BACKGROUND Post-traumatic lumbosacral plexus injuries seem to be rare events, spontaneously recovering in high percentage: as surgery is often challenging and results in poor outcome, many Authors have advocated conservative treatment only. Nevertheless surgery should not be ruled out: in invalidating injuries, it can restore basic function in the lower extremities.Therefore, it might be necess...

Response to comments on 'Capnography as an aid in localizing the phrenic nerve in brachial plexus surgery. Technical note' Bhagat H, Agarwal A, Sharma MS Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury 2008, 3:14 (22 May 2008)

BACKGROUND A thorough understanding of the topographical anatomy of the spinal accessory nerve and the cervical plexus branches is a basic prerequisite for positive results when operating on the neck. OBJECTIVE To give an exact description of the topographical and surgical anatomy of the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) and the trapezius branches of the cervical plexus. DESIGN Anatomic analysis...

BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is an imaging method by which nerves can be selectively highlighted. Using commercial software, the authors explored a variety of approaches to develop a three-dimensional volume-rendered MRN image of the entire brachial plexus and used it to evaluate the accuracy of infraclavicular block approaches. METHODS With institutional review board appro...

The choroid plexuses of all ventricles receive a well-developed adrenergic and cholinergic innervation reaching both the secretory epithelium and the vascular smooth muscle cells. Also peptidergic nerves, containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, are present but primarily associated only with the vascular bed. A sympathetic inhibitory effect on the plexus epithelium has been indicated in de...

Many stem cell niches contain support cells that increase contact with stem cells by enwrapping them in cellular processes. One example is the germ stem cell niche in C. elegans, which is composed of a single niche cell termed the distal tip cell (DTC) that extends cellular processes, constructing an elaborate plexus that enwraps germ stem cells. To identify genes required for plexus formation ...

BACKGROUND The diagnosis and validation of thoracic outlet syndrome/brachial plexopathy (TOS) remains a difficult challenge for surgeons, neurologists, and radiologists. This is due to the fact that the responses of standard elevated arm stress tests can be considered somewhat subjective and can vary. Therefore, non-vascular TOS cases are presently diagnosed clinically, and any objective diagno...

Lead (Pb) exposure reportedly modulates PKC activity in brain endothelial preparations, which may underlie Pb-induced damage at the blood-brain barrier. Our previous work indicates that Pb accumulates in the choroid plexus and causes dysfunction of this blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. The present studies were undertaken to test the hypothesis that Pb in the choroid plexus may alter PKC...

Successful brachial plexus block requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy, both to decide on the appropriate approach and to locate the nerves. The plexus is traditionally found at specific anatomical points by using bony or vascular landmarks, whereas ultrasound allows block of the plexus at any point along its length. The course of the brachial plexus and its relationship to nearby structures...