Analysis of outcome reporting in lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy studies: A systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: As a first step towards developing a core outcome set (COS) for lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy, the goal of the current study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to identify outcome measures that have been previously reported in studies on lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature from 2000-2024 was performed utilizing PubMed and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Identified articles were screened according to study inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for common peroneal (fibular) neuropathy.

Objective: Common peroneal (fibular) neuropathy is the most common mononeuropathy of the lower extremity. Despite this, there are surprisingly few studies on the topic, and a knowledge gap remains in the literature. As one attempts to address this knowledge gap, a core outcome set (COS) is needed to guide the planning phases of future studies to allow synthesis and comparability of these studies.

Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for brachial plexus and upper extremity nerve injuries.

Objective: When considering traumatic brachial plexus and upper extremity nerve injuries, iatrogenic nerve injuries, and nontraumatic nerve injuries, brachial plexus and upper extremity nerve injuries are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Despite this, data synthesis and comparison of available studies are difficult. This is at least in part due to the lack of standardization in reporting and a lack of a core outcome set (COS).

Impact of Upper Limb Motor Recovery on Functional Independence After Traumatic Low Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) causes devastating loss of upper limb function and independence. Restoration of upper limb function can have a profound impact on independence and quality of life. In low-cervical SCI (level C5-C8), upper limb function can be restored via reinnervation strategies such as nerve transfer surgery.

Analysis of outcome reporting in common peroneal neuropathy studies: a systematic review of the literature.

Background: There is a strong need for the development of core outcome sets (COS) across nerve surgery to allow for improved data synthesis, meta-analyses, and reporting consistency. Development of a core outcome set typically starts with assessing the literature for previously reported outcome measures. Common peroneal neuropathy (CPN) is the most common compressive mononeuropathy of the lower extremity and can result in pain, motor, and sensory deficits.

Association of upper-limb neurological recovery with functional outcomes in high cervical spinal cord injury.

Objective: High cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) results in complete loss of upper-limb function, resulting in debilitating tetraplegia and permanent disability. Spontaneous motor recovery occurs to varying degrees in some patients, particularly in the 1st year postinjury. However, the impact of this upper-limb motor recovery on long-term functional outcomes remains unknown.

Derivation and Validation of a Clinical Prediction Rule for Upper Limb Functional Outcomes After Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Importance: Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in debilitating paralysis. Following cervical SCI, accurate early prediction of upper limb recovery can serve an important role in guiding the appropriateness and timing of reconstructive therapies.

Objective: To develop a clinical prediction rule to prognosticate upper limb functional recovery after cervical SCI.

Upper Limb Nerve Transfer Surgery in Patients With Tetraplegia.

Importance: Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) causes devastating loss of upper extremity function and independence. Nerve transfers are a promising approach to reanimate upper limbs; however, there remains a paucity of high-quality evidence supporting a clinical benefit for patients with tetraplegia.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of nerve transfers for reanimation of upper limb function in tetraplegia.

Assessment of outcomes in consecutive patients undergoing dorsal scapular nerve decompression.

Objective: Periscapular pain has a broad differential diagnosis. Dorsal scapular neuropathy is part of that differential diagnosis but is often forgotten by clinicians, leading to delayed diagnosis, chronic pain, and potentially worse outcomes. The objective of this study was to describe our method for diagnosis, surgical technique, intraoperative findings, and outcomes in consecutive patients undergoing dorsal scapular nerve (DSN) decompression.

Does complete regression of intraneural ganglion cysts occur without surgery?

Purpose: The dynamic nature of intraneural ganglion cysts, including spontaneous expansion and regression, has been described. However, whether these cysts can regress completely in the absence of surgical management has important therapeutic implications. Therefore, we aim to review the literature for cyst regression without surgical intervention.

Post-operative Stereotactic Radiosurgery of Malignant Melanotic Schwannoma.

Melanotic schwannoma is an extremely rare schwannoma variant with malignant potential, demonstrating high local and distant recurrence. Given the paucity of data, recommended treatment with localized disease is radical resection, with the unclear benefit of adjuvant therapy. We present a case of an 18-year-old female with no past medical history or genetic syndromes who underwent margin-positive resection of an S1 nerve root melanotic schwannoma followed by adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Characteristics of Patients With Complex Limb Pain Evaluated Through an Interdisciplinary Approach Utilizing Magnetic Resonance Neurography.

Patients with persistent complex limb pain represent a substantial diagnostic challenge. Physical exam, and tests such as nerve conduction, are often normal even though the patient suffers from severe pain. In 2015, we initiated a team-based approach to evaluate such patients.

Initial experience with label-free stimulated Raman scattering microscopy for intraoperative assessment of peripheral nerves.

Background: During nerve repair, an intraoperative assessment of the quality of the nerve stump is critically important for achieving a good outcome. Frozen section analysis of osmium-hematoxylin stained sections has not been adopted at many centers, including ours. This has left us with bread-loafing the nerve and visually assessing for healthy fascicles.

Research reporting in cubital tunnel syndrome studies: an analysis of the literature.

Purpose: There is a strong need for a set of consensus outcomes to be utilized for future studies on cubital tunnel syndrome. The goal was to assess the outcome measures utilized in the cubital tunnel syndrome literature as a way of measuring popularity/acceptability and then to perform a literature review for the most commonly used outcomes.

Methods: A literature search was performed using the pubmed.

Machine learning approach to differentiation of peripheral schwannomas and neurofibromas: A multi-center study.

Background: Non-invasive differentiation between schwannomas and neurofibromas is important for appropriate management, preoperative counseling, and surgical planning, but has proven difficult using conventional imaging. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate machine learning approaches for differentiating peripheral schwannomas from neurofibromas.

Methods: We assembled a cohort of schwannomas and neurofibromas from 3 independent institutions and extracted high-dimensional radiomic features from gadolinium-enhanced, T1-weighted MRI using the PyRadiomics package on Quantitative Imaging Feature Pipeline.

Clinical Features, Natural History, and Outcomes of Intraneural Perineuriomas: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Intraneural perineurioma is a rare peripheral nerve sheath tumor characterized by localized proliferation of perineurial cells. The literature consists predominantly of case reports and institutional series, with inconsistent and confusing nomenclature. We present a pooled analysis of all reported cases of intraneural perineurioma in the literature.

Machine-Learning Approach to Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Clinicoradiologic differentiation between benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) has important management implications.

Objective: To develop and evaluate machine-learning approaches to differentiate benign from malignant PNSTs.

Methods: We identified PNSTs treated at 3 institutions and extracted high-dimensional radiomics features from gadolinium-enhanced, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences.

Assessment of variability in motor grading and patient-reported outcome reporting: a multi-specialty, multi-national survey.

Background: The goal of this survey-based study was to evaluate the current practice patterns of clinicians who assess patients with peripheral nerve pathologies and to assess variance in motor grading on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale using example case vignettes.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to clinicians who regularly assess patients with peripheral nerve pathology. Survey sections included (1) demographic data, (2) vignettes where respondents were asked to assess on the MRC scale, and (3) assessment of practice patterns regarding the use of patient-reported outcome measures.

Analysis of the effect of intraoperative neuromonitoring during resection of benign nerve sheath tumors on gross-total resection and neurological complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the role of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) during resection of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors in achieving gross-total resection (GTR) and in reducing postoperative neurological complications.

Methods: Data from consecutive adult patients who underwent resection of a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor at 7 participating institutions were combined. Propensity score matching was used to balance covariates.

Allograft Nerve Repair Reduces Postoperative Neuropathic Pain Following Nerve Biopsy.

Background: New or worsened neuropathic pain is common following nerve biopsy and significantly impacts quality of life.

Objective: To examine the impact of allograft nerve repair on the likelihood of postoperative worsened neuropathic pain following nerve biopsy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed comparing standard nerve biopsy to nerve biopsy with allograft repair.

Imaging of Damaged Nerves.

Nerve imaging is an important component in the assessment of patients presenting with suspected peripheral nerve pathology. Although magnetic resonance neurography and ultrasound are the most commonly utilized techniques, several promising new modalities are on the horizon. Nerve imaging is useful in localizing the nerve injury, determining the severity, providing prognostic information, helping establish the diagnosis, and helping guide surgical decision making.