Total knee replacement for patients with severe hemophilic arthropathy in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based retrospective study.

Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is a treatment option for advanced hemophilic arthropathy. Due to its rarity and complexity, previous reports could only demonstrate the results of single-site studies including few cases. This population-based study aimed to investigate the major epidemiological characteristics, mean consumption of coagulation factors, length of hospital stays, complications, and failure rate of primary TKR for severe hemophilia patients in Taiwan.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Retrospective Population Cohort Study.

Objective: The relationship between autoimmune rheumatic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and carpal tunnel syndrome is unclear. We aimed to survey the occurrence and characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome in autoimmune rheumatic diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases, compared with the general population.

Methods: We used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2015 from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Comparison of Corticosteroid Injection Dosages in Mild to Moderate Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the therapeutic effect of ultrasound-guided injections with 10 mg or 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide (TA) was dose-dependent in patients with idiopathic mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Design: Prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study with 12 weeks of follow-up.

Setting: Rehabilitation outpatient clinic of a single medical center.

The relationship of seasonality and the increase in urinary tract infections among hospitalized patients with spinal cord injury.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most frequent complication in patients who have spinal cord injury (SCI). The occurrence rate of UTI in this type of hospitalized patients was correlated to seasonality, age, and gender.

Methods: Patients hospitalized during the 4-year study period with underlying SCI were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Health-related quality of life in children and adolescent with different types of scoliosis: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was affected in children and adolescents with scoliosis. However, there was lack of study to compare the HRQoL among patients with different types of scoliosis. We aimed to investigate whether the HRQoL differs among patients with idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular, and syndromic scoliosis.

Using subdural strip electrodes to define functional sensory nerves and the most inferior functional portion of the conus medullaris during detethering surgeries for tethered cord syndrome: a pilot study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using subdural strip electrodes, placed just rostral to the surgical field, to record sensory evoked potentials (SEPs) from the lumbosacral sensory nerves and define the most inferior functional portion of the conus medullaris during detethering surgery for spinal dysraphism and/or tethered cord syndrome (TCS).

Methods: Six patients, 2 boys and 4 girls, aged 0.5 to 16 years, were enrolled in this study.

Sonographic median nerve change after steroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: The sonographic changes of the median nerve after steroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) still require investigation.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with CTS were included. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire was administered, and ultrasonographic examinations were performed before and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after steroid injection.

Pattern of Corticospinal Projections Defined by Brain Mapping During Resective Epilepsy Surgery in a Patient with Congenital Hemiparesis and Intractable Epilepsy.

Background: Congenital or early-onset brain structural lesions often cause contralateral hemiparesis, cognitive deficits, developmental delays, and seizures. Seizure is the most debilitating condition, as it greatly impairs quality of life in both the affected individuals and their caregivers and prevents them from active social participation.

Case Description: A 34-year-old man with hemiparesis and early-onset seizures since childhood owing to a congenital brain lesion developed intractable seizures in the last 2 years and was subsequently admitted for resective epileptic surgery.

Localization of the trunk muscles using musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance for pedicle screw stimulation during spine surgery.

The precise placement of recording electrodes at the relevant myotome is mandatory while performing pedicle screw stimulation (PSS) during spine surgery; however, their placement at trunk muscles is challenging. This study aimed to determine whether ultrasound guidance is useful for trunk muscle localization for PSS during spine surgery. A retrospective clinical study was conducted from a prospective database.

Acute Radial Neuropathy at the Spiral Groove Following Massage: A Case Presentation.

Unlabelled: Massage-related nerve injury is an uncommon, rarely reported complication. We report an unusual case of radial nerve neuropathy at the spiral groove in a 58-year-old woman that resulted from a single episode of deep tissue massage. Although the spiral groove is known as the most common site implicated in radial nerve neuropathy, to our knowledge, there have not previously been any reports of massage-related spiral groove radial nerve neuropathy.

Efficacy of Combined Ultrasound-Guided Steroid Injection and Splinting in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of local steroid injection plus splinting with that of local steroid injection alone using clinical and electrophysiological parameters in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Design: Randomized controlled study with 12 weeks of follow-up.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Ultrasound-Guided Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Trigger Finger: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) versus steroid for trigger fingers in adults.

Design: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Localization of the cricothyroid muscle under ultrasound guidance for vagal nerve mapping.

During surgical removal of tumors of the skull base or cerebellopontine angle with brainstem compression, the vagus nerve is at a high risk for injury that can result in permanent or transient swallowing and speech dysfunction. Intramuscular recording of cricothyroid muscle can be used for vagal nerve mapping during intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring so as to prevent the above complications. However, it is a small muscle that lies beneath the strap muscles over the anterior neck and is not easily accessible by a blind approach.

Intraoperative brain mapping to identify corticospinal projections during resective epilepsy surgery in children with congenital hemiparesis.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine corticospinal organization using intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) during resective epilepsy surgery for patients with congenital hemiparesis and intractable epilepsy.

Methods: Ten patients, aged 3-17, with intractable epilepsy underwent resective surgery. Transcranial stimulation (TCS) was achieved using a pair of cork screws at Cz and C3/C4, respectively.

Ultrasound-guided refilling of an intrathecal baclofen pump--a case report.

Introduction: Refilling intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pumps can be difficult because many patients gain excessive weight after implantation due to their reduced expenditure of energy on muscle spasticity.

Methods: We report a case of a 12-year-old girl with spastic quadriplegia who gained 20 lbs after pump implantation. It was necessary to identify the access port of her pump by ultrasonography during drug refilling so as to avoid multiple needle punctures.

Cervical cord injury after massage.

We present the case of a 47-yr-old gentleman with cervical cord injury after he received massage in the neck area. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed a herniation of the nucleus pulposus and compressive myelopathy. The patient required surgical intervention and rehabilitation.

Dose-response relation between neuromuscular electrical stimulation and upper-extremity function in patients with stroke.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of different doses of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on upper-extremity function in acute stroke patients with severe motor deficit.

Methods: Sixty-six acute stroke patients were randomized to 3 groups: high NMES, low NMES, or control. The low-NMES group received 30 minutes of stimulation per day, and the high-NMES group received 60 minutes per day, for 4 weeks.

Power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability for cerebral palsy patients.

Objective: The prevalence of bowel and bladder dysfunction, hyperhidrosis, and poor cardiopulmonary endurance is higher for children with cerebral palsy than for the general population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the autonomic function for patients with cerebral palsy.

Design: Thirty patients with cerebral palsy and 30 control subjects were enrolled in this study.