BACKGROUND Before caesarean section is performed under regional anaesthesia the block should be assessed, preferably using a touch stimulus. What constitutes a touch stimulus remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare a Neuropen monofilament with ethyl chloride in the assessment of touch. METHODS Forty women undergoing elective caesarean section received combined spinal-epidural an...

AIMS To identify the threshold of reduced sensory perception in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) using a range of research grade monofilaments. METHODS Three groups of participants were recruited into a between subject, cross-sectional study. Group 1(NEW), persons with Type 2 DM diagnosed for less than 2 years (n = 80); Group 2 (EST) persons with Type 2 DM diagnosed for more than 2 years ...

The aims of this cross-sectional comparative study was to compare the results of Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing (SWM) and moving 2-point discrimination (M2PD) with four tests of functional sensibility: recognition of objects, discrimination of size and texture and detection of dots. Ninety-eight leprosy in- and outpatients at Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara, Nepal were tested with eac...

The monofilament test (MFT) is a reliable method to assess sensory nerve function in leprosy and other neuropathies. Assessment of the radial cutaneous and sural nerves, in addition to nerves usually tested, can help improve diagnosis and monitoring of nerve function impairment (NFI). To enable the detection of impairments in leprosy patients, it is essential to know the monofilament threshold ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although guidelines for the management of children with type 1 diabetes include recommendations to screen for diabetic peripheral neuropathies (DPN), the research into the diagnostic utility of screening methods has not been systematically reviewed. The goal of this study was to summarize the findings with regard to the diagnostic accuracy of the Semmes-Weinstein monof...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although guidelines for the management of children with type 1 diabetes include recommendations to screen for diabetic peripheral neuropathies (DPN), the research into the diagnostic utility of screening methods has not been systematically reviewed. The goal of this study was to summarize the findings with regard to the diagnostic accuracy of the Semmes-Weinstein monof...

The medical records of 1,047 patients (mean age, 73 years) with established peripheral neuropathy were examined to determine whether treatment with monochromatic infrared photo energy was associated with increased foot sensitivity to the 5.07 Semmes-Weinstein monofilament. The peripheral neuropathy in 790 of these patients (75%) was due to diabetes mellitus. Before treatment with monochromatic ...

Toxic reaction to nylon following uncomplicated cataract surgery and vitrectomy has been documented in the literature. We report the case of an aniridic patient with a known adverse reaction to nylon in whom Prolene suture was used in Boston Keratoprosthesis type 1 (KPro) surgery. During follow-up the cornea was checked for signs of inflammation and toxic reaction; at last follow-up (18 months)...