The Anterior Compartment Syndrome is a relatively rare affection with a wide spectrum of etiologi... more The Anterior Compartment Syndrome is a relatively rare affection with a wide spectrum of etiologies. Like every compartment syndrome, it is a condition in which high pressure in a rigid osteofascial space reduces capillary blood perfusion so that tissue viability is threatened. When pressure remains sufficiently high for a number of hours, normal muscle and nerve functions become disturbed which may lead to myoneural necrosis. Therefore, an early decompression by means of fasciotomy is essential. Clinical examination is of critical importance in reaching a diagnosis: first of all a painful swelling occurs, followed by muscular paresis or paralysis, and finally loss of sensation and a "silent" electromyogram (EMG). In some cases pressure measurements are necessary, in which tissue pressures over 30 to 40 mm Hg are considered abnormal. The EMG-examination is useful in order to achieve a diagnosis and to assess the degree of injury. It may be an important guide for further rehabilitation.
This paper reports on the effects of an increase in size of the recording surface of monopolar ne... more This paper reports on the effects of an increase in size of the recording surface of monopolar needles on motor unit potentials (MUPs). The teflon coating of the TECA monopolar needles MG37 and MF37, commonly used in clinical electromyography, was progressively denuded to increase the length of the recording tip to 2, 3, 5, and 10 times the normal exposure, with resultant increase in the area of the recording portion. Low threshold MUPs obtained on minimal contraction from the tibialis anterior were analyzed for amplitude, duration, area, phases, turns, peak duration, and index. The amplitude and area of the MUP showed the most change, both decreasing with progressive denudation. The number of turns and phases were also reduced, more for the MF than for the MG needle. Duration, peak duration, and index showed insignificant changes. These findings give further support to the use of duration for representation of the MUP, since this is the most stable parameter even under poor recording conditions.
In this study the correlation between the electromyographic examination of the external sphincter... more In this study the correlation between the electromyographic examination of the external sphincter muscle and the urodynamic findings in patients with meningomyelocele was evaluated. Urodynamic testing, consisting of cystometry with bladder, urethral and abdominal pressure monitoring was performed with simultaneous electromyography of the external and sphincter muscle in 61 children, 29 boys and 32 girls, divided in groups according to age and to the level of lesion. Normal urodynamic studies were always correlated with normal external sphincter electromyography. In all patients with a high lesion and in 79% of all others detrusor hyperactivity was correlated with pathological sphincter electromyography. The clinical neurological level of the lesion was not correlated with the function of the detrusor-sphincter mechanism. In 29% of the patients examined with needle electromyography detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was found, which is less than in most other published studies. And although dyssynergia is a risk factor for renal deterioration, the authors conclude that its effect on the ureter is less important than in subjects with normal perineal musculature, since 80% of the examined patients with meningomyelocele showed pathological sphincter electromyography. These findings thus show a significant correlation between electromyography of the external sphincter muscle and the urodynamic findings in meningomyelocele patients, and clearly demonstrate the importance of urodynamic testing with simultaneous external sphincter electromyography, in order to improve both diagnostic accuracy and reliability of follow-up and treatment.
Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Mar 1, 2022
The evolution from free muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap to deep infe... more The evolution from free muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap leads to less donor-site morbidity. However, rectus fascia is usually incised longitudinally from perforator(s) to iliac vessels, often exceeding 15 cm when including longitudinal muscle spreading. By using a limited fascia incisional (LFI-) technique, we try to diminish abdominal wall functional decrease. Twenty-seven patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstructions using free DIEP-flap with limited fascia incision between December 2014 and October 2017 were included in the study. Each patient received a periumbilical electromyogram (EMG) preoperatively, at 6 and 14 weeks postoperatively. They were compared with 27 patients having unilateral breast reconstructions using classic free DIEP-flap, performed at the same department between November 2009 and May 2011. In our LFI-technique, one vertical (4 cm) incision is made where the pedicle exits the muscle. A second, oblique (3 cm) incision is made more distally where the pedicle runs into the iliac vessels. After release, the pedicle is tunneled through the incisions, leaving all fascia, and therefore muscle, intact. In the LFI-group small neurogenic changes were noticed in only 26% and 11% of the patients at, respectively, 6 and 14 weeks postoperatively. By contrast, in the control group, postoperative neurogenic deviations remained in 37% of the patients at 14 weeks postoperatively; significant different compared to the LFI-group. This study shows the importance of preserving anterior rectus fascia. Nerve supply and abdominal rectus muscle function are less endangered using small segmental fascia incisions. We believe that our technique diminishes donor-site morbidity significantly and improves the postoperative recovery.
Condensing osteitis of the clavicle, better defined as aseptic enlarging osteosclerosis of the cl... more Condensing osteitis of the clavicle, better defined as aseptic enlarging osteosclerosis of the clavicle, is a rare and benign idiopathic lesion. It is probably of degenerative or mechanical origin, and is most commonly seen in middle-aged women as a tender swelling over the medial one-third of the clavicle. Although the clinical features may be confusing and nonspecific, the typical radiographic and histopathological findings will mostly lead to a correct diagnosis of this disorder. The differential diagnosis is quite extensive. Most difficult to differentiate are: avascular necrosis of the medial clavicular epiphysis, sternoclavicular orsteoarthritis, low-grade chronic osteomyelitis, sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis and Tietze's syndrome. The authors recommend a thorough physical examination and technical tests, not only in subjects with pain of the clavicle but also in those with shoulder pain only, especially in women who are in their fourth decade. Treatment with analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications may be variably effective. In refractory cases excisions of the medial one-third of the clavicle may be indicated to offer better relief of symptoms as well as to exclude malignancy.
The Anterior Compartment Syndrome is a relatively rare affection with a wide spectrum of etiologi... more The Anterior Compartment Syndrome is a relatively rare affection with a wide spectrum of etiologies. Like every compartment syndrome, it is a condition in which high pressure in a rigid osteofascial space reduces capillary blood perfusion so that tissue viability is threatened. When pressure remains sufficiently high for a number of hours, normal muscle and nerve functions become disturbed which may lead to myoneural necrosis. Therefore, an early decompression by means of fasciotomy is essential. Clinical examination is of critical importance in reaching a diagnosis: first of all a painful swelling occurs, followed by muscular paresis or paralysis, and finally loss of sensation and a "silent" electromyogram (EMG). In some cases pressure measurements are necessary, in which tissue pressures over 30 to 40 mm Hg are considered abnormal. The EMG-examination is useful in order to achieve a diagnosis and to assess the degree of injury. It may be an important guide for further rehabilitation.
This paper reports on the effects of an increase in size of the recording surface of monopolar ne... more This paper reports on the effects of an increase in size of the recording surface of monopolar needles on motor unit potentials (MUPs). The teflon coating of the TECA monopolar needles MG37 and MF37, commonly used in clinical electromyography, was progressively denuded to increase the length of the recording tip to 2, 3, 5, and 10 times the normal exposure, with resultant increase in the area of the recording portion. Low threshold MUPs obtained on minimal contraction from the tibialis anterior were analyzed for amplitude, duration, area, phases, turns, peak duration, and index. The amplitude and area of the MUP showed the most change, both decreasing with progressive denudation. The number of turns and phases were also reduced, more for the MF than for the MG needle. Duration, peak duration, and index showed insignificant changes. These findings give further support to the use of duration for representation of the MUP, since this is the most stable parameter even under poor recording conditions.
In this study the correlation between the electromyographic examination of the external sphincter... more In this study the correlation between the electromyographic examination of the external sphincter muscle and the urodynamic findings in patients with meningomyelocele was evaluated. Urodynamic testing, consisting of cystometry with bladder, urethral and abdominal pressure monitoring was performed with simultaneous electromyography of the external and sphincter muscle in 61 children, 29 boys and 32 girls, divided in groups according to age and to the level of lesion. Normal urodynamic studies were always correlated with normal external sphincter electromyography. In all patients with a high lesion and in 79% of all others detrusor hyperactivity was correlated with pathological sphincter electromyography. The clinical neurological level of the lesion was not correlated with the function of the detrusor-sphincter mechanism. In 29% of the patients examined with needle electromyography detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was found, which is less than in most other published studies. And although dyssynergia is a risk factor for renal deterioration, the authors conclude that its effect on the ureter is less important than in subjects with normal perineal musculature, since 80% of the examined patients with meningomyelocele showed pathological sphincter electromyography. These findings thus show a significant correlation between electromyography of the external sphincter muscle and the urodynamic findings in meningomyelocele patients, and clearly demonstrate the importance of urodynamic testing with simultaneous external sphincter electromyography, in order to improve both diagnostic accuracy and reliability of follow-up and treatment.
Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Mar 1, 2022
The evolution from free muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap to deep infe... more The evolution from free muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap leads to less donor-site morbidity. However, rectus fascia is usually incised longitudinally from perforator(s) to iliac vessels, often exceeding 15 cm when including longitudinal muscle spreading. By using a limited fascia incisional (LFI-) technique, we try to diminish abdominal wall functional decrease. Twenty-seven patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstructions using free DIEP-flap with limited fascia incision between December 2014 and October 2017 were included in the study. Each patient received a periumbilical electromyogram (EMG) preoperatively, at 6 and 14 weeks postoperatively. They were compared with 27 patients having unilateral breast reconstructions using classic free DIEP-flap, performed at the same department between November 2009 and May 2011. In our LFI-technique, one vertical (4 cm) incision is made where the pedicle exits the muscle. A second, oblique (3 cm) incision is made more distally where the pedicle runs into the iliac vessels. After release, the pedicle is tunneled through the incisions, leaving all fascia, and therefore muscle, intact. In the LFI-group small neurogenic changes were noticed in only 26% and 11% of the patients at, respectively, 6 and 14 weeks postoperatively. By contrast, in the control group, postoperative neurogenic deviations remained in 37% of the patients at 14 weeks postoperatively; significant different compared to the LFI-group. This study shows the importance of preserving anterior rectus fascia. Nerve supply and abdominal rectus muscle function are less endangered using small segmental fascia incisions. We believe that our technique diminishes donor-site morbidity significantly and improves the postoperative recovery.
Condensing osteitis of the clavicle, better defined as aseptic enlarging osteosclerosis of the cl... more Condensing osteitis of the clavicle, better defined as aseptic enlarging osteosclerosis of the clavicle, is a rare and benign idiopathic lesion. It is probably of degenerative or mechanical origin, and is most commonly seen in middle-aged women as a tender swelling over the medial one-third of the clavicle. Although the clinical features may be confusing and nonspecific, the typical radiographic and histopathological findings will mostly lead to a correct diagnosis of this disorder. The differential diagnosis is quite extensive. Most difficult to differentiate are: avascular necrosis of the medial clavicular epiphysis, sternoclavicular orsteoarthritis, low-grade chronic osteomyelitis, sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis and Tietze's syndrome. The authors recommend a thorough physical examination and technical tests, not only in subjects with pain of the clavicle but also in those with shoulder pain only, especially in women who are in their fourth decade. Treatment with analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications may be variably effective. In refractory cases excisions of the medial one-third of the clavicle may be indicated to offer better relief of symptoms as well as to exclude malignancy.
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Papers by Frans BRUYNINCKX