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Alare K, Salam T, Abioye E, Utah F, Balogun O, Adedokun P, Moradeyo A, Adeniran-Yusuf A, Soyinka E, Egbo C, Alao A. The outcomes of peripheral nerve surgeries in Africa: Narrative synthesis from existing literature. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2024; 244:108419. [PMID: 38986367 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2024.108419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Africa, peripheral nerve pathologies are a major source of disability, and the results of surgical therapies differ greatly among countries. The goal of this narrative review is to compile the most recent data on peripheral nerve surgery results in Africa, pinpoint critical variables that affect surgical outcomes, and offer suggestions for enhancing patient care. METHODS A comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on studies published over the past four decades. The sources included peer-reviewed journals, hospital records, and reports from healthcare organizations. The review examined outcomes related to functional recovery, quality of life, and postoperative complications. RESULTS The outcomes of peripheral nerve surgeries in Africa are influenced by the availability of medical infrastructure, the level of surgeon expertise, and the timeliness of the intervention. Urban centers with better resources tend to report more favorable outcomes, whereas rural areas face significant challenges. Common barriers include limited access to advanced surgical tools, a shortage of specialized surgeons, and inadequate postoperative care and rehabilitation services. Despite these challenges, successful interventions have been reported, particularly in settings where targeted training programs and international collaborations are in place. CONCLUSION Enhancing surgeon training programs, building comprehensive postoperative care and rehabilitation facilities, and investing in healthcare infrastructure are critical to improving peripheral nerve surgery results in Africa. International and regional collaborations can be extremely helpful in advancing these initiatives by enabling the sharing of knowledge and granting access to cutting-edge methods. Patients with peripheral nerve injuries across the continent may experience improved functional recovery and overall quality of life if these criteria are met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kehinde Alare
- Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
| | - Temiloluwa Salam
- Department of Medicine, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria
| | - Elishama Abioye
- Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
| | - Francisca Utah
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria
| | - Opeyemi Balogun
- Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
| | - Precious Adedokun
- Department of Surgery, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
| | - Abdulrahmon Moradeyo
- Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
| | | | | | | | - Adedoyin Alao
- Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
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Yang Y, Li T, Deng Y, Wang J, Li Y, Liu H, Wang W. Dynamic alternations of interhemispheric functional connectivity in brachial plexus avulsion injury patients with nerve transfer: a resting state fMRI study. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad415. [PMID: 37955665 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Brachial plexus avulsion injury (BPAI) is a severe peripheral nerve injury that leads to functional reorganization of the brain. However, the interhemispheric coordination following contralateral cervical 7 nerve transfer remains unclear. In this study, 69 BPAI patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging examination to assess the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC), which reveals the interhemispheric functional connection. The motor function of the affected upper extremity was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) scale. The VMHC analysis showed significant differences between the bilateral precentral gyrus, supplementary motor area (SMA), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and insula. Compared to the preoperative group, the VMHC of the precentral gyrus significantly increased in the postoperative short-term group (PO-ST group) but decreased in the postoperative long-term group (PO-LT group). Additionally, the VMHC of the SMA significantly increased in the PO-LT group. Furthermore, the VMHC of the precentral gyrus in the PO-ST group and the SMA in the PO-LT group were positively correlated with the FMA-UE scores. These findings highlight a positive relationship between motor recovery and increased functional connectivity of precentral gyrus and SMA, which provide possible therapeutic targets for future neuromodulation interventions to improve rehabilitation outcomes for BPAI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Tie Li
- Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yan Deng
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Junlong Wang
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yajie Li
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, No. 130 Dongan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hanqiu Liu
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
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Bateman EA, Larocerie-Salgado J, Ross DC, Miller TA, Pripotnev S. Assessment, patient selection, and rehabilitation of nerve transfers. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2023; 4:1267433. [PMID: 38058570 PMCID: PMC10696649 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1267433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries are common and can have a devastating effect on physical, psychological, and socioeconomic wellbeing. Peripheral nerve transfers have become the standard of care for many types of peripheral nerve injury due to their superior outcomes relative to conventional techniques. As the indications for, and use of, nerve transfers expand, the importance of pre-operative assessment and post-operative optimization increases. There are two principal advantages of nerve transfers: (1) their ability to shorten the time to reinnervation of muscles undergoing denervation because of peripheral nerve injury; and (2) their specificity in ensuring proximal motor and sensory axons are directed towards appropriate motor and sensory targets. Compared to conventional nerve grafting, nerve transfers offer opportunities to reinnervate muscles affected by cervical spinal cord injury and to augment natural reinnervation potential for very proximal injuries. This article provides a narrative review of the current scientific knowledge and clinical understanding of nerve transfers including peripheral nerve injury assessment and pre- and post-operative electrodiagnostic testing, adjuvant therapies, and post-operative rehabilitation for optimizing nerve transfer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma A. Bateman
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Parkwood Institute, St Joseph’s Health Care London, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Douglas C. Ross
- Roth McFarlane Hand & Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph’s Health Care London, London, ON, Canada
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas A. Miller
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Parkwood Institute, St Joseph’s Health Care London, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stahs Pripotnev
- Roth McFarlane Hand & Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph’s Health Care London, London, ON, Canada
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Li H, Chen J, Wang J, Zhang T, Chen Z. Review of rehabilitation protocols for brachial plexus injury. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1084223. [PMID: 37139070 PMCID: PMC10150106 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1084223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is one of the most serious peripheral nerve injuries, resulting in severe and persistent impairments of the upper limb and disability in adults and children alike. With the relatively mature early diagnosis and surgical technique of brachial plexus injury, the demand for rehabilitation treatment after brachial plexus injury is gradually increasing. Rehabilitation intervention can be beneficial to some extent during all stages of recovery, including the spontaneous recovery period, the postoperative period, and the sequelae period. However, due to the complex composition of the brachial plexus, location of injury, and the different causes, the treatment varies. A clear rehabilitation process has not been developed yet. Rehabilitation therapy that has been widely studied focusing on exercise therapy, sensory training, neuroelectromagnetic stimulation, neurotrophic factors, acupuncture and massage therapy, etc., while interventions like hydrotherapy, phototherapy, and neural stem cell therapy are less studied. In addition, rehabilitation methods in some special condition and group often neglected, such as postoperative edema, pain, and neonates. The purpose of this article is to explore the potential contributions of various methods to brachial plexus injury rehabilitation and to provide a concise overview of the interventions that have been shown to be beneficial. The key contribution of this article is to form relatively clear rehabilitation processes based on different periods and populations, which provides an important reference for the treatment of brachial plexus injuries.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review advances in the diagnostic evaluation and management of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries. RECENT FINDINGS Serial multimodal assessment of peripheral nerve injuries facilitates assessment of spontaneous axonal regeneration and selection of appropriate patients for early surgical intervention. Novel surgical and rehabilitative approaches have been developed to complement established strategies, particularly in the area of nerve grafting, targeted rehabilitation strategies and interventions to promote nerve regeneration. However, several management challenges remain, including incomplete reinnervation, traumatic neuroma development, maladaptive central remodeling and management of fatigue, which compromise functional recovery. SUMMARY Innovative approaches to the assessment and treatment of peripheral nerve injuries hold promise in improving the degree of functional recovery; however, this remains a complex and evolving area.
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