Meralgia paresthetica: Nerve stimulator-guided injection with methylprednisolone/lidocaine, a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.

Background: Meralgia paresthetica is a mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. A common therapy is injection with corticosteroids. The goal of this study was to analyze the effect of injection with methylprednisolone/lidocaine vs placebo.

Predictive value of electroencephalography in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Objectives: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARE) is a severe, but treatable disease. This study aims to give a detailed description of electroencephalogram (EEG) results in paediatric and adult patients to improve disease recognition, and analyses the predictive value of the first EEG for the final clinical outcome.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study includes patients with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies confirmed with cell-based assay and immunohistochemistry in serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

Safety and effectiveness of selective carotid angioplasty prior to cardiac surgery: a single-centre matched case-control study.

Objectives: Reducing the rate of postoperative stroke after cardiac surgery remains challenging, especially in patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease. Angioplasty in all patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis has not been shown to be effective in reducing the post-surgical stroke rate. In this study, we present the initial results of a different approach using selective carotid angioplasty only in patients with poor intracranial collaterals.

Impact of the Haga Braincare Strategy on the burden of haemodynamic and embolic strokes related to cardiac surgery.

Objectives: This study prospectively evaluates the impact of the Haga Braincare Strategy (HBS) on the occurrence of haemodynamic and embolic stroke in a cohort of patients who underwent coronay artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve replacement of a combination of both types of surgery between 2012 and 2015 at the Haga Teaching Hospitals.

Methods: The HBS is a dual strategy based on a preoperative vascular work-up of the cerebral circulation by transcranial Doppler and a perioperative monitoring of the cerebral circulation by cerebral oximetry. Duplex of the carotid arteries and/or computed tomography angiography prior to surgery was performed in high-risk patients.

Accuracy of the ice test in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis in patients with ptosis.

Introduction: Several studies have reported high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the ice test in myasthenia gravis. All of the studies employed a case-control design, in which the diagnosis was already known at the time of the test for both patients and controls, leading to case selection bias. This suggests that the available literature substantially overestimates the diagnostic utility of these tests.

Ultrasound-guided steroid injection to treat mild ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

There exists no "gold standard" in the treatment of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). We treated 7 patients with mild UNE using a local steroid injection with ultrasonographic monitoring. At clinical follow-up after 6 weeks, 4 patients had improved, 2 were stable, and 1 reported an increase in symptoms.

Botulinum toxin type A in simple motor tics: short-term and long-term treatment-effects.

To determine the short-term and long-term treatment-effects of botulinum toxin type A in simple motor tics, we analyzed 15 consecutive patients (18 tics) with simple motor tics that were treated every 3 months with injections of BTX-A. Efficacy (rated on a 4-level scale) and duration of effect of the first 2 and last 2 (if treated 5 times or more) treatments were recorded, as well as latency of response, changes of premonitory urges (PMUs) and possible side effects. Total number of treatments for each tic varied from 2 to 50 (mean 11, median 6).

Diagnostic value of history, physical examination and needle electromyography in diagnosing lumbosacral radiculopathy.

To examine the diagnostic value of history, physical examination and needle EMG in predicting nerve root compression on MRI in patients with clinical suspicion of lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LSRS). Subjects comprised 202 consecutive patients from January 2006 to March 2007 with suspicion of LSRS referred by general practitioners. Clinical evaluation consisted of history, physical examination, EMG and MRI.

Persistent genital arousal disorder in 18 Dutch women: Part I. MRI, EEG, and transvaginal ultrasonography investigations.

Introduction: Systematic blood analysis and electroencephalographic (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study in women with persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) are needed to get more insight into the syndrome's etiology and pathogenesis.

Aim: To investigate possible causes of PGAD.

Methods: Eighteen women fulfilling all five criteria of PGAD were included in the study.

Vestibulotoxicity as a consequence of systemically administered tobramycin in cystic fibrosis patients.

Conclusion: The reported prevalence of vestibulotoxicity (30.4%) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients supports vestibulotoxicity screening in CF patients during or after tobramycin exposure. Prospective longitudinal investigation is required for a more specific evidence-based proposal.

Continuous quantitative EEG monitoring in hemispheric stroke patients using the brain symmetry index.

Background And Purpose: There is increased awareness that continuous brain monitoring might benefit neurological patients, because it may allow detection of derangement of brain function in a possible reversible state, allowing early intervention. Here, we explore if quantitative continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) monitoring is technically feasible and possibly clinically relevant in patients with acute ischemic hemispheric stroke.Materials- Twenty-one consecutive patients with an acute hemispheric stroke were monitored in our stroke unit, using cEEG for 12 to 24 hours on the day of admission.

A brain symmetry index (BSI) for online EEG monitoring in carotid endarterectomy.

Introduction: Carotid endarterectomy is a common procedure as a secondary prevention of stroke, and one of the early controversies in carotid surgery is centered around whether a shunt should be used during this procedure. Although various EEG parameters have been proposed to determine if the brain is at risk during carotid artery clamping, the common procedure is still the visual assessment of the EEG. We propose a brain symmetry index (BSI), that has been implemented as an on-line quantitative EEG parameter, as an additional criterion for shunt need in carotid endarterectomy.

Comparative prospective trial of 3 intramedullary plugs in cemented total hip arthroplasty.

We assessed the occlusion and stability of 3 intramedullary plugs used to restrict the femoral canal before primary cemented arthroplasty. In a prospective, randomized trial the Biosem (SEM, Montrouge, France), Cemlock (Sulzer Orthopaedic Ltd, Baar, Switzerland), and Thackray (DePuy International Ltd, Leeds, England) plug were compared in 93 hip joints replaced by the Stanmore hip prosthesis. We considered a range of 1 cm on the postoperative radiograph a measuring fault.