Aggressive Acquired Demyelinating Neuropathy Caused by NF-155: Initially Treatment-Resistant.

Objectives: Anti-neurofascin-155 IgG4 (NF-155) antibody disease has previously been associated with a subset of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. We report a case of NF-155 positive polyneuropathy that initially presented as an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. The patient responded appropriately to treatment but subsequently progressed over a 3-month period, resulting in quadriplegia, areflexia, and oculobulbar paralysis.

Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study of Intraneural Facilitation as a Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Objective: To perform a pilot study to assess the efficacy of intraneural facilitation, a novel manual technique, in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Design: Patients with clinical and electrodiagnostic evidence of CTS were randomized into intraneural facilitation or sham groups.

Setting: Electrodiagnostic laboratory in a university medical center.

Ischemic stroke segmentation in multi-sequence MRI by symmetry determined superpixel based hierarchical clustering.

Automated estimation of ischemic stroke evolution across different brain anatomical regions has immense potential to revolutionize stroke treatment. Multi-sequence Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques provide information to characterize abnormal tissues based on their anatomy and physical properties. Asymmetry of the right and left hemispheres of the brain is an important cue for abnormality estimation but using it alone is susceptible to occasional error due to self-asymmetry of the brain.

MRI based objective ischemic core-penumbra quantification in adult clinical stroke.

Objective and non-invasive quantification of ischemic stroke and differentiation of salvageable from non-salvageable tissue is critical to treatment planning. However current Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) techniques are time consuming and rely on manual detection methods. Computer aided preliminary screening of the injured tissue could assist neuroradiologists in performing more detailed analysis of the lesion components.

Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Sport.

Sport-related peripheral nerve injuries (SRNIs) can occur in virtually any sport whether or not enjoyed by an amateur or in the career of a professional athlete. The diagnosis of SRNIs can be difficult, especially when trying to differentiate nerve injury from musculoskeletal pain. Clinicians should be able to recognize when a significant SRNI occurs and how to initiate a diagnostic and treatment pathway and referral to a specialist.

Effects of a Novel Therapeutic Intervention in Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

Objective: To determine the effect of a novel therapeutic intervention called intraneural facilitation on balance measures and a neuropathy scale in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Design: Prospective pre- and posttest, single group clinical trial.

Setting: Outpatient physical therapy clinic.

Hoffmann sign: clinical correlation of neurological imaging findings in the cervical spine and brain.

Study Design: Retrospective validity study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between Hoffmann sign and radiographical evidence of cervical spinal cord compression and brain lesions.

Summary Of Background Data: Clinical significance of Hoffmann sign remains controversial with conflicting reports regarding its sensitivity and specificity and its usefulness.

Electrodiagnostic features of true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

Introduction: We report the electrodiagnostic (EDX) features of 32 patients with surgically verified true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TN-TOS).

Methods: Retrospective record review.

Results: We found uniform EDX evidence of a chronic axon loss process that affected the lower portion of the brachial plexus and disproportionately involved the T1 more than the C8 sensory and motor fibers.

The electrodiagnosis of cervical and lumbosacral radiculopathy.

This article reviews the usefulness of the electrodiagnostic examination in patients who have suspected cervical and lumbosacral radiculopathy. This study can verify the presence and severity of radiculopathy, determine which levels are involved, and provide an electrodiagnostic correlate to imaging abnormalities. A practical approach for conducting the nerve conduction portion and needle electrode examination in these patients is discussed.

Phrenic neuropathy due to neuralgic amyotrophy.

The authors reviewed the medical records of 33 patients diagnosed with idiopathic phrenic neuropathy and found that 17 patients had clinical features of neuralgic amyotrophy. They concluded that a careful clinical and electrodiagnostic evaluation may implicate neuralgic amyotrophy as a causative disease in patients with apparently isolated phrenic neuropathy.

Infraclavicular brachial plexus injury following axillary regional block.

Infraclavicular brachial plexopathy is a potential complication of axillary regional block. We retrospectively reviewed 13 such injuries and found the median nerve most often affected, followed by combined median and ulnar neuropathies, and then by various combinations involving the median, ulnar, radial, and musculocutaneous nerves. All were axon-loss in type and most were severe in degree electrophysiologically.

The medial brachial fascial compartment syndrome following axillary arteriography.

Objective: To review clinical and electrodiagnostic features of the medial brachial fascial compartment syndrome, a complication of percutaneous axillary vessel puncture.

Methods: The authors reviewed electrodiagnostic examinations over a 20-year period.

Results: This syndrome presents with weakness, pain, and numbness during or following the percutaneous procedure.

Comparison of surgical and electrodiagnostic findings in single root lumbosacral radiculopathies.

To identify the segmental innervation of L-2-S-1 muscles, we compared the preoperative electrodiagnostic examinations of 45 patients with single-level lumbosacral radiculopathies confirmed radiologically and surgically. The electrodiagnostic findings were classified as abnormal only by the needle examination and only if muscles demonstrated active denervation or a marked neurogenic motor unit potential firing pattern. In comparison to other surgical, intraoperative root stimulation, and clinical studies, we found several differences.