BACKGROUND Confusion persists concerning the nature and efficacy of procedures variously known as facet denervation, lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy, and radiofrequency neurotomy or denervation for the treatment of back pain. Systematic reviews have not recognized the importance of patient selection and correct surgical technique when appraising the literature. As a result, negati...

Self-movement in a structured environment induces retinal image motion called optic flow. Optic flow on one hand provides information about the direction of self-motion. On the other hand optic flow presents large field visual motion which will elicit eye movements for the purpose of image stabilization. We investigated oculomotor behavior in humans during the presentation of radial optic flow ...

We review here the latest studies on efficacy of and techniques employed in radiofrequency neurotomy of the sacroiliac joint. Radiofrequency neurotomy has been shown to have limited evidence in treating sacroiliac joint syndrome. Variability in results has been attributed to individual nerve patterns, improper diagnosis, and selection of patients, as well as variability in the procedure itself....

AD’s behavioral complexity and generalized end-stage pathology sheltered it from twentieth century cortical localizationism. But fundamental principles of brain organization cannot be avoided forever. Cummings [3] has developed a comprehensive case for recognizing the relevance of cortical localization to a twenty-first century understanding of AD. Our work supports this proposal by suggesting ...

BACKGROUND Degenerative spondylolisthesis is one of the major causes for low back pain. Morphological abnormalities of the zygapophysial joints are a predisposing factor in the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis. Therefore, radiofrequency neurotomy seems to be a rational therapy. OBJECTIVES To determine if radiofrequency neurotomy is effective for patients with low back pain and de...

The development of sensitivity to radial optic flow discrimination was investigated by measuring motion coherence thresholds (MCTs) in school-aged children at two speeds. A total of 119 child observers aged 6-16years and 24 young adult observers (23.66+/-2.74years) participated. In a 2AFC task observers identified the direction of motion of a 5° radial (expanding vs. contracting) optic flow pat...

OBJECTIVE Spastic equinovarus foot is a major cause of disability for neurorehabilitation patients, impairing their daily activities, social participation and general quality of life. Selective tibial nerve neurotomy is a neurosurgical treatment for focal spasticity, whose acceptance as treatment for spastic equinovarus foot remains controversial. We performed a systematic review of the literat...

We assessed visual processing related to navigational impairment in Alzheimer's disease hypothesizing that visual motion evoked responses to optic flow simulating observer self-movement would be linked to navigational performance. Mild Alzheimer's disease and older adult control subjects underwent open-field navigational testing, visual motion perceptual threshold determination and a battery of...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether fascicular neurotomy has long-lasting effects on spasticity. DESIGN We present 4 clinical cases and a critical analysis of the literature. PATIENTS This is a retrospective study on 4 patients referred to our department for spastic equinovarus foot deformity. For all 4, neurotomy was successful not long after surgery, but spasticity reappeared after a few month...

OBJECTIVE The incidence of spinal treatment, including nerve block, radiofrequency neurotomy, instrumented fusions, is increasing, and progressively involves patients of age 65 and older. Treatment of the geriatric patients is often a difficult challenge for the spine surgeon. General health, sociofamilial and mental condition of the patients as well as the treatment techniques and postoperativ...