Miroslav Samardžić

Missile injuries of the sciatic nerve

Missile injuries of the sciatic nerve are not common in civil practice. We analysed a war series of 55 cases operated on in a period from 1991 to 1995. Nerve continuity was preserved at least partially in 76.4% of cases, but only 13.3% of cases had preserved some nerve function. Surgical results were analysed in 45 cases followed for more than two years. The rates of useful functional recovery were 86.7% for tibial division, 53.3% for peroneal division and 86.7% for the sciatic nerve complex. On the basis of the obtained results we were able to make the following conclusions: (1) missile injuries to the sciatic nerve are characterised by partially preserved nerve continuity and complete functional loss in the majority of cases, (2) surgery should be performed 3 to 6 months after injury, (3) reconstruction of tibial division is the major goal of surgical repair, (4) the extent and severity of nerve damage and the type of surgical procedure are the main prognostic factors and (5) failures of surgical repair are usually related to nerve grafting at gluteal level.

Results of cable graft technique in repair of large nerve trunk lesions.

Summary Cable grafting was reintroduced in the beginning of the 1980s as a modified method for repair of large polyfascicular nerves without group arrangement such as trunks and cords of the brachial plexus, sciatic nerve and its divisions, or the other main nerve trunks. We used this method in 25 patients with brachial plexus injury and 29 patients with injuries to the sciatic nerve. Results were analyzed according to the individual nerve elements and were available for 32 elements of the brachial plexus and for 19 tibial and 19 peroneal divisions of the sciatic nerve. We defined useful functional recovery according to the priorities in repair of the brachial plexus and sciatic nerve with lower limits M3 for relevant muscles and functions and S2 for sensory function. Results were especially favourable for the brachial plexus with a total rate of recovery 84% and for tibial division with the same total rate of recovery. On the basis of the results obtained we were able to conclude that the results of the modified cable grafting were at least similar to those of interfascicular nerve grafting and that this method could be useful for repair of large polyfascicular nerve trunks. However, the main advantage of this technique is a considerable gain in operative time.

Restoration of Upper Arm Function in Traction Injuries to the Brachial Plexus

Summary.Summary. Background: Restoration of upper arm function presents the main priority in nerve repair of brachial plexus traction injuries. The results are predominantly influenced by the level and extent of injury, and the type of surgical procedure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate influence of these factors on final outcome. Methods: Study included 91 surgically treated patients, including 71 patients with avulsions of one or more spinal nerve roots and 20 with peripheral traction injuries. We performed 120 nerve transfers, 25 nerve graftings and 29 neurolyses on different nerve elements depending on the type of nerve damage. Analysis of motor recovery for elbow flexion and arm abduction, isolated or in combination, was done. Findings: Recovery of elbow flexion was obtained in 75% nerve transfers, and in 68,7% nerve graftings in peripheral traction injuries. Recovery of arm abduction was obtained in 78,5% nerve transfers, and in 44,4% nerve graftings in peripheral traction injuries. Neurolysis was successful in all cases. Generally, the quality of recovery was better for the musculocutaneous nerve. Useful global upper arm function was obtained in 49,3% of patients with avulsion of spinal nerve roots, and in 55% of patients with peripheral traction injuries. Interpretation: Regarding upper arm function the prognosis of surgically treated patients with traction injuries to the brachial plexus is generally similar in cases with central or peripheral level of injury. However, nerve transfers of collateral branches seem to be superior to nerve grafting and may be another possibility for repair in cases with extensive nerve gaps.

Outcome after brachial plexus injury surgery and impact on quality of life

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate outcomes after surgery for brachial plexus injury (BPI), not only motor outcomes but also the quality of life of the patients.MethodsWe operated on 128 consecutive patients with BPI from 1992 to 2012. We documented the information on the injured nerve, level of injury, type of treatment used, timing of surgery, patient age, and preoperative and postoperative motor deficits. In 69 patients who agreed to participate in a quality of life study, additional assessments included functionality, pain, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and psychosocial health.ResultsOf patients who underwent only exploration and neurolysis, 35.3% showed a good quality of recovery. Patients who underwent nerve reconstruction using nerve grafting showed a better rate of good quality recovery (56.7%), and the results following nerve transfer depended on the type of transfer used. After surgery, 82.6% of patients showed significant improvement, 82.6% were satisfied, and 81.2% responded positively when asked if they would undergo surgery again if they knew the current result beforehand. Overall, 69.6% patients continued working after surgery. The mean DASH disability score was high (58.7) in the study group. Patients who had early surgery showed a consistently higher DASH score. About 76% of patients reported having pain regularly, and 18.8% reported depression or anxiety.ConclusionsWe consider that it is important to report not only muscle recovery, but also other aspects of recovery.

Iatrogenic Peripheral Nerve Injuries - Surgical Treatment and Outcome: 10-Years´ Experience

BACKGROUND Iatrogenic nerve injuries are nerve injuries caused by medical interventions or inflicted accidentally by a treating physician. METHODS We describe and analyze iatrogenic nerve injuries in a total of 122 consecutive patients who received surgical treatment at our Institution during a period of 10 years, from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2013. The final outcome evaluation was performed 2 years after surgical treatment. RESULTS The most common causes of iatrogenic nerve injuries among patients in the study were the operations of bone fractures (23.9%), lymph node biopsy (19.7%), and carpal tunnel release (18%). The most affected nerves were median nerve (21.3%), accessory nerve (18%), radial nerve (15.6%), and peroneal nerve (11.5%). In 74 (60.7%) patients, surgery was performed 6 months after the injury, and in 48 (39.3%) surgery was performed within 6 months after the injury. In 80 (65.6%) patients, we found lesion in discontinuity, and in 42 (34.4%) patients lesion in continuity. The distribution of surgical procedures performed was as follows: autotransplantation (51.6%), neurolysis (23.8%), nerve transfer (13.9%), direct suture (8.2%), and resection of neuroma (2.5%). In total, we achieved satisfactory recovery in 91 (74.6%), whereas the result was dissatisfactory in 31 (25.4%) patients. CONCLUSIONS Patients with iatrogenic nerve injuries should be examined as soon as possible by experts with experience in traumatic nerve injuries, so that the correct diagnosis can be reached and the appropriate therapy planned. The timing of reconstructive surgery and the technique used are the crucial factors for functional recovery.

Factors Influencing Intraoperative Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms.

AIM The study deals with intraoperative rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IOR) during microsurgery, analyzing factors that may be connected with IOR. MATERIAL AND METHODS During the three-year period (2006-2008), 934 patients were operated for aneurysms at the Institute of Neurosurgery, CCS, Belgrade. In total, 536 patients were observed. RESULTS IOR occurred in 14.7%. Male gender, seizures and timing of surgery proved to be risk factors for IOR. All other tested features had no significance. Localization {IOR rate 11.93% in ACM, 17.06% in ACA and 17.26% in ACI) and size (small: IOR in 68/439 (15.49%), large: 8/74 (10.8%), and very large: 3/23 (13.04%)} of aneurysm seemed to have an influence, but this could not be proved. The majority of IORs (58.23%) occurred in early surgery. Early operated patients: IOR occurred in 46/167 (27.54%), intermediary: 25/103 (24.27%), and delayed: 8/266 (3%) - with highly significant differences. CONCLUSION Age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiomyopathy, pregnancy, higher Fisher score, previous IOR, or the presence of vomiting and headache did not affect the occurrence of IOR, whereas the timing of surgery, male gender and epileptic seizures increased the risk. Localization and size of aneurysm tend to have an influence but statistical significance was not proved in this study.

Epidemiological characteristics of surgically treated civilian traumatic brachial plexus injuries in Serbia

BackgroundTraumatic brachial plexus injuries are generally severe, and in many cases associated with surrounding tissue injuries, which makes them hard to diagnose at the right time. This paper presents etiological and epidemiological characteristics of surgically treated civilian traumatic brachial plexus injuries.MethodsThis retrospective study included 68 patients, operated due to the traumatic brachial plexus injuries at Clinic for Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, during the 11-year period.ResultsThe vast majority of injured patients were men in full working maturity. In our study, there were seven different etiological factors. The road traffic accidents were the most common—41 (60.3%), while the motorcycle accidents were the most dominant subtype (53.7%) of all road traffic accidents, and also representing 32.4% of all causes of trauma. Supraclavicular elements of the brachial plexus were injured in more than 80% of patients. A total of 49 (72.1%) patients from our study had one or more associated injuries. The most common associated injuries were bone fractures, brain contusions, and vascular injuries.ConclusionAlthough rare, non-war-related severe brachial plexus injuries represent a group of patients carrying high risk of insufficient functional recovery regardless of treatment modality, or surgical technique. Epidemiological and etiological data are therefore very important to identify the groups in risk and to induce preventive actions aimed at these patients.

Nerve grafting vs. common infraclavicular intraplexal nerve transfer in elbow flexion restoration

AIM To compare the results of nerve grafting versus common infraclavicular intraplexal nerve transfer in elbow flexion restoration. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 39 patients with upper brachial plexus palsy who were operated using common intraplexal nerve transfer (Oberlin procedure) and the thoracodorsal and medial pectoral nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve or grafting of C5 to the musculocutaneous nerve, for elbow flexion restoration. All patients underwent detailed preoperative evaluation, which included clinical and neurological examinations, electrophysiological investigation and neuroradiological studies. The final evaluation of achieved recovery of elbow flexion was done two years after surgery, using the British Medical Council scale. RESULTS We achieved functional satisfactory recovery (M3, M4, M5) in 29 of 30 patients (96.7%) in the common intraplexal nerve transfer group, and in 4 of 9 patients in the nerve grafting group (44.4.%). There was a significant statistical difference between these two groups in favor of common intraplexal nerve transfers over C5 grafting to the musculocutaneous nerve regarding functional recovery. CONCLUSION The results of our study concur with the findings of previous studies favoring intraplexal nerve transfers over nerve grafting in the restoration of elbow flexion in upper brachial plexus palsy. They reveal that intraplexal nerve transfers are clearly the primary treatment modality in cases of upper brachial plexus palsy without any sign of viable proximal C5 stump presence, while in cases of upper brachial plexus palsy with signs of viable proximal C5 stump the choice of the best treatment modality is still controversial.AIM The aim of this study is to compare the results of nerve grafting vs. common infraclavicular intraplexal nerve transfer in elbow flexion restoration. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 39 patients with upper brachial plexus palsy who were operated using common intraplexal nerve transfer (Oberlin procedure) and the thoracodorsal and medial pectoral nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve or grafting of C5 to the musculocutneous nerve, for elbow flexion restoration. All patients underwent detailed preoperative evaluation, which included clinical and neurological examination, electrophysiological investigation and neuroradiological studies. The final evaluation of achieved recovery of elbow flexion was done two years after surgery, using the British Medical Council scale. RESULTS We achieved functional satisfactory recovery (M3, M4, M5) in 29 of 30 patients (96.7%) in the common intraplexal nerve transfer group, and in 4 of 9 patients in the nerve grafting group (44.4.%). There was a significant statistical difference between these two groups in favor of common intraplexal nerve transfers over C5 grafting to the musculocutaneous nerve regarding functional recovery. CONCLUSION The results of our study concur with the findings of previous studies favoring intraplexal nerve transfers over nerve grafting in the restoration of elbow flexion in upper brachial plexus palsy. They reveal that intraplexal nerve transfers are clearly the primary treatment modality in cases of upper brachial plexus palsy without any sign of viable proximal C5 stump presence, while in cases of upper brachial plexus palsy with signs of viable proximal C5 stump the choice of the best treatment modality is still controversial.

Primitive trigeminal artery associated with aterovenous malformation of cerebellum

Introduction. Persistence of fetal cerebral carotid basilar anastomoses is rare. When it occurs, it is often associated with other vascular malformations, and other pathological conditions. Trigeminal primitive artery persistence is the most often among them. Coincidence of primitive trigeminal artery with cerebellar arteriovenous malformation is extremely rare. Case report. We reported a case of a 31-year-old woman with subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebellar hematoma admitted in serious condition. Angiography demonstrated cerebellar arteriovenous malformation, primitive trigeminal artery and other malformation of Willis circle. After a complete surgical removal of arteriovenous malformation the patient was discharged without neurological or any other deficit. Conclusion. We reported an extremely rare condition, which had been reported very few times in the literature. The importance of primitive artery persistence is in changed anatomical and physiological condition of cerebral circulation, that is especially important in surgical procedures.