Effects of Electroacupuncture on Muscle State and Electrophysiological Changes in Rabbits With Lumbar Nerve Root Compression.

Effects of electroacupuncture on muscle state and electrophysiological changes in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression.

Chin J Integr Med. 2013 Jun; 19(6): 446-52
Sun YJ, Wu YC, Zhang JF, Zhang P, Tang ZY

To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on force-displacement value (FDV) of muscle state and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression.Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a control, a model, an electro-acupuncture acupoints (EAA), a medication, and an electro-acupuncture un-acupoints (EAU) group. All rabbits except those in the control group were subject to modeling (surgical lumbar nerve root compression). The control group was sham-operated without nerve root compression. The EAA group received electro-acupuncture at bilateral Shenshu (BL23) and Dachangshu (BL25) that were located 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline on the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd and 4th lumbar vertebra, respectively. The EA was 15 mm deep and the frequency was 2 Hz. Each session lasted for 20 min per day for a total of 14 times. The medication group was treated with Loxoprofen sodium by gastrogavage at 4 mg/kg per day for 14 days. The EAU group received electro-acupuncture identical to the EAA group with regard to the treatment frequency and duration except a different acupoint at the tip of rabbit tail. Muscle states were determined by measuring FDVs of the bilateral biceps femoris using the Myotonometer® fast muscle state detector. Meanwhile, the prolonged and non-prolonged insertion potentials were measured by electromyography before and after modeling and after treatment. Latency, amplitude (Amp) of evoked potential, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were also determined after treatment.(1) After modeling, FDVs of right side activation (RSA, P=0.003) and right side relaxation (RSR) in the model group (P=0.000) were significantly decreased in comparison to the control group. The number of rabbits with non-prolonged insertion potentials in the model group was also significantly decreased (P=0.015) in comparison to the control group. (2) After treatment, FDVs of RSR were significantly increased in the EAA (P=0.000) and medication groups (P=0.018) in comparison to the model group. The increase in FDVs of RSR in the EAA group was significantly higher than that in EAU (P=0.000) and medication groups (P=0.002). MNCV in the model group was reduced compared with the control group (P=0.000). The reduction in MNCV after modeling was reversed in the EAA group (P=0.000) and medication group (P=0.008) after treatment and the increases were significant in both treatment groups in comparison to the model group. The EAA group had a greater MNCV recovery than the medication group (P=0.022).Electro-acupuncture could improve the rehabilitation and regeneration of FDVs and the electrophysiology index of the muscle with nerve control impairment. HubMed – rehab

 

Fracture of the talar neck associated with a compression fracture of the calcaneocuboid joint in a 5-year-old child: a case report.

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2013 Jun 20;
Godoy-Santos AL, Albuquerque DM, Diniz-Fernandes T, Rammelt S

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this present case study are to report a rare combination of a displaced talar neck fracture with a compression fracture of the calcaneocuboid joint in a 5-year-old child and to describe its radiological features, surgical treatment and clinical outcome. A 5-year-old male boy was injured in a car accident in which his left foot underwent one of the tires. On arrival at the hospital, a displaced talar neck fracture associated both with a cuboid fracture and compression of the articular surface of the cuboid at the calcaneocuboid join was identified. Fractures were fixed surgically. Leg was protected with a below-knee plaster split immobilization and non-weight-bearing for 5 weeks. After that period, the patient initiated a rehabilitation protocol with active and passive motion exercises. DISCUSSION: Fractures and fracture dislocations at the mid-tarsal joint have an important impact on the global foot function because malunion can result in post-traumatic arthritis and three-dimensional deformities of the foot. If a cuboid compression fracture is not reduced properly, it can result in the shortening of the lateral column with the development of an abduction, pronation and flat foot deformity. A talar neck fracture, if unreduced, can result in medial column displacement and rotational dislocation of the talar head, leading to a subluxation in the talonavicular joint with severe restriction of foot function. With early surgical treatment and open reduction and internal fixation, our patient recovered from the accident without having symptoms of pain, avascular necrosis, postoperative foot deformities or neurovascular deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a displaced talar neck fracture with a compression fracture of the calcaneocuboid joint in children usually requires correct diagnoses and early treatment with anatomic reduction and internal fixation to prevent severe post-traumatic deformities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V. HubMed – rehab

 

Changes in the Clinical Spectrum of Cerebral Palsy over Two Decades in North India–An Analysis of 1212 Cases.

J Trop Pediatr. 2013 Jun 19;
Singhi P, Saini AG

Background: Clinical spectrum of cerebral palsy (CP) is different in developing and developed countries. We evaluated the clinical profile, etiological factors and co-morbidities of children with CP in North India, and compared with our previous study.Methods: 1212 children with CP registered in last 10 years in our rehabilitation center were compared with our previous study of 1000 children from same center.Results: Spastic quadriplegia is the commonest type of CP (51.5%) although lesser than previous decade (61%). Birth asphyxia remains the main (51.98%) etiological factor as earlier (45.3%). CP due to CNS infections decreased from 63.5% to 57.4%, due to bilirubin-encephalopathy remained same (?30%). Speech problems (83.7%), microcephaly (64.27%), seizures (44.5%) and intellectual disability (38.61%) are common co-morbidities. Common neuroimaging findings include hypoxic-ischemic changes and periventricular leucomalacia.Conclusion: The spectrum of CP is evolving in the developing countries with an increase in diplegic and a decrease in quadriplegic CP. HubMed – rehab

 

The five-repetition sit-to-stand test as a functional outcome measure in COPD.

Thorax. 2013 Jun 19;
Jones SE, Kon SS, Canavan JL, Patel MS, Clark AL, Nolan CM, Polkey MI, Man WD

BACKGROUND: Moving from sitting to standing is a common activity of daily living. The five-repetition sit-to-stand test (5STS) is a test of lower limb function that measures the fastest time taken to stand five times from a chair with arms folded. The 5STS has been validated in healthy community-dwelling adults, but data in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) populations are lacking. AIMS: To determine the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the 5STS in patients with COPD. METHODS: Test-retest and interobserver reliability of the 5STS was measured in 50 patients with COPD. To address construct validity we collected data on the 5STS, exercise capacity (incremental shuttle walk (ISW)), lower limb strength (quadriceps maximum voluntary contraction (QMVC)), health status (St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)) and composite mortality indices (Age Dyspnoea Obstruction index (ADO), BODE index (iBODE)). Responsiveness was determined by measuring 5STS before and after outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in 239 patients. Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) was estimated using anchor-based methods. RESULTS: Test-retest and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. 5STS time correlated significantly with ISW, QMVC, SGRQ, ADO and iBODE (r=-0.59, -0.38, 0.35, 0.42 and 0.46, respectively; all p<0.001). Median (25th, 75th centiles) 5STS time decreased with PR (Pre: 14.1 (11.5, 21.3) vs Post: 12.4 (10.2, 16.3) s; p<0.001). Using different anchors, a conservative estimate for the MCID was 1.7 s. CONCLUSIONS: The 5STS is reliable, valid and responsive in patients with COPD with an estimated MCID of 1.7 s. It is a practical functional outcome measure suitable for use in most healthcare settings. HubMed – rehab