Peripheral nerve entrapments-rare causes of a common condition: case series.

Compressive syndromes of peripheral nerves both in the upper and lower limbs are part of daily clinical practice; however, the etiological diagnosis can be challenging and impact on the outcome of the patient. We report five cases with rare etiologies of nerve entrapments: one in the lower limb and four in the upper limbs with the final diagnosis made only during the operation. The patients evolved without post-operative complications and had good outcomes.

Intercostal to musculocutaneous nerve transfer in patients with complete traumatic brachial plexus injuries: case series.

Background: To recover biceps strength in patients with complete brachial plexus injuries, the intercostal nerve can be transferred to the musculocutaneous nerve. The surgical results are very controversial, and most of the studies with good outcomes and large samples were carried out in Asiatic countries. The objective of the study was to evaluate biceps strength after intercostal nerve transfer in patients undergoing this procedure in a Western country hospital.

Aceruloplasminemia: a rare disease - diagnosis and treatment of two cases.

Aceruloplasminemia is a rare autosomal recessive disease in which a mutation leads to the absence or dysfunction of ceruloplasmin. Deficiency of this enzyme leads to the accumulation of iron in various organs; aceruloplasminemia is usually characterized by diabetes, retinal degeneration and neurological disorders. Diagnosis is suspected by the presence of elevated levels of ferritin, anemia, decreased serum copper and absence of ceruloplasmin in serum.