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Drăghici NC, Văcăraș V, Bolchis R, Bashimov A, Domnița DM, Iluț S, Popa LL, Lupescu TD, Mureșanu DF. Diagnostic Approach to Lower Limb Entrapment Neuropathies: A Narrative Literature Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3385. [PMID: 37958280 PMCID: PMC10647627 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13213385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Entrapment neuropathies of the lower limb are a misunderstood and underdiagnosed group of disorders, characterized by pain and dysesthesia, muscular weakness, and specific provoking movements on physical examination. The most frequent of these syndromes encountered in clinical practice are fibular nerve entrapment, proximal tibial neuropathy, sural nerve neuropathy, deep gluteal syndrome or sciatic nerve entrapment, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment, also known as meralgia paresthetica. These are commonly mistaken for lumbar plexopathies, radiculopathies, and musculotendinous diseases, which appear even more frequently and have overlapping clinical presentations. A comprehensive anamnesis, physical examination, and electrodiagnostic studies should help clarify the diagnosis. If the diagnosis is still unclear or a secondary cause of entrapment is suspected, magnetic resonance neurography, MRI, or ultrasonography should be conducted to clarify the etiology, rule out other diseases, and confirm the diagnosis. The aim of this narrative review was to help clinicians gain familiarity with this disease, with an increase in diagnostic confidence, leading to early diagnosis of nerve damage and prevention of muscle atrophy. We reviewed the epidemiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, etiology, clinical presentation, and EDX technique and interpretation of the entrapment neuropathies of the lower limb, using articles published from 1970 to 2022 included in the Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicu Cătălin Drăghici
- “IMOGEN” Institute, Centre of Advanced Research Studies, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- “RoNeuro” Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, 400364 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (L.L.P.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vitalie Văcăraș
- “RoNeuro” Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, 400364 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (L.L.P.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Roxana Bolchis
- Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (R.B.)
| | - Atamyrat Bashimov
- Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (R.B.)
| | - Diana Maria Domnița
- Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (R.B.)
| | - Silvina Iluț
- “RoNeuro” Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, 400364 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (L.L.P.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Livia Livinț Popa
- “RoNeuro” Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, 400364 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (L.L.P.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Tudor Dimitrie Lupescu
- “RoNeuro” Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, 400364 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (L.L.P.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Dafin Fior Mureșanu
- “RoNeuro” Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, 400364 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (L.L.P.)
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Guiloff RJ, Campero M, Barraza GR, Treede RD, Matamala JM, Castillo JL. Pain-Related Vertex Evoked Potentials. Comparison of Surface Electrical to Heat Stimulation. J Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 40:616-624. [PMID: 37931163 DOI: 10.1097/wnp.0000000000000929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Demonstration of nociceptive fiber abnormality is important for diagnosing neuropathic pain and small fiber neuropathies. This is usually assessed by brief heat pulses using lasers, contact heat, or special electrodes. We hypothesized that pain-related evoked potentials to conventional surface electrical stimulation (PREPse) can index Aδ afferences despite tactile Aß fibers coactivation. PREPse may be more readily used clinically than contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPS). METHODS Twenty-eight healthy subjects. Vertex (Cz-A1/A2) recordings. Electrical stimulation of middle finger and second toe with conventional ring, and forearm/leg skin with cup, electrodes. Contact heat stimulation to forearm and leg. Compression ischemic nerve blockade. RESULTS PREPse peripheral velocities were within the midrange of Aδ fibers. N1-P1 amplitude increased with pain numerical rating scale graded (0-10) electrical stimulation (n = 25) and decreased with increasing stimulation frequency. Amplitudes were unchanged by different presentation orders of four stimulation intensities. PREPse N1 (∼130 milliseconds) and N2 (∼345 milliseconds) peaks were approximately 40 milliseconds earlier than that with CHEPS. PREPse and CHEPS N1-N2 interpeak latency (∼207 milliseconds) were similar. PREPse became unrecordable with nerve blockade of Aδ fibers. CONCLUSIONS PREPse earlier N1 and N2 peaks, and similar interpeak N1-N2 latencies and central conduction velocities, or synaptic delays, to CHEPS are consistent with direct stimulation of Aδ fibers. The relation of vertex PREPse amplitude and pain, or the differential effects of frequency stimulation, is similar to pain-related evoked potential to laser, special electrodes, or contact heat stimulation. The relationship to Aδ was validated by conduction velocity and nerve block. Clinical utility of PREPse compared with CHEPS needs validation in somatosensory pathways lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto J Guiloff
- Faculty of Medicine University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario Campero
- Faculty of Medicine University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo R Barraza
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jose M Matamala
- Faculty of Medicine University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Neurological Science, Hospital El Salvador, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jose L Castillo
- Department of Neurological Science, Hospital El Salvador, Santiago, Chile
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Bubenzer LJ, Konsolke L, Enax-Krumova E, Eberhardt F, Tegenthoff M, Höffken O, Özgül ÖS. Pain-related evoked potentials with concentric surface electrodes in patients and healthy subjects: a systematic review. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1581-1594. [PMID: 37555924 PMCID: PMC10471670 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02690-3] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Pain-related evoked potentials with concentric surface electrodes (PREP with CE) have been increasingly used in the diagnostics of polyneuropathies as well as in pain research. However, the study results are partly inconsistent regarding their utility to distinguish between normal and abnormal findings. The present systematic review aimed to summarise and compare study results, where PREP with CE were used in healthy subjects or patients and to identify possible influencing factors. We found 36 research articles, of which 21 investigated disorders in patients compared to healthy controls, while the other 15 focussed on basic research in healthy subjects. Patients with polyneuropathies showed the most consistent PREP results with similar prolonged latencies and reduced amplitude values. Findings in other patient groups or in healthy subjects were more heterogeneous. There was evidence for an influence by age and height as well as by central effects like emotions, which should be considered in further studies. Further systematic research analysing PREP results depending on individual and disease-specific factors is needed to develop optimal normative values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Josephine Bubenzer
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil gGmbH, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lena Konsolke
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil gGmbH, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Elena Enax-Krumova
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil gGmbH, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Frederic Eberhardt
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil gGmbH, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Martin Tegenthoff
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil gGmbH, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Oliver Höffken
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil gGmbH, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Özüm Simal Özgül
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil gGmbH, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany.
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