + intercostal nerve transfer (31 cases). Accessory nerve + intercostal nerve transfer was the most effective method. A significantly greater amount of elbow extension was observed in patients with intercostal nerve transfer (25 cases) than in those with contralateral C7 transfer (10 cases). Recovery of median nerve function was noticeably better for those who received entire contralateral C7 transfer (33 cases) than for those who received partial contralateral C7 transfer (40 cases). Wrist and finger extension were reconstructed by intercostal nerve transfer (31 cases). Overall, the recommended surgical treatment for total brachial plexus-avulsion injury is phrenic nerve transfer for elbow flexion, accessory nerve + intercostal nerve transfer for shoulder function, intercostal nerves transfer for elbow extension, entire contralateral C7 transfer for median nerve function, and intercostal nerve transfer for finger extension. The trial was registered at Clinical-Trials.gov (identifier: NCT03166033).展开更多
BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine(DMED)is frequently used as a sedative in several medical fields.The benefits of DMED include enhanced quality of regional anesthesia,prolonged analgesia,and postoperative opioid-sparing when...BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine(DMED)is frequently used as a sedative in several medical fields.The benefits of DMED include enhanced quality of regional anesthesia,prolonged analgesia,and postoperative opioid-sparing when administered intravenously or perineurally in combination with regional anesthesia.Severe hemodynamic complications,such as profound bradycardia and hypotension,can occur after DMED administration in critically ill patients or overdosage;however,there are few reports of complications with DMED administration following brachial plexus block(BPB).CASE SUMMARY We present two cases of hemodynamic instability that occurred following the initial loading of DMED under supraclavicular BPB.A healthy 29-year-old man without any medical history showed profound bradycardia after receiving a loading dose of DMED 0.9μg/kg for 9 min.DMED administration was promptly stopped,and after receiving a second dose of atropine,the heart rate recovered.A 62-year-old woman with a history of cardiomyopathy became hypotensive abruptly,requiring the administration of inotrope and vasopressors after receiving a reduced loading dose of 0.5μg/kg for 10 min.Half of the recommended loading dose of DMED was administered due to the underlying heart dysfunction.Decrea-sed blood pressure was maintained despite the intravenous administration of ephedrine.With continuous infusion of dopamine and norepinephrine,the vital signs were maintained within normal ranges.Inotropic and vasopressor support was required for over 6 h after the initial loading dose of DMED.CONCLUSION DMED administration following BPB could trigger hemodynamic instability in patients with decreased cardiac function as well as in healthy individuals.展开更多
<b><span>Background:</span></b><span> Distal radius fracture surgery is performed under general (GA) or regional anesthesia with brachial plexus block (NB). </span><span>Wheth...<b><span>Background:</span></b><span> Distal radius fracture surgery is performed under general (GA) or regional anesthesia with brachial plexus block (NB). </span><span>Whether anesthesia type affects patient outcomes is unclear. </span><span>This study retrospectively compared patient satisfaction between GA and NB after surgery. </span><b><span>Methods: </span></b><span>This was a historical cohort study of 80 (34 GA and 46 NB) patients who underwent volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures. Propensity score analysis was used to generate a set of matched cases (NB) and controls (GA), yielding 14 matched patient-pairs. The simplified patient satisfaction scale was compared for primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were anesthesia and surgery duration, hospital stay length, adverse events, postoperative analgesic requirement, and wrist range of motion (ROM) 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively.</span><span> </span><b><span>Results:</span></b><span> After propensity score matching, patients in almost all cases in both groups were “Satisfied” (effect size: 0.1, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.572), indicating little significant difference. Significant differences in adverse events and postoperative analgesic use observed before matching disappeared after matching. Anesthesia duration and hospital stay length were significantly shorter in the NB group (effect size: </span><span>-</span><span>1.27 and </span><span>-</span><span>0.77, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.00074 and p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.0388, respectively), as was surgery duration (effect size: </span><span>-</span><span>0.84, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.0122) after matching. Similar to before matching, wrist ROM significantly improved in the NB group (effect size: 1.11, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.0279) in the early postoperative period, but the difference disappeared at 3 months postoperatively.</span><span> </span><b><span>Conclusions:</span></b><span> Patient satisfaction between distal radius fracture surgery under GA and NB was similar. Nerve block could help shorten hospital stay length and surgery duration and improve postoperative functional recovery.</span>展开更多
The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of an extradural nerve anastomosis technique for the restoration of a C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.Nine fresh frozen human cadavers were used.The diameters,s...The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of an extradural nerve anastomosis technique for the restoration of a C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.Nine fresh frozen human cadavers were used.The diameters,sizes,and locations of the extradural spinal nerve roots were observed.The lengths of the extradural spinal nerve roots and the distance between the neighboring nerve root outlets were measured and compared in the cervical segments.In the spinal canal,the ventral and dorsal roots were separated by the dura and arachnoid.The ventral and dorsal roots of C7 had sufficient lengths to anastomose those of C6.The ventral and dorsal of C4 had enough length to be transferred to those of C5,respectively.The feasibility of this extradural nerve anastomosis technique for restoring C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus in human cadavers was demonstrated in our anatomical study.展开更多
BACKGROUND Modified radical mastectomy(MRM)is the most common surgical treatment for breast cancer.General anesthesia poses a challenge in fragile MRM patients,including cardiovascular instability,insufficient postope...BACKGROUND Modified radical mastectomy(MRM)is the most common surgical treatment for breast cancer.General anesthesia poses a challenge in fragile MRM patients,including cardiovascular instability,insufficient postoperative pain control,nausea and vomiting.Thoracic paravertebral block(TPVB)is adequate for simple mastectomy,but its combination with interscalene brachial plexus block(IBPB)has not yet been proved to be an effective anesthesia method for MRM.CASE SUMMARY We describe our experience of anesthesia and pain management in 10 patients with multiple comorbidities.An ultrasound-guided TPVB was placed at T2-T3 and T5-T6,and combined with IBPB,with administration of 10,15 and 5 mL of 0.5%ropivacaine,respectively.A satisfactory anesthetic effect was proved by the absence of ipsilateral tactile sensation within 30 min.Propofol 3 mg/kg/h and oxygen supplementation via a nasal cannula were administered during surgery.None of the patients required additional narcotics,vasopressors,or conversion to general anesthesia.The maximum pain score was 2 on an 11-point numerical rating scale.Two patients required one dose of celecoxib 8 h postoperatively and none reported nausea or emesis.CONCLUSION This case series demonstrated that combined two-site TPVB and small-volume IBPB with sedation can be used as an alternative anesthetic modality for MRM,providing good postoperative analgesia.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of brachial plexus block with "One Injection Two Points" guided under ultrasound and the conventional method guiding by ultrasound. METHODS: 70 patients were randomi...OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of brachial plexus block with "One Injection Two Points" guided under ultrasound and the conventional method guiding by ultrasound. METHODS: 70 patients were randomized evenly into 2 groups, with 35 patients in each group, while the Experiment Group(Group B) received One Injection Two Points" method, the Control Group(Group A) received the conventional method.The nerve block every 5 s, the success rate of anesthesia, the dosage of local anesthetics, second remedial anesthesia, adverse reactions, etc.were recorded. RESULTS: Group B was superior to group A in the success rate of anesthesia; There were 6 patients in group A who required constant pump injection of Remifentanil to remedy, while no patients in Group B needed remedy treatment. There were no serious adverse reactions in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: The clinical effect of brachial plexus block with "One Injection Two Points" method guided under ultrasoundguiding by ultrasound was superior to that of the conventional method.展开更多
Nerve grafting has always been necessary when the contralateral C7 nerve root is transferred to treat brachial plexus injury. Acellular nerve allograft is a promising alternative for the treatment of nerve defects, an...Nerve grafting has always been necessary when the contralateral C7 nerve root is transferred to treat brachial plexus injury. Acellular nerve allograft is a promising alternative for the treatment of nerve defects, and results were improved by grafts laden with differentiated adipose stem cells. However, use of these tissue-engineered nerve grafts has not been reported for the treatment of brachial plexus injury. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of acellular nerve allografts seeded with differentiated adipose stem cells to improve nerve regeneration in a rat model in which the contralateral C7 nerve was transferred to repair an upper brachial plexus injury. Differentiated adipose stem cells were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats and transdifferentiated into a Schwann cell-like phenotype. Acellular nerve allografts were prepared from 15-mm bilateral sections of rat sciatic nerves. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: acellular nerve allograft, acellular nerve allograft + differentiated adipose stem cells, and autograft. The upper brachial plexus injury model was established by traction applied away from the intervertebral foramen with micro-hemostat forceps. Acellular nerve allografts with or without seeded cells were used to bridge the gap between the contralateral C7 nerve root and C5–6 nerve. Histological staining, electrophysiology, and neurological function tests were used to evaluate the effect of nerve repair 16 weeks after surgery. Results showed that the onset of discernible functional recovery occurred earlier in the autograft group first, followed by the acellular nerve allograft + differentiated adipose stem cells group, and then the acellular nerve allograft group;moreover, there was a significant difference between autograft and acellular nerve allograft groups. Compared with the acellular nerve allograft group, compound muscle action potential, motor conduction velocity, positivity for neurofilament and S100, diameter of regenerating axons, myelin sheath thickness, and density of myelinated fibers were remarkably increased in autograft and acellular nerve allograft + differentiated adipose stem cells groups. These findings confirm that acellular nerve allografts seeded with differentiated adipose stem cells effectively promoted nerve repair after brachial plexus injuries, and the effect was better than that of acellular nerve repair alone. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University of China(approval No. 2016-150) in June 2016.展开更多
Background The use of traditional techniques (such as landmark techniques, paresthesia and peripheral nerve stimulator) for upper-limb anesthesia has often been restricted to the expert or enthusiast, which was blin...Background The use of traditional techniques (such as landmark techniques, paresthesia and peripheral nerve stimulator) for upper-limb anesthesia has often been restricted to the expert or enthusiast, which was blind. Recently, ultrasound (US) has been applied to differ blood vessel, pleura and nerve, thus may reduce the risk of complications while have a high rate of success. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of ultrasound guidance (vs. peripheral nerve stimulator, (PNS)) decreases risk of vascular puncture, risk of hemi-diaphragmatic paresis and risk of Homer syndrome and improves the success rate of nerve block. Methods A search strategy was developed to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) reporting on complications of US and PNS guidance for upper-extremity peripheral nerve blocks (brachial plexus) in adults available through PubMed databases, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase databases, SinoMed databases and Wanfang data (date up to 2011-12-20). Two independent reviewers appraised eligible studies and extracted data. Risk ratios (OR) were calculated for each outcome and presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI) with the software of Review Manager 5.1.0 System (Cochrane Library). Results Sixteen trials involving 1321 adults met our criteria were included for analysis. Blocks performed using US guidance were more likely to be successful (risk ratio (RR) for block success 0.36, 95% CI 0.23-0.56, P 〈0.00001), decreased incidence of vascular puncture during block performance (RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.06-0.27, P 〈0.00001), decreased the risk of complete hemi-diaphragmatic paresis (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.03-0.52, P=-0.0001). Conclusions US decreases risks of complete hemi-diaphragmatic paresis or vascular puncture and improves success rate of brachial plexus nerve block compared with techniques that utilize PNS for nerve localization. Larger studies are needed to determine whether or not the use of US can decrease risk of neurologic complications.展开更多
Background: Ultrasound-guided for regional anesthesia offers many potential benefits in the emergency setting. Analgesia can be explicitly targeted to the region of pain and provide relief for many hours and decrease ...Background: Ultrasound-guided for regional anesthesia offers many potential benefits in the emergency setting. Analgesia can be explicitly targeted to the region of pain and provide relief for many hours and decrease needing to the large volume of local anesthetic. The aim of the work: Comparing the efficacy of dexmedetomidine when used as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks on the onset of sensory, motor blockade and postoperative analgesia. Patients and methods: This prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical study conducted on 60 patients underwent upper limb surgery done by ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block;these patients allocated into two equal groups: Group I (control) received 20 ccs (19 cc bupivacaine 0.5% + 1 cc saline), Group II received 20 cc (19 cc bupivacaine 0.5% + 1 cc volume of Dexmedetomidine 1 ug/kg). Results: Demographic data and surgical characteristics were comparable in both groups. The onset times for sensory and motor blocks were significantly shorter in Group II than Group I (P Conclusion: We recommend adding Dexmedetomidine to local anesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks to take advantage of the prolonged time of both sensory and motor blocks and prolonged postoperative analgesia.展开更多
Objective:To study the application value of sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway combined with brachial plexus block for children with upper limb fractures. Methods:Children who underwent upp...Objective:To study the application value of sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway combined with brachial plexus block for children with upper limb fractures. Methods:Children who underwent upper limb fracture surgery in the First Women and Children's Hospital of Huizhou between June 2014 and April 2017 were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into the combined group who accepted sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway combined with brachial plexus block and the control group who accepted sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway. The contents of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, CRP, IL-10 and TGF-β as well as stress hormones FC, Ins, NE and E in serum were determined the same day and 3 days after operation.Results: The same day and 3 days after operation, the contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, CRP, IL-10, TGF-β, FC, Ins, NE and E in serum of combined group were significantly lower than those of control group.Conclusion: Sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway combined with brachial plexus block is more effective than sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway to suppress the inflammatory stress response in children with upper limb fracture surgery.展开更多
Electroacupuncture has traditionally been used to treat pain, but its effect on pain following brachial plexus injury is still unknown. In this study, rat models of an avulsion injury to the left brachial plexus root ...Electroacupuncture has traditionally been used to treat pain, but its effect on pain following brachial plexus injury is still unknown. In this study, rat models of an avulsion injury to the left brachial plexus root (associated with upper-limb chronic neuropathic pain) were given electroacupuncture stimulation at bilateral Quchi (LIll), Hegu (LI04), Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34). After electroacupuncture therapy, chronic neuropathic pain in the rats' upper limbs was significantly attenuated. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of β-endorphins in the arcuate nucleus was significantly increased after therapy. Thus, experimental findings indi- cate that electroacupuncture can attenuate neuropathic pain after brachial plexus injury through upregulating β-endorphin expression.展开更多
Brachial plexuses of 110 healthy volunteers were examined using high resolution color Doppler ultrasound. Ultrasonic characteristics and anatomic variation in the intervertebral foramen, interscalene, supraclavicular ...Brachial plexuses of 110 healthy volunteers were examined using high resolution color Doppler ultrasound. Ultrasonic characteristics and anatomic variation in the intervertebral foramen, interscalene, supraclavicular and infraclavicular, as well as the axillary brachial plexus were investigated. Results confirmed that the normal brachial plexus on cross section exhibited round or elliptic hypoechoic texture. Longitudinal section imaging showed many parallel linear hypo-moderate echoes, with hypo-echo. The transverse processes of the seventh cervical vertebra, the scalene space, the subclavian artery and the deep cervical artery are important markers in an examination. The display rates for the interscalene, and supraclavicular and axillary brachial plexuses were 100% each, while that for the infraclavicular brachial plexus was 97%. The region where the normal brachial plexus root traversed the intervertebral foramen exhibited a regular hypo-echo. The display rate for the C5-7 nerve roots was 100%, while those for C8 and T1 were 83% and 68%, respectively. A total of 20 of the 110 subjects underwent cervical CT scan. High-frequency ultrasound can clearly display the outline of the transverse processes of the vertebrae, which were consistent with CT results. These results indicate that high-frequency ultrasound provides a new method for observing the morphology of the brachial plexus. The C~ vertebra is a marker for identifying the position of brachial plexus nerve roots.展开更多
Research on brain function after brachial plexus injury focuses on local cortical functional reorganization,and few studies have focused on brain networks after brachial plexus injury.Changes in brain networks may hel...Research on brain function after brachial plexus injury focuses on local cortical functional reorganization,and few studies have focused on brain networks after brachial plexus injury.Changes in brain networks may help understanding of brain plasticity at the global level.We hypothesized that topology of the global cerebral resting-state functional network changes after unilateral brachial plexus injury.Thus,in this cross-sectional study,we recruited eight male patients with unilateral brachial plexus injury(right handedness,mean age of 27.9±5.4years old)and eight male healthy controls(right handedness,mean age of 28.6±3.2).After acquiring and preprocessing resting-state magnetic resonance imaging data,the cerebrum was divided into 90 regions and Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculated between regions.These correlation matrices were then converted into a binary matrix with affixed sparsity values of 0.1–0.46.Under sparsity conditions,both groups satisfied this small-world property.The clustering coefficient was markedly lower,while average shortest path remarkably higher in patients compared with healthy controls.These findings confirm that cerebral functional networks in patients still show smallworld characteristics,which are highly effective in information transmission in the brain,as well as normal controls.Alternatively,varied small-worldness suggests that capacity of information transmission and integration in different brain regions in brachial plexus injury patients is damaged.展开更多
基金financially supported by grants from the Science and Technology Development Plan Program of Jilin Province of China,No.20110492
文摘The transplantation of embryonic stem cells can effectively improve the creeping strength of nerves near an injury site in animals. Amniotic epithelial cells have similar biological properties as em-bryonic stem cells; therefore, we hypothesized that transplantation of amniotic epithelial cells can repair peripheral nerve injury and recover the creeping strength of the brachial plexus nerve. In the present study, a brachial plexus injury model was established in rabbits using the C6root avulsion method. A suspension of human amniotic epithelial cells was repeatedly injected over an area 4.0 mm lateral to the cephal and caudal ends of the C6 brachial plexus injury site (1 × 106 cells/mL, 3μL/injection, 25 injections) immediately after the injury. The results showed that the decrease in stress and increase in strain at 7,200 seconds in the injured rabbit C6 brachial plexus nerve were mitigated by the cell transplantation, restoring the viscoelastic stress relaxation and creep properties of the brachial plexus nerve. The forepaw functions were also signiifcantly improved at 26 weeks after injury. These data indicate that transplantation of human amniotic epithelial cells can effec-tively restore the mechanical properties of the brachial plexus nerve after injury in rabbits and that viscoelasticity may be an important index for the evaluation of brachial plexus injury in animals.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81572127
文摘Contralateral C7(cC7) root transfer to the healthy side is the main method for the treatment of brachial plexus root injury. A relatively new modification of this method involves cC7 root transfer to the lower trunk via the prespinal route. In the current study, we examined the effectiveness of this method using electrophysiological and histological analyses. To this end, we used a rat model of total brachial plexus injury, and cC7 root transfer was performed to either the lower trunk via the prespinal route or the median nerve via a subcutaneous tunnel to repair the injury. At 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the grasping test was used to measure the changes in grasp strength of the injured forepaw. Electrophysiological changes were examined in the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. The change in the wet weight of the forearm flexor was also measured. Atrophy of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Toluidine blue staining was used to count the number of myelinated nerve fibers in the injured nerves. Compared with the traditional method, cC7 root transfer to the lower trunk via the prespinal route increased grasp strength of the injured forepaw, increased the compound muscle action potential maximum amplitude, shortened latency, substantially restored tetanic contraction of the forearm flexor muscles, increased the wet weight of the muscle, reduced atrophy of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle, and increased the number of myelinated nerve fibers. These findings demonstrate that for finger flexion functional recovery in rats with total brachial plexus injury, transfer of the cC7 root to the lower trunk via the prespinal route is more effective than transfer to the median nerve via subcutaneous tunnel.
基金supported by grants from the General Project funded by Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau in China,No.20124328the General Program funded by Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission in China,No.13ZR434100+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81201468Shanghai Key Laboratory of Peripheral Nerve and Microsurgery,No.08D22270600
文摘In the treatment of brachial plexus injury, nerves that are functionally less important are transferred onto the distal ends of damaged crucial nerves to help recover neuromuscular function in the target region. For example, intercostal nerves are transferred onto axillary nerves, and accessory nerves are transferred onto suprascapular nerves, the phrenic nerve is transferred onto the musculocutaneous nerves, and the contralateral C7 nerve is transferred onto the median or radial nerves. Nerve transfer has become a major method for reconstructing the brachial plexus after avulsion injury. Many experiments have shown that nerve transfers for treatment of brachial plexus injury can help reconstruct cerebral cortical function and increase cortical plasticity. In this review article, we summarize the recent progress in the use of diverse nerve transfer methods for the repair of brachial plexus injury, and we discuss the impact of nerve transfer on cerebral cortical plasticity after brachial plexus injury.
基金funded by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(863 Program),No.2008AA022400a grant from Science&Technology Department of Sichuan Province of China,No.2009JY0174
文摘Phrenic nerve transfer is a major dynamic treatment used to repair brachial plexus root avulsion. We analyzed 72 relevant articles on phrenic nerve transfer to repair injured brachial plexus that were indexed by Science Citation Index. The keywords searched were brachial plexus injury, phrenic nerve, repair, surgery, protection, nerve transfer, and nerve graft. In addition, we per-formed neurophysiological analysis of the preoperative condition and prognosis of 10 patients undergoing ipsilateral phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve in our hospital from 2008 to 201 3 and observed the electromyograms of the biceps brachii and motor conduc-tion function of the musculocutaneous nerve. Clinically, approximately 28% of patients had brachial plexus injury combined with phrenic nerve injury, and injured phrenic nerve cannot be used as a nerve graft. After phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve, the regener-ated potentials ifrst appeared at 3 months. Recovery of motor unit action potential occurred 6 months later and became more apparent at 12 months. The percent of patients recovering ‘ex-cellent’ and ‘good’ muscle strength in the biceps brachii was 80% after 18 months. At 12 months after surgery, motor nerve conduction potential appeared in the musculocutaneous nerve in seven cases. These data suggest that preoperative evaluation of phrenic nerve function may help identify the most appropriate nerve graft in patients with an injured brachial plexus. The func-tional recovery of a transplanted nerve can be dynamically observed after the surgery.
文摘BACKGROUND Anesthesia plays an essential role in the successful surgical procedures for hand trauma.Compared with general anesthesia,brachial plexus block shows lots of benefits for the upper extremity.Specifically,ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block may overcome the issues of incomplete block and failure of anesthesia in such circumstances.The present study assessed the efficacy of ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block in clinical practice.AIM To explore the efficacy of ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block in rapid recovery surgery for hand trauma.METHODS A total of 68 patients with traumatic hand injuries treated at our hospital from January 2018 to June 2019 were selected.They were divided into an observation group and a control group with 34 patients in each group.The observation group underwent selective brachial plexus block guided by ultrasound and the control group underwent conventional brachial plexus block.The analgesic efficacy,intraoperative complications,wound healing time,and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups under different anesthesia.RESULTS The percentage of cases with analgesia graded as“excellent or very good”was higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,the incidence of intraoperative complications was lower and the wound healing time and length of hospital stay were shorter in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Ultrasound-guided selective proximal and distal brachial plexus block has remarkable analgesic efficacy in patients with traumatic hand injuries.It can reduce the incidence of intraoperative complications,promote wound healing,and shorten the length of hospital stay.
文摘Intercostal nerve transfer is a valuable procedure in devastating plexopathies. Intercostal nerves are a very good choice for elbow flexion or extension and shoulder abduction when the intraplexus donor nerves are not available. The best results are obtained in obstetric brachial plexus palsy patients, when direct nerve transfer is performed within six months from the injury. Unlike the adult posttraumatic patients after median and ulnar nerve neurotization with intercostal nerves, almost all obstetric brachial plexus palsy patients achieve protective sensation in the hand and some of them achieve active wrist and finger flexion. Use in combination with proper muscles, intercostal nerve transfer can yield adequate power to the paretic upper limb. Reinnervation of native muscles(i.e., latissimus dorsi) should always be sought as they can successfully be transferred later on for further functional restoration.
文摘This study aimed to investigate the reconstruction of the thumb and finger extension function in patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus. From April 2010 to January 2015, we enrolled in this study 4 patients diagnosed with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus via imaging tests, electrophysiological examinations, and clinical confirmation. Muscular branches of the radial nerve, which innervate the supinator in the forearm, were transposed to the posterior interosseous nerve to reconstruct the thumb and finger extension function. Electrophysiological findings and muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis, as well as the distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip, were monitored. All patients were followed up for 24 to 30 months, with an average of 27.5 months. Motor unit potentials(MUP) of the extensor digitorum communis appeared at an average of 3.8 months, while MUP of the extensor pollicis longus appeared at an average of 7 months. Compound muscle action potential(CMAP) appeared at an average of 9 months in the extensor digitorum communis, and 12 months in the extensor pollicis longus. Furthermore, the muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis both reached grade Ⅲ at 21 months. Lastly, the average distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip was 8.8 cm at 21 months. In conclusion, for patients with middle and lower trunk injuries of the brachial plexus, transposition of the muscular branches of the radial nerve innervating the supinator to the posterior interosseous nerve for the reconstruction of thumb and finger extension function is practicable and feasible.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.H0605/81501871
文摘Despite recent great progress in diagnosis and microsurgical repair, the prognosis in total brachial plexus-avulsion injury remains unfavorable.Insufficient number of donors and unreasonable use of donor nerves might be key factors. To identify an optimal treatment strategy for this condition, we conducted a retrospective review. Seventy-three patients with total brachial plexus avulsion injury were followed up for an average of 7.3 years. Our analysis demonstrated no significant difference in elbow-flexion recovery between phrenic nerve-transfer (25 cases), phrenic nerve-graft (19 cases), intercostal nerve (17 cases), or contralateral C7-transfer (12 cases) groups. Restoration of shoulder function was attempted through anterior accessory nerve (27 cases), posterior accessory nerve (10 cases), intercostal nerve (5 cases), or accessory + intercostal nerve transfer (31 cases). Accessory nerve + intercostal nerve transfer was the most effective method. A significantly greater amount of elbow extension was observed in patients with intercostal nerve transfer (25 cases) than in those with contralateral C7 transfer (10 cases). Recovery of median nerve function was noticeably better for those who received entire contralateral C7 transfer (33 cases) than for those who received partial contralateral C7 transfer (40 cases). Wrist and finger extension were reconstructed by intercostal nerve transfer (31 cases). Overall, the recommended surgical treatment for total brachial plexus-avulsion injury is phrenic nerve transfer for elbow flexion, accessory nerve + intercostal nerve transfer for shoulder function, intercostal nerves transfer for elbow extension, entire contralateral C7 transfer for median nerve function, and intercostal nerve transfer for finger extension. The trial was registered at Clinical-Trials.gov (identifier: NCT03166033).
基金Supported by the Fund of Biomedical Research Institute,Jeonbuk National University Hospital,Jeonju,Republic of Korea.
文摘BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine(DMED)is frequently used as a sedative in several medical fields.The benefits of DMED include enhanced quality of regional anesthesia,prolonged analgesia,and postoperative opioid-sparing when administered intravenously or perineurally in combination with regional anesthesia.Severe hemodynamic complications,such as profound bradycardia and hypotension,can occur after DMED administration in critically ill patients or overdosage;however,there are few reports of complications with DMED administration following brachial plexus block(BPB).CASE SUMMARY We present two cases of hemodynamic instability that occurred following the initial loading of DMED under supraclavicular BPB.A healthy 29-year-old man without any medical history showed profound bradycardia after receiving a loading dose of DMED 0.9μg/kg for 9 min.DMED administration was promptly stopped,and after receiving a second dose of atropine,the heart rate recovered.A 62-year-old woman with a history of cardiomyopathy became hypotensive abruptly,requiring the administration of inotrope and vasopressors after receiving a reduced loading dose of 0.5μg/kg for 10 min.Half of the recommended loading dose of DMED was administered due to the underlying heart dysfunction.Decrea-sed blood pressure was maintained despite the intravenous administration of ephedrine.With continuous infusion of dopamine and norepinephrine,the vital signs were maintained within normal ranges.Inotropic and vasopressor support was required for over 6 h after the initial loading dose of DMED.CONCLUSION DMED administration following BPB could trigger hemodynamic instability in patients with decreased cardiac function as well as in healthy individuals.
文摘<b><span>Background:</span></b><span> Distal radius fracture surgery is performed under general (GA) or regional anesthesia with brachial plexus block (NB). </span><span>Whether anesthesia type affects patient outcomes is unclear. </span><span>This study retrospectively compared patient satisfaction between GA and NB after surgery. </span><b><span>Methods: </span></b><span>This was a historical cohort study of 80 (34 GA and 46 NB) patients who underwent volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures. Propensity score analysis was used to generate a set of matched cases (NB) and controls (GA), yielding 14 matched patient-pairs. The simplified patient satisfaction scale was compared for primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were anesthesia and surgery duration, hospital stay length, adverse events, postoperative analgesic requirement, and wrist range of motion (ROM) 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively.</span><span> </span><b><span>Results:</span></b><span> After propensity score matching, patients in almost all cases in both groups were “Satisfied” (effect size: 0.1, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.572), indicating little significant difference. Significant differences in adverse events and postoperative analgesic use observed before matching disappeared after matching. Anesthesia duration and hospital stay length were significantly shorter in the NB group (effect size: </span><span>-</span><span>1.27 and </span><span>-</span><span>0.77, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.00074 and p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.0388, respectively), as was surgery duration (effect size: </span><span>-</span><span>0.84, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.0122) after matching. Similar to before matching, wrist ROM significantly improved in the NB group (effect size: 1.11, p</span><span> </span><span>=</span><span> </span><span>0.0279) in the early postoperative period, but the difference disappeared at 3 months postoperatively.</span><span> </span><b><span>Conclusions:</span></b><span> Patient satisfaction between distal radius fracture surgery under GA and NB was similar. Nerve block could help shorten hospital stay length and surgery duration and improve postoperative functional recovery.</span>
基金supported by the National NaturalScience Foundation of China(Grant#81401791,#81371968,#81672152)A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
文摘The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of an extradural nerve anastomosis technique for the restoration of a C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.Nine fresh frozen human cadavers were used.The diameters,sizes,and locations of the extradural spinal nerve roots were observed.The lengths of the extradural spinal nerve roots and the distance between the neighboring nerve root outlets were measured and compared in the cervical segments.In the spinal canal,the ventral and dorsal roots were separated by the dura and arachnoid.The ventral and dorsal roots of C7 had sufficient lengths to anastomose those of C6.The ventral and dorsal of C4 had enough length to be transferred to those of C5,respectively.The feasibility of this extradural nerve anastomosis technique for restoring C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus in human cadavers was demonstrated in our anatomical study.
文摘BACKGROUND Modified radical mastectomy(MRM)is the most common surgical treatment for breast cancer.General anesthesia poses a challenge in fragile MRM patients,including cardiovascular instability,insufficient postoperative pain control,nausea and vomiting.Thoracic paravertebral block(TPVB)is adequate for simple mastectomy,but its combination with interscalene brachial plexus block(IBPB)has not yet been proved to be an effective anesthesia method for MRM.CASE SUMMARY We describe our experience of anesthesia and pain management in 10 patients with multiple comorbidities.An ultrasound-guided TPVB was placed at T2-T3 and T5-T6,and combined with IBPB,with administration of 10,15 and 5 mL of 0.5%ropivacaine,respectively.A satisfactory anesthetic effect was proved by the absence of ipsilateral tactile sensation within 30 min.Propofol 3 mg/kg/h and oxygen supplementation via a nasal cannula were administered during surgery.None of the patients required additional narcotics,vasopressors,or conversion to general anesthesia.The maximum pain score was 2 on an 11-point numerical rating scale.Two patients required one dose of celecoxib 8 h postoperatively and none reported nausea or emesis.CONCLUSION This case series demonstrated that combined two-site TPVB and small-volume IBPB with sedation can be used as an alternative anesthetic modality for MRM,providing good postoperative analgesia.
文摘OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of brachial plexus block with "One Injection Two Points" guided under ultrasound and the conventional method guiding by ultrasound. METHODS: 70 patients were randomized evenly into 2 groups, with 35 patients in each group, while the Experiment Group(Group B) received One Injection Two Points" method, the Control Group(Group A) received the conventional method.The nerve block every 5 s, the success rate of anesthesia, the dosage of local anesthetics, second remedial anesthesia, adverse reactions, etc.were recorded. RESULTS: Group B was superior to group A in the success rate of anesthesia; There were 6 patients in group A who required constant pump injection of Remifentanil to remedy, while no patients in Group B needed remedy treatment. There were no serious adverse reactions in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: The clinical effect of brachial plexus block with "One Injection Two Points" method guided under ultrasoundguiding by ultrasound was superior to that of the conventional method.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81601057(to JTY)
文摘Nerve grafting has always been necessary when the contralateral C7 nerve root is transferred to treat brachial plexus injury. Acellular nerve allograft is a promising alternative for the treatment of nerve defects, and results were improved by grafts laden with differentiated adipose stem cells. However, use of these tissue-engineered nerve grafts has not been reported for the treatment of brachial plexus injury. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of acellular nerve allografts seeded with differentiated adipose stem cells to improve nerve regeneration in a rat model in which the contralateral C7 nerve was transferred to repair an upper brachial plexus injury. Differentiated adipose stem cells were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats and transdifferentiated into a Schwann cell-like phenotype. Acellular nerve allografts were prepared from 15-mm bilateral sections of rat sciatic nerves. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: acellular nerve allograft, acellular nerve allograft + differentiated adipose stem cells, and autograft. The upper brachial plexus injury model was established by traction applied away from the intervertebral foramen with micro-hemostat forceps. Acellular nerve allografts with or without seeded cells were used to bridge the gap between the contralateral C7 nerve root and C5–6 nerve. Histological staining, electrophysiology, and neurological function tests were used to evaluate the effect of nerve repair 16 weeks after surgery. Results showed that the onset of discernible functional recovery occurred earlier in the autograft group first, followed by the acellular nerve allograft + differentiated adipose stem cells group, and then the acellular nerve allograft group;moreover, there was a significant difference between autograft and acellular nerve allograft groups. Compared with the acellular nerve allograft group, compound muscle action potential, motor conduction velocity, positivity for neurofilament and S100, diameter of regenerating axons, myelin sheath thickness, and density of myelinated fibers were remarkably increased in autograft and acellular nerve allograft + differentiated adipose stem cells groups. These findings confirm that acellular nerve allografts seeded with differentiated adipose stem cells effectively promoted nerve repair after brachial plexus injuries, and the effect was better than that of acellular nerve repair alone. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University of China(approval No. 2016-150) in June 2016.
文摘Background The use of traditional techniques (such as landmark techniques, paresthesia and peripheral nerve stimulator) for upper-limb anesthesia has often been restricted to the expert or enthusiast, which was blind. Recently, ultrasound (US) has been applied to differ blood vessel, pleura and nerve, thus may reduce the risk of complications while have a high rate of success. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of ultrasound guidance (vs. peripheral nerve stimulator, (PNS)) decreases risk of vascular puncture, risk of hemi-diaphragmatic paresis and risk of Homer syndrome and improves the success rate of nerve block. Methods A search strategy was developed to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) reporting on complications of US and PNS guidance for upper-extremity peripheral nerve blocks (brachial plexus) in adults available through PubMed databases, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase databases, SinoMed databases and Wanfang data (date up to 2011-12-20). Two independent reviewers appraised eligible studies and extracted data. Risk ratios (OR) were calculated for each outcome and presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI) with the software of Review Manager 5.1.0 System (Cochrane Library). Results Sixteen trials involving 1321 adults met our criteria were included for analysis. Blocks performed using US guidance were more likely to be successful (risk ratio (RR) for block success 0.36, 95% CI 0.23-0.56, P 〈0.00001), decreased incidence of vascular puncture during block performance (RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.06-0.27, P 〈0.00001), decreased the risk of complete hemi-diaphragmatic paresis (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.03-0.52, P=-0.0001). Conclusions US decreases risks of complete hemi-diaphragmatic paresis or vascular puncture and improves success rate of brachial plexus nerve block compared with techniques that utilize PNS for nerve localization. Larger studies are needed to determine whether or not the use of US can decrease risk of neurologic complications.
文摘Background: Ultrasound-guided for regional anesthesia offers many potential benefits in the emergency setting. Analgesia can be explicitly targeted to the region of pain and provide relief for many hours and decrease needing to the large volume of local anesthetic. The aim of the work: Comparing the efficacy of dexmedetomidine when used as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks on the onset of sensory, motor blockade and postoperative analgesia. Patients and methods: This prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical study conducted on 60 patients underwent upper limb surgery done by ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block;these patients allocated into two equal groups: Group I (control) received 20 ccs (19 cc bupivacaine 0.5% + 1 cc saline), Group II received 20 cc (19 cc bupivacaine 0.5% + 1 cc volume of Dexmedetomidine 1 ug/kg). Results: Demographic data and surgical characteristics were comparable in both groups. The onset times for sensory and motor blocks were significantly shorter in Group II than Group I (P Conclusion: We recommend adding Dexmedetomidine to local anesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks to take advantage of the prolonged time of both sensory and motor blocks and prolonged postoperative analgesia.
文摘Objective:To study the application value of sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway combined with brachial plexus block for children with upper limb fractures. Methods:Children who underwent upper limb fracture surgery in the First Women and Children's Hospital of Huizhou between June 2014 and April 2017 were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into the combined group who accepted sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway combined with brachial plexus block and the control group who accepted sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway. The contents of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, CRP, IL-10 and TGF-β as well as stress hormones FC, Ins, NE and E in serum were determined the same day and 3 days after operation.Results: The same day and 3 days after operation, the contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, CRP, IL-10, TGF-β, FC, Ins, NE and E in serum of combined group were significantly lower than those of control group.Conclusion: Sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway combined with brachial plexus block is more effective than sevoflurane light general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway to suppress the inflammatory stress response in children with upper limb fracture surgery.
基金supported by the Project of Ministry of Health(Comprehensive Research on Brachial Plexus Injury),No.13D22270800 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China2011 Shanghai Medical College Young Scientist Fund of Fudan University,No.11L-24
文摘Electroacupuncture has traditionally been used to treat pain, but its effect on pain following brachial plexus injury is still unknown. In this study, rat models of an avulsion injury to the left brachial plexus root (associated with upper-limb chronic neuropathic pain) were given electroacupuncture stimulation at bilateral Quchi (LIll), Hegu (LI04), Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34). After electroacupuncture therapy, chronic neuropathic pain in the rats' upper limbs was significantly attenuated. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of β-endorphins in the arcuate nucleus was significantly increased after therapy. Thus, experimental findings indi- cate that electroacupuncture can attenuate neuropathic pain after brachial plexus injury through upregulating β-endorphin expression.
基金funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Higher Learning Schools of Youth Teacher Education Program of Sun Yat-sen University in 2009,No.09YKPY05the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,No.S2011010004708
文摘Brachial plexuses of 110 healthy volunteers were examined using high resolution color Doppler ultrasound. Ultrasonic characteristics and anatomic variation in the intervertebral foramen, interscalene, supraclavicular and infraclavicular, as well as the axillary brachial plexus were investigated. Results confirmed that the normal brachial plexus on cross section exhibited round or elliptic hypoechoic texture. Longitudinal section imaging showed many parallel linear hypo-moderate echoes, with hypo-echo. The transverse processes of the seventh cervical vertebra, the scalene space, the subclavian artery and the deep cervical artery are important markers in an examination. The display rates for the interscalene, and supraclavicular and axillary brachial plexuses were 100% each, while that for the infraclavicular brachial plexus was 97%. The region where the normal brachial plexus root traversed the intervertebral foramen exhibited a regular hypo-echo. The display rate for the C5-7 nerve roots was 100%, while those for C8 and T1 were 83% and 68%, respectively. A total of 20 of the 110 subjects underwent cervical CT scan. High-frequency ultrasound can clearly display the outline of the transverse processes of the vertebrae, which were consistent with CT results. These results indicate that high-frequency ultrasound provides a new method for observing the morphology of the brachial plexus. The C~ vertebra is a marker for identifying the position of brachial plexus nerve roots.
文摘Research on brain function after brachial plexus injury focuses on local cortical functional reorganization,and few studies have focused on brain networks after brachial plexus injury.Changes in brain networks may help understanding of brain plasticity at the global level.We hypothesized that topology of the global cerebral resting-state functional network changes after unilateral brachial plexus injury.Thus,in this cross-sectional study,we recruited eight male patients with unilateral brachial plexus injury(right handedness,mean age of 27.9±5.4years old)and eight male healthy controls(right handedness,mean age of 28.6±3.2).After acquiring and preprocessing resting-state magnetic resonance imaging data,the cerebrum was divided into 90 regions and Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculated between regions.These correlation matrices were then converted into a binary matrix with affixed sparsity values of 0.1–0.46.Under sparsity conditions,both groups satisfied this small-world property.The clustering coefficient was markedly lower,while average shortest path remarkably higher in patients compared with healthy controls.These findings confirm that cerebral functional networks in patients still show smallworld characteristics,which are highly effective in information transmission in the brain,as well as normal controls.Alternatively,varied small-worldness suggests that capacity of information transmission and integration in different brain regions in brachial plexus injury patients is damaged.