[Association of upper extremity anthropometry and subcutaneus adipose tissue with carpal tunnel syndrome]

Background and purpose

Body mass index (BMI) is positively correlated with the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, there are different types of obesity, and the localization of adipose tissue differs between the genders. In this study, we purposed to investigate whether there was an association between the amount of local adipose tissue thickness and anthropometry in upper extremity with the presence and/or electrophysiological severity of CTS on both genders.

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Methods

Our study included 150 patients who were diagnosed with CTS clinically and electrophysiologically and 165 healthy controls. The biceps and triceps skinfold thickness, the diameters of the wrist and metacarpal joints, and the upper arm circumferences over the belly of the biceps muscle were measured by using skinfold caliper and measuring cylinder. All data were analyzed by using the Statistics Open For All package (SofaStats) programme. To detect the role of anthropometric indexes, we used multivariable multinomial logistic regression models. 

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Results

We revealed that BMI, biceps and triceps adipose tissue thicknesses were higher in females and also in patients with CTS. There was a positive correlation between electrophysiological grades of CTS and BMI with logistic regression analyzes. The mean Wrist circumference/Metacarpo­ph­arengeal Circumference ratio and biceps circumference were higher in moderate CTS groups. Metacarpofarengeal circumference was smaller in mild and moderate CTS cases compared to healthy ones.

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Conclusion

We suggest that the differen­ces between the anatomical bone structure and local adiposity between the genders may play an important role in the occurrence of CTS. Moreover, the structures of proximal muscle groups and distal metacarpal joints may contribute both to the development and severity of CTS.

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Effects of cognitive status on outcomes of groin hernia repair using various anesthesia techniques

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Because of increasing life expectancy, there is an increasing number of cognitively impaired older individuals undergoing surgeries such as groin hernia repair. Here, we evaluated the effects of cognitive status on postoperative complication rates in patients undergoing groin hernia repair using various anesthesia techniques. We also analyzed the rate of same-day hernia surgery in patients with cognitive decline.

METHODS

Patients who presented to our general surgery clinic for unilateral or bilateral inguinal or femoral hernia were prospectively classified into general (group 1), local (group 2), and spinal (group 3) anesthesia groups. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used for preoperative evaluation of each patient's cognitive status. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate postoperative pain. Groups were compared in terms of age, MMSE and VAS scores, cognitive decline and complication rates, and surgery duration.

RESULTS

In total, 33 (35.1%), 30 (31.9%), and 31 (33.0%) of 94 patients underwent surgery using general, local, and spinal anesthesia, respectively. The mean MMSE score did not differ among groups (p = 0.518). Cognitive decline was present in 18 (19.2%) patients, and the proportion did not significantly differ among groups. The complication rate did not differ between patients with and without cognitive decline. The mean surgery duration was similar among the three groups (p = 0.127). Group 2 had a lower mean postoperative VAS score, compared with the other groups (p < 0.001). Complications because of anesthesia and surgery were significantly more common in group 3 than in the other groups (p = 0.025). In the local anesthesia group, 7 patients had cognitive decline and 22 patients had normal cognition. There were no significant differences between patients with and without cognitive decline in terms of mean surgery duration (50.3 ± 15.4 min vs. 45.2 ± 10.7 min; p = 0.338) or mean VAS score (3.14 ± 0.90 vs. 3.13 ± 0.77; p = 0.985). Among the 22 and 7 patients without and with cognitive decline, 11 (50%) and 0 patients were discharged on the same day (p = 0.025). In the local anesthesia group, the respective median ages were 70, 52, and 59 years for patients with cognitive decline, patients with normal cognition discharged on the same day, and patients with normal cognition who were not discharged on the same day (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Groin hernia repair was successfully performed under local anesthesia in all patients, including older patients with cognitive decline. Patients with cognitive decline were not discharged on the day of surgery, although the mean surgery duration and postoperative VAS score did not differ between patients with and without cognitive decline. Prolonged hospitalization in patients with cognitive decline may be related to their advanced age. Further studies are needed to determine the safety of same-day surgery in patients with cognitive decline.

Median to ulnar nerve comparison on diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy - A neurophysiological study

Background and purpose – To analyze the utility of median nerve (MN) to ulnar nerve (UN) comparative parameters on the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in diabetic patients with distal symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSMPNP).

Methods – Patients who were referred to our electroneuromyography laboratory within the last two years were included. We compared the diagnostic accuracy values of traditional MN conduction parameters, and the MN-to-UN comparative tests on electrodiagnosis of CTS between the patients with DSMPNP involving the nerves of upper and lower extremities (UEI-positive group), and the ones without the involvement of upper extremities (UEI-negative group).

Results – There were 64 upper extremities in the UEI-positive group and 70 patients in the UEI-negative group. The most accurate traditional parameter was MN distal motor latency (DML) with a diagnostic accuracy of 70.2% whereas the most accurate comparative technique was the second lumbricalinterosseous DML difference (2L-INT DMLD) with an accuracy of 81.3%. (p=0.03). In addition, when compared diagnostic accuracy values of MN parameters with their corresponding comparative parameters in the UEI-positive group which carries the major diagnostic challenges for detecting co-morbid CTS, MN to UN minimum F wave latency (mFWL) difference, SNAP amplitude ratio on the ring finger (RF), and 2L-INT DMLD had higher accuracy values than MN mFWL, MN SNAP amplitude on RF, and MN DML on lumbrical muscle, respectively (p<0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusion – MN to UN comparative studies have high accuracy values in electrodiagnosis of CTS in DSMPNP. In particular, 2L-INT DMLD could be helpful to overcome the diagnostic difficulty in the presence of UEI as an additional conduction technique.

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Diagnostic values of conventional conduction parameters in ulnar neuropathy at elbow

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Conventional parameters used in electrodiagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at elbow (UNE) are: (i) absolute across-elbow ulnar nerve motor conduction velocity (MCV), (ii) reduction rate of composed muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude from above to below elbow stimulation, and (iii) MCV difference between forearm and across-elbow segment. We aimed to search the diagnostic accuracy values of these parameters on UNE, and their correlations with axonal dysfunction of ulnar nerve fibers.

METHODS

Arms with clinical signs of UNE and two-fold healthy controls were included. We detected the best cut off points of the measured parameters and their possible combinations. Their diagnostic accuracy values and correlations with parameters reflecting the axonal functions were analyzed, statistically.

RESULTS

Totally, 118 arms with UNE and 236 controls were included. Absolute across-elbow MCV yielded a higher accuracy than MCV difference and reduction rate of CMAP amplitude (p = 0.010 and p˂0.001, respectively). Besides, combining it with other parameters did not increase the diagnostic yield. Correlation analyses revealed that the only parameter having positive linear correlations with sensory nerve action potential amplitudes both in the control and the disease groups is the absolute across-elbow MCV. The absolute across-elbow MCVs have also positive linear correlation with CMAP amplitudes in disease group.

CONCLUSION

The absolute across-elbow MCV is the most valuable conventional parameter for the electrodiagnosis of UNE. It is also the most correlated parameter with the electrodiagnostic parameters reflecting the axonal functions of the ulnar nerve fibers.

Abdominal epilepsia partialis continua in a patient with astrocytoma treated with Lacosamide - value of repetitive EEG recordings

OBJECTIVE

Isolated abdominal epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) without the involvement of other body parts is rarely seen. Abdominal EPC usually occurs either as a part of hemibody EPC or as an evolution of refractory EPC after initial treatment. As the isolated abdominal EPC was rarely reported up to date, the data regarding its pathophysiology and management are limited. Herein, we aimed to describe the clinical, neuroimaging, and electroencephalographic findings of a patient with abdominal EPC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 48-year-old woman with a history of surgical resection for right posterior frontal astrocytoma was admitted with left abdominal EPC. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a residual mass lesion and encephalomalacia in the right frontoparietal region.

RESULTS

Although the initial electroencephalography (EEG) was normal, independent spikes were detected in the right frontal and parietal derivations in the second EEG. Although her EPC was refractory to levetiracetam, lamotrigine, phenytoin, and gabapentin, oral lacosamide treatment ceased the seizures.

CONCLUSIONS

The history of this patient emphasizes the necessity of repetitive recordings in case of a normal initial EEG. The independent spikes in her frontal and parietal regions suggested the presence of a large epileptogenic zone generating independent epileptiform activities in the pre-central motor cortex and the post-central sensory cortex as the pathophysiologic phenomena in persistent abdominal EPC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report presenting a patient experiencing an abdominal EPC due to a cerebral mass resolved with lacosamide suggesting this drug is a promising treatment option in resistant EPC.

Coexistence of COVID-19 and acute ischemic stroke report of four cases

Coronaviruses are revealed to target the human respiratory system mainly. However, they also have neuro-invasive abilities and might spread from the respiratory system to the central nervous system. Herein, we report four patients with COVID-19 simultaneously diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. There were four stroke cases with simultaneously diagnosis of Covid-19 till the April 14, 2020 in the city of Sakarya, Turkey. They were aged between 45 and 77 years. All four cases were likely to have contracted the virus in Sakarya. The patients had all commonly reported symptoms of Covid-19. Three patients have elevated D-dimer levels, and two of them had high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. They were managed symptomatically for both the infection and the stroke. Our findings suggest that ischemic cerebrovascular diseases may simultaneously develop in the course of Covid-19 independently of the critical disease process. Increased inflammation predicted by CRP and D-dimer levels may play a role in the formation of ischemia. In particular, elder patients with prothrombotic risk factors should also be considered for the signs of cerebrovascular events in addition to infectious symptoms.

Ring finger sensorial conduction studies in grading carpal tunnel syndrome: Part II

BACKGROUND

Comparison of sensory conduction of median nerve (MN) with the one of ulnar nerve (UN) over writs-to-ring finger (RF) segment is useful in electrodiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, there is not any consensus regarding the usage of this technique in grading of CTS.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the hands of CTS with elicitable MN sensory responses on index finger, but not on RF (non-respondings) compose a more severe electrophysiologic grade than the hands with elicitable responses on both fingers (respondings).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The patients with bilateral moderate grade of CTS in whom one hand was responding and the contralateral hand was non-responding were included. Conduction study results of MN and UN were compared between respondings and non-respondings.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients were included. Mean distal sensory onset latency (DSOL) of MN over index finger was longer (4.26 ± 0.49 msec versus 3.44 ± 0.39 msec; p< 0.001), sensory conduction velocity (SCV) was slower (33.7 ± 4.3 m/sec versus 40.2 ± 3.0 m/sec; p< 0.001), SNAP amplitude was smaller (10.3 ± 3.3 μV versus 19.1 ± 7.7 μV; p< 0.001), distal motor latency was longer (5.69 ± 0.60 msec versus 4.63 ± 0.32 msec; p< 0.001), and minimum F wave latency was longer (29.3 ± 1.7 msec versus 26.8 ± 1.4 msec; p< 0.001) in non-respondings than respondings. The nonresponding hand had a longer MN DSOL and slower SCV on index finger compared with contralateral responding hand in all of 19 patients.

CONCLUSION

Non-responding hands have more progressed median neuropathies, and represent a more severe electrophysiologic grade than responding hands. Further studies are warranted to determine whether the absence of MN sensory responses on ring finger is related with forthcoming NCS worsening and a preferable hallmark for deciding surgical intervention or not.

[Vertebrobasilar artery dolichoectesia and pain; coincidence or etiology?]

Dolichoectesia is described as elongation, widening, and tortuosity of an artery. Most commonly involved vessels are the intracranial vertebral and basilar arteries. Vertebrobasilar artery dolichoectesia is usually asymptomatic. Cerebral ischemia, hemorrhage, or compression findings due to mass effect can be seen in symptomatic patients. Although there are case reports of trigeminal neuralgia due to fifth cranial nerve compression in the literature, to the best of our knowledge, neither hemicranial nor continuous facial pain secondary to vertebrobasilar artery dolichoectesia has been reported previously. Presently described is case of a 42-year-old male with vertebrobasilar dolichoectesia who had complaint of continuous right-sided hemicranial pain, and his 19-year-old niece, who presented with continuous right-sided facial pain.

Does the comparison of median-to-ulnar nerve sensory conduction add an additional value in electrodiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Background and purpose

Distal sensory onset latency (DSOL), conduction velocity (SCV) and nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes are used in electrodiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) beside motor conduction data. The aim of our study is to search whether the comparison of median-to-ulnar nerve sensory conduction adds an additional diagnostic value in CTS or not.

Methods

Median and ulnar nerve were stimulated on wrist, and SNAPs were recorded on second and fifth fingers, respectively. Best cut-off points for the searched parameters and their diagnostic efficiencies were determined. The cut off points were also stratified according to the age and gender, and their diagnostic efficiencies were calculated again.

Results

The study includes 415 hands belong to 344 subjects. Best cut off points for median nerve DSOL and SCV were 2.7 msec and 49.0 m/sec with the diagnostic efficiencies of 87.7% and 88.7%, respectively. Best cut off points for DSOL difference and SCV difference were 0.62 msec and 4.0 m/sec, and efficiencies were 89.6% and 84.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

Determining the relative elongation of median nerve DSOL to the ulnar nerve one has a little additional value in electrodiagnosis of CTS, whereas any additional value is not obtained from SCV comparison.

Ring finger sensorial conduction studies in grading carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Comparing the distal sensory latencies of median and ulnar nerve over wrist-to-ring finger (RF) segment is a sensitive conduction parameter in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However to the best of our knowledge, there is not any research questioning whether the RF studies are useful in grading the CTS or not.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the hands with moderate degree CTS and elicitable median nerve sensory responses over second finger and unelicitable responses over RF represent a more severe electrophysiological grade than the hands with elicitable responses over both fingers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In patients with clinical diagnosis with CTS, obtained values on sensory and motor nerve conduction studies of median and ulnar nerves were compared between median nerve-to-RF sensorial responders (group 1) and nonresponders (group 2).

RESULTS

Seventy-four recordings belong to 59 patients with moderate degree CTS were included. There were 55 hands in group 1, and 19 in group 2. Mean sensory onset latency of median nerve over second finger was longer (4.17 ± 0.53 msec versus 3.47 ± 0.46 msec; p< 0.001), sensory conduction velocity was slower (34.1 ± 5.5 m/sec versus 40.1 ± 5.3 m/sec; p< 0.001), SNAP amplitude was smaller (7.0 ± 3.3 μ V versus 13.7 ± 6.7 μ V; p< 0.001), and distal motor latency was longer (5.75 ± 0.96 msec versus 4.76 ± 0.42 msec; p< 0.001) in group 2 than in group 1.

CONCLUSION

Median nerve-to-RF sensorial nonresponders have a more progressed compressive neuropathy, and represent a more severe electrophysiological grade than the responders.

Value of F-wave studies on the electrodiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

F waves are late electrophysiological responses to antidromic activation of motor neurons and are used to evaluate the conduction along the whole length of peripheral nerves. We aimed to determine the diagnostic efficacies of minimum median nerve F-wave latency (FWL) and median-to-ulnar nerve F-wave latency difference (FWLD) on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The electrophysiological studies consisted of sensory and motor nerve conduction and F-wave studies of the median and ulnar nerves. The best cut-off points of minimum median nerve FWL and FWLD for the diagnosis of CTS were detected for the whole study group and for different height subgroups (Group 1: 150-159 cm, Group 2: 160-169 cm, and Group 3: over 170 cm). The diagnostic efficacies of minimum median nerve FWL and FWLD were calculated for the whole CTS group and for the mild CTS group, separately.

RESULTS

The best cut-off point of minimum median nerve FWL on the diagnosis of CTS was determined as 24.60 ms for the whole group. It was 23.90 ms for Group 1, 24.80 ms for Group 2, and 28.40 ms for Group 3. The usage of these stratified cut-off points yielded a higher total diagnostic efficacy rate than single cut-off point usage (79.9% vs 69%, respectively; P=0.02). The best cut-off point of FWLD on the diagnosis of CTS was 0.80 ms for the whole group. It was 0.55 ms for Group 1, 0.30 ms for Group 2, and 0.85 ms for Group 3. Both the single cutoff point usage and the stratified chart usage for FWLD had equal diagnostic efficacy (85.1%). In the mild CTS group, diagnostic efficacy was 55.5% for minimum median nerve FWL and 78.8% for FWLD (P=0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Median-to-ulnar nerve FWLD yields a higher diagnostic efficacy than minimum median nerve FWL on the diagnosis of CTS. However, the sensitivities of both parameters are not satisfactory for the extremities with mild CTS, which compose the main group having diagnostic challenge.

Epidermoid cyst causing hemifacial spasm epidermoid cyst in cerebellopontine angle presenting with hemifacial spasm

Hemifacial Spasm (HS) occurs idiopathically or secondary to the lesions compressing the root exit zone of the facial nerve symptomatically. Symptomatic HS is generally due to vascular compression. We report on a 23-year-old male with right sided HS for a month. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a well-demarcated epidermoid cyst in the right cerebellopontine cistern. It was hypointense on T1-weighted imaging, hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging without contrast enhancement, hyperintense on DWI, and slightly hypointense on ADC relative to the brain. Although it caused shifting of the pons and medulla to the left side and compression of the right cerebellar peduncles and fourth ventricle, the sole symptom of the patient was HS. Clinicians are advised to request MRI/scan for brainstem lesions from the patients with HS. Epidermoid cysts in cerebellopontine cistern may present with HS as the sole symptom.

Limbic encephalitis presenting with anxiety and depression: a comprehensive neuropsychological formulation

Limbic encephalitis (LE) is a paraneoplastic neurological disorder in which, typically, the neurological symptoms occur before the cancer is diagnosed. We report on a 52-year-old male with LE who has depressive and anxiety symptoms. Cranial MRI revealed increased hippocampal signal intensities in both temporal lobes. Extensive range of symptoms concerning emotion, personality and social functioning was assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological formulation. The neuropsychological test battery showed dysfunction of hippocampus, medial temporal lobes, limbic system and frontal diencephalic structures. The current literature about the neurological mechanisms underlying the neuropsychological findings of LE is also briefly reviewed in this report.

[Temporal characteristics of migraine-type headache]

OBJECTIVES

Migraine is characterized by headache attacks, and symptoms belong to various organ systems. Temporal characteristics of headache must be known to prescribe the appropriate drug for the treatment of migraine attacks. In this study, we aimed to reveal the temporal characteristics of headache and to search whether or not these characteristics differ in patient subgroups in migraineurs admitted to a tertiary health center.

METHODS

Consecutive adult migraineurs who admitted to the Headache Section of Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine Research Hospital involved the study. Their demographical data, medical history and temporal characteristics of headaches were questioned.

RESULTS

Thirty (19.6%) patients among the 153 migraineurs involved had chronic daily headache. Headaches were detected to reach the maximum pain intensity within 2 hours in 34 patients (22.2%) and to continue over 24 hours in 87 (56.9%) patients. Patients with headaches lasting over 24 hours had a greater mean age than of those with headaches ending within 24 hours (40.8+/-12.4 and 36.2+/-11.4, respectively; p=0.019). The mean disease age of the patients with headaches lasting over 24 hours was also greater than of the group with headaches ending within 24 hours.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that temporal characteristics of headache may differ in patient subgroups in adult migraineurs. Further studies with large populations are warranted to verify these results and determine which temporal characteristics are common in which patient subgroups.

Isolated Abducens Nerve Palsy Associated with Retinoic Acid Therapy: A Case Report

Isolated abducens nerve palsy is a rare complication of treatment with various drugs. Here, the authors report the case of a 23-year-old female with isolated left abducens nerve palsy after long-term retinoic acid therapy. The association is based on the temporal relationship and the exclusion of other possible etiologic factors following extensive laboratory and imaging diagnostics. The authors suggest that isolated abducens nerve palsy may be a presenting sign of a toxic neuropathy associated with retinoic acid therapy. After the exclusion of other organic lesions, especially idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and an assessment of the risk-benefit ratio, discontinuation of treatment must be considered in such cases.

Nerve conduction studies of the axillary, musculocutaneous and radial nerves in elite ice hockey players

AIM

The peripheral nerves of the upper extremity are exposed to acute and chronic mechanical injuries in ice hockey players, because of the high repetition of motions, high muscular forces and extreme shoulder positions. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of ice hockey playing on the axillary, musculocutaneous and radial nerves crossing the upper arm region.

METHODS

The ice hockey group consisted of 20 first-division male ice hockey players and the control group consisted of 20 non-active males. The neurophysiological study consisted of motor nerve conduction latency of the axillary, musculocutaneous and radial nerves.

RESULTS

The values of distal motor latency (DML) of the axillary, radial and musculocutaneous nerves were significantly prolonged in the ice hockey players compared with the controls. Ice hockey can repetitively stress the upper extremity during shooting, because of forceful throwing to move the puck from the stick blade to the opponent's net. The mechanism of prolonged DML in the axillary nerve may both tract and compress as the axillary nerve stretches across the humerus during movement. From this study it emerged that using the biceps and coracobrachialis muscles can create notable muscle compartment pressure on the musculocutaneus nerve. The significant differences detected in the neurophysiologic study of the musculocutaneous nerve between the ice hockey players and controls may reflect the fact that the forces acting on the shoulder and the elbow during ice hockey matches can effectively influence DML.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors suggest two plausible causes for prolonged radial nerve DML: direct compression by the hypertrophied triceps muscle and stretching of the arm. The study suggests it is likely that a combination of skeletal muscle hypertrophy and excessive biomechanical demands on neurological structures during ice hockey matches may be a major etiologic factor in compression of the axillary, musculocutaneous and radial nerves.

Levetiracetam-responding paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia

We report on a patient with 7-year history of short-lasting paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia. The episodes occurred 100 to 125 times per day, lasted from 5 seconds to 3 minutes, and were not suppressed with sleeping, underlining the heterogeneity of phenomenology in paroxysmal dyskinesias. Neuroimaging studies showed calcifications in the basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem, and subcortical and cerebellar regions. He was diagnosed with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. After failure of valproate, he responded well to levetiracetam (1000 mg/d). This report revealed that intracerebral calcifications secondary to hypoparathyroidism could present as paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia, and levetiracetam could be effective in this particular entity.

Does metoprolol inhibit the cortical spreading depression? Acute effects of systematic metropol on CSD in rats

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is supposed to be the underlying biological basis of the migraine aura. Metoprolol was proven to be effective in migraine prophylaxis in clinical trials, but its mechanism of action has not been clarified yet. We studied direct effects of metoprolol on a continuous CSD induction model in rats. Six adult Wistar rats were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal thiopental (50 mg/kg). CSD was induced with application of 1 m KCL through a burr hole into the left frontal dura-mater, and recorded by an Ag/AgCl DC electrode on the left parietal dura-mater. After a basal recording of CSD induction during the first 40-min period, metoprolol (5 mg/kg) was infused within 4 min. Then DC recordings were maintained for a further 120 min. Any significant differences in total number and duration of CSDs before and after metoprolol administration were not detected. This study suggests that the mode of action of metoprolol in prophylaxis is not via direct CSD inhibition.

Single-Dose Intravenous Tramadol for Acute Migraine Pain in Adults: A Single-Blind, Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Tramadol, an atypical opioid, is a narcotic analgesic used for pain management. A search of the current literature found no studies examining the efficacy of intravenous tramadol on migraine pain.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of a single dose of intravenous tramadol hydrogen chloride 100 mg in comparison with placebo in patients presenting with migraine.

METHODS

Adult migraineurs admitted consecutively to the emergency department of the Kocaeli University Hospital were enrolled in this single-blind (patients), prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients were randomized to receive a 30-minute infusion of either intravenous tramadol (n = 17; 100 mg in 100-mL saline) or placebo (n = 17; 100-mL saline). Pain response was defined as a decrease of visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-100 mm) score to <50% of the pretreatment (baseline) value and a decrease of 4-point verbal scale (FPVS) score (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) to mild or none. Pain-free response was defined as a decrease of both VAS and FPVS scores to 0. Pain was assessed at baseline and at 30 minutes and 1 hour after treatment completion. Migraine symptoms (eg, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, vomiting) and adverse events (AEs) were assessed at the same time. A follow-up was also conducted by phone 24 hours after treatment.

RESULTS

Forty-four migraineurs were screened and 34 (28 women and 6 men; mean [SD] age, 39.5 [10.4] years; all were white) were enrolled in the study. Each group contained 11 patients with severe pain and 6 patients with moderate pain at baseline FPVS. At the end of 1 hour, pain response was reported by significantly more patients in the tramadol group than in the placebo group (12 [70.6%] vs 6 [35.3%]; P = 0.040). Pain-free response was reported by 5 (29.4%) patients in the tramadol group and 2 (11.8%) patients in the placebo group, although the difference was not statistically significant. Symptoms associated with migraine were also relieved in all patients reporting pain response. No AEs were observed. However, at the 24-hour follow-up, 1 patient in the tramadol group reported transient blurred vision and dizziness within the day of infusion. Headache recurrence was reported by 2 (16.7%) of the 12 patients with pain response in the tramadol group and 1 (16.7%) of 6 patients with pain response in the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous tramadol appeared to be more effective than placebo in pain response rate at the end of the first hour. The slow infusion of tramadol 100 mg in 100-mL saline solution was well tolerated in this group of adult migraineurs.

Fahr's disease presenting with paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia: a case report

Fahr's disease is characterized by presence of abnormal calcifications in certain areas of the brain. We report on 23-year-old man admitted to us with the episodes of paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia. He was detected to have symmetrical intracerebral calcifications in basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebellar hemispheres, and diagnosed as sporadic Fahr's disease. Paroxysmal dyskinesia was well responded to oxcarbazepine (600 mg/day) treatment.

[Migraine and cortical spreading depression]

Migraine is an episodic headache disorder accompanied by various neurological, gastrointestinal and autonomic changes. In one fifth of the migraineurs, a neurological disturbance (visual, sensory or motor) appears during or before the development of the headache called migraine aura. Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a transient neuronal depolarization that spreads across unilateral hemisphere from a focus and is followed by a long-lasting depression of neuronal activity. CSD was proposed to be the underlying phenomenon of the migraine aura as it propagates at a similar velocity with visual scotomata and the transient cortical oligemia seen in migraineurs during the aura phase. This data, enabling a better understanding of migraine pathophysiology, will result in new insights into the treatment of other neurological disorders such as cerebrovascular disorders, transient global amnesia, traumatic brain injury, in whose pathophysiology CSD is supposed to take part, beside the treatment of migraine itself.

Unilateral Midbrain Infarction Causing Upward and Downward Gaze Palsy

We report on a 47-year-old-woman who developed sudden complete loss of vertical saccades, smooth pursuit, and vestibular eye movements bilaterally. MRI revealed a unilateral midbrain infarct involving the rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (riMLF) and the interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) and spared the posterior commissure (PC). The lesion is presumed to have interrupted the pathways involved in vertical gaze just before they decussate, inducing an anatomically unilateral but functionally bilateral lesion. Previous reports of bidirectional vertical gaze palsy have shown lesions involving the PC or both riMLFs. This case is the first to show that a unilateral lesion of the riMLF and the INC that spares the PC may cause complete bidirectional vertical gaze palsy.

A non-traumatic interhemispheric subdural haematoma: presented with headache as the sole complaint

Due to their localisations and symptoms, interhemispheric subdural haematomas (ISH) compose a distinct category. Altered level of consciousness and hemiparesis are the most frequent symptoms. We report a case of ISH who presented with headache as the sole complaint. Left cerebellar haematoma and ISH were found in cranial MRI and cranial computed tomography Cranial MR angiogram was normal. Haemogram and coagulation parameters were within normal limits. ISH should be considered among the diagnostic possibilities in elderly patients who present with headache as the sole symptom without other clinical features such as meningeal irritation signs, focal neurological symptoms and alteration of consciousness. Cranial imaging studies should be done in such cases.

[Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias: diagnosis, therapy, atypical forms and pathophysiology]

Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias; cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, hemicrania continua and SUNCT (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjuctival injection and tearing) syndrome are characterized by unilateral trigeminal distribution of pain and accompanying ipsilateral autonomic symptoms. Other than cluster headache, all of these syndromes have been described within last twenty years, and are found relatively less frequent and less known forms. Diagnosis of paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua, especially atypical forms, essentially depends on indomethacin responsiveness. For SUNCT syndrome, there is not such a drug which provides a practical approach to both diagnosis and therapy and its diagnosis depends on clinical features. So far, case reports from various countries helped us realize the existence of secondary forms of these syndromes and the necessity of imaging techniques, especially for recently described autonomic cephalgias.