BACKGROUND Spinal cord damage during interscalene brachial plexus block has been attributed to needle entry into the spinal canal. The purpose of this study was to identify the angles and depths of needle insertion that increase the likelihood of such an event, using the traditional classic interscalene approach and two more proximal entry points. METHOD Magnetic resonance images of the neck ...

BACKGROUND C2 vertebroplasty is more challenging than transpedicular percutaneous vertebroplasty in the thoracic and lumbar spine. OBJECTIVE We report an anterior ascending approach for C2 percutaneous vertebroplasty to avoid potential injury to vital structures surrounding the C2 vertebra. STUDY DESIGN A technique note with 5 consecutive cases. SETTING Neurosurgery department of a univer...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To review the safety and efficacy of gadolinium as a contrast agent in spine pain management procedures in patients who are at high risk for a contrast reaction and are therefore unacceptable candidates for the use of standard nonionic contrast. METHODS We reviewed our records over a 4-year period of interlaminar and foraminal epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, ...

Medical practice continues to move toward less invasive procedures. Many of these procedures require the precision placement of a needle in the anatomy. Over the past several years, our research team has been investigating the use of a robotic needle driver to assist the physician in this task. This paper summarizes our work in this area. The robotic system is briefly described, followed by a d...

BACKGROUND Botulinum toxin type A is a first-line treatment for post-stroke focal spasticity, and the accuracy in delivering the toxin to the target muscles may influence the treatment outcome. Our aim was to compare the reduction of spasticity and the related finger position at rest improvement in post-stroke patients treated with botulinum toxin type A in upper limb muscles using ultrasound g...

Introduction
 Post-dural punction headache (PDH) is defined as an orthostatic that develops within the first few days after performing a spinal tap and it related to extravasation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into epidural space, resulting in hypovolemia CSF hypotension. The risk factors for PDH are not yet fully understood. 
 Objective
 To evaluate spontaneously reported accordi...

Most of the anaesthesia related neurological complications are associated with paresthesia upon introduction spinal needle. Steroids may shorten duration effects caused by nerve injury. A 27-year-old female patient undergoing caesarean section experienced during intrathecal After wore off, she developed tactile allodynia. Intravenous hydrocortisone was given; marked improvement pain and allodyn...

Identification of the subarachnoid space has traditionally been achieved by either a blind landmark-guided approach or using prepuncture ultrasound assistance. To assess the feasibility of performing spinal anaesthesia under real-time ultrasound guidance in routine clinical practice we conducted a single center prospective observational study among patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic sur...