Publications by authors named "Saichol Wongtrakul"
Background: Free functional muscle transfer (FFMT) for brachial plexus injury (BPI) requires adequate donor arterial flow for successful anastomosis. However, concomitant BPI and subclavian artery injury are not uncommon. Arteriovenous (AV) loop graft is one of the methods used to extend vessels to areas with vascular depletion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHooked fingernail deformity can develop after any type of fingertip amputation. A more proximal amputation is associated with a higher probability of developing hooked fingernails. Proximal fingertip amputations with very short remaining nail beds are recommended for revision amputation with nail bed ablation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIs Pseudomeningocele an Absolute Sign of Root Avulsion Brachial Plexus Injury?
J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol
September 2018
Article Synopsis
- Pseudomeningocele found through cervical myelogram is commonly believed to indicate root avulsion in brachial plexus injury, but this study shows that some patients still retain motor power contrary to that belief.
- The study analyzed 201 patients, finding a low sensitivity (10-62%) for predicting root avulsion using pseudomeningocele, while specificity was high for C5 and T1.
- Results suggest that many patients with pseudomeningocele may have some motor function, indicating that relying solely on this sign for diagnosis could lead to unnecessary surgeries; careful muscle evaluation is essential.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated end-to-side (ETS) neurorrhaphy as a method for nerve transfer to help patients with upper-arm brachial plexus injuries regain biceps muscle function, particularly when traditional nerve transfer techniques weren't suitable.
- - Thirteen patients underwent ETS surgery, where the motor branch of the biceps was connected to the ulnar or median nerves; motor recovery was noted in nine cases, with six achieving good biceps strength.
- - The results suggest that ETS neurorrhaphy is an effective alternative for rehabilitating biceps function in patients unable to undergo standard nerve transfer procedures, without causing additional nerve damage.
Article Synopsis
- In Thailand, brachial plexus injuries are common and lead to issues beyond motor and sensory deficits, including significant pain.
- A study conducted from 2008 to 2011 found that 76% of 95 patients experienced neuropathic pain, often accompanied by reduced sensitivity and numbness.
- The severity of this pain was linked to the type of injury, highlighting the need for surgeons to recognize and address this frequently overlooked issue in affected patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess how effective and safe a home-based muscle electrical stimulation system is for patients with brachial plexus injuries.
- After testing on 40 patients, the system showed a high effectiveness rate of 97.5%, with significant reductions in pain scores and high patient satisfaction (7.8 out of 10).
- Most patients (88%) preferred home use of the stimulator over hospital treatments, and there were no reported adverse incidents.
Object: The diaphragmatic height index (DHI) was developed to measure the difference in diaphragm levels. The purpose of this study was to set definite DHI values and test the accuracy of these values for use as a new diagnostic test for phrenic nerve dysfunction.
Methods: All data for this study were obtained from medical charts and retrospectively reviewed.
A strategy that uses the selective combination of neurotizations can yield a moderate degree of shoulder and elbow control. Even though some wrist and finger movement can occasionally be achieved by the current methods of neurotization,the results in terms of restoration of useful hand function are still far from satisfactory. The use of intraplexal and contralateral plexal neurotization combined with free-functioning muscle transfer and the better understanding of central-peripheral function integration may provide more purposeful hand function in the future.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on angiogenesis and neovascularization of conventional nerve grafts was evaluated in 48 rabbits. A 2.5-cm segment of right sciatic nerve was removed and orthotopically repaired.
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