Ultrasonography in neuralgic amyotrophy: Sensitivity, spectrum of findings, and clinical correlations

Abstract

Ultrasonography may be used as a diagnostic aid in neuralgic amyotrophy, which was hitherto a clinical and electrophysiological diagnosis, and may also help in identifying potential surgical candidates. Muscle Nerve 56: 1054-1062, 2017.

Fascicular constrictions above elbow typify anterior interosseous nerve syndrome

“…In this study, the majority (99%) of FCs of the median nerve proper were located at or above the elbow joint line, consistent with previous operative and imaging reports . We found posteriorly/posteromedially positioned FCs in 91% of site 1 patients, for which the mean distance was 4.7 cm proximal to the elbow joint line.…”

“…Arányi et al reported a correlation between the presence of complete or incomplete constriction and clinical outcomes of nonoperative treatment in a series of PTS patients . Constriction severity was not measured in the current study, however, as we believe that the acquired spatial resolution (both with MRN and US) is currently insufficient to grade the precise severity of a constriction at the fascicular level.…”

“…Previous reports have described PTS‐associated nerve constrictions as having a twisted appearance or torsion; however, although torsion has been reported in whole nerve segments, it has not been observed at the fascicular level. We did not appreciate torsion of median nerve fascicles on imaging in any of the patients in the present study.…”

“…Parsonage and Turner's original series of 136 patients described 6 subjects with AIN involvement. Recent reports have documented AIN involvement in as many as 18% to 33% of all PTS patients …”

Neuromuscular Ultrasound: A call for training and education

“…For many academic and some community practices, NMUS is a standard tool for evaluating mononeuropathies and guiding procedures . Clinical research in the field has bloomed, with NMUS demonstrating potential in the evaluation of myopathies, motor neuron diseases, inflammatory neuropathies, brachial plexopathies, nerve trauma, diaphragmatic weakness, and nerve tumors . Reinforcing the impression that NMUS is growing, a PubMed search (performed October 5, 2017) of the keywords, “nerve ultrasound,” reveals 642 publications in the year 2000 and 2,338 citations in 2016.…”