Over the last decade, neuromuscular ultrasound has emerged as a useful tool for the diagnosis of peripheral nerve disorders. This article reviews sonographic findings of normal nerves including key quantitative ultrasound measurements that are helpful in the evaluation of focal and possibly generalized peripheral neuropathies. It also discusses several recent papers outlining the evidence base for the use of this technology, as well as new findings in compressive, traumatic, and generalized neuropathies. Ultrasound is well suited for use in electrodiagnostic laboratories where physicians, experienced in both the clinical evaluation of patients and the application of hands-on technology, can integrate findings from the patient’s history, physical examination, electrophysiological studies, and imaging for diagnosis and management.

Introduction The prevalence of bifid median nerves and persistent median arteries, their co-occurrence, and their relationship to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are only understood partially. Methods We screened 1026 wrists of 513 Latino manual laborers in North Carolina for bifid median nerves and persistent median arteries using electrodiagnosis and ultrasound. Results A total of 8.6% of wrists had a bifid median nerve, and 3.7% of wrists had a persistent median artery independent of subgroup ethnicity, age, gender, or type of work. An association with definite carpal tunnel syndrome was not found. The presence of either anatomic variant was associated with a high likelihood of co-occurrence of another variant in the same or the contralateral wrist. Conclusions The occurrence of median anatomic variants can be determined in field studies using ultrasound. Persistent median arteries and bifid median nerves tend to co-occur but do not put manual laborers at additional risk of developing CTS.

BackgroundWe evaluated the radiological and clinical results of reduction using a dynamic hip screw according to the grade of medial cortical support in patients with AO Foundation and Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification type 31-A2 pertrochanteric fractures.MethodsWe enrolled 100 patients with AO/OTA type 31-A2 fractures with displaced lesser trochanter fragments (length of the cortical area longer than 20 mm on the pelvis anteroposterior view). Patients with positive medial cortical support were assigned to group 1 (n = 28); neutral medial cortical support, group 2 (n = 42); and negative medial cortical support, group 3 (n = 30). Radiological evaluation was done by measuring the change in the femoral neck-shaft angle and sliding distance of the lag screw. Clinical outcomes of each group were compared by means of the walking ability score proposed by Ceder.ResultsGroup 1 showed significantly less changes in the femoral neck-shaft angle and shorter sliding distance than groups 2 and 3. Group 2 showed significantly less changes in the femoral neck-shaft angle and shorter sliding distance than group 3. Group 1 showed significantly higher walking ability scores than group 3 (p = 0.00). The use of trochanter stabilizing plates or fixation using wires for posteromedial wall defect resulted in no significant changes in terms of the femoral neck-shaft angle or sliding distance.ConclusionsIn the treatment of pertrochanteric fractures accompanied by posteromedial wall defect using a dynamic hip screw, reduction with negative cortical support should be avoided.

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