Background Formation of post-operative neuroma formation after laparoscopic surgery is not common. Its diagnosis is often missed because pain often mimics intra-abdominal pathology. In this paper, the authors report a case in which the severe pain resulting from the abovementioned neuroma was successfully treated by excision of neuroma and implant of the proximal stump into the adjacent muscle. Case presentation The patient is a 20-year-old female who had laparoscopic surgery on her left kidney. Immediately after surgery, she started experiencing severe pain at the operative site that continued for 5 years. A recent nerve block of the thoracic-abdominal intercostal nerve deep in the abdominal wall immediately beneath the incision gave her temporary relief for a couple of weeks. The patient was operated on. The neuroma was identified in the scar tissue of the transversalis muscle. The neuroma was excised, and the proximal stump was buried in the adjacent muscle. After the operation, she was free of pain and continues to be free of pain at 6 months follow-up. Conclusion Formation of neuroma with severe chronic abdominal pain can occur after laparoscopic surgery. Nerve block is a diagnostic study for this condition. Neuroma resection with burying the covering of the stump can result in the cure of the pain.

IntroductionBased on the anatomy of the frontal horn, a stereotactic ventriculostomy guidance system that does not need an elaborate setup and is suitable for ventricles of all sizes was developed. The objective of this paper is to describe this system and present the results of a cadaveric study in which this system was used. MethodThe system has a midline-based plate that is contoured to snugly fit the top of the head. It has two probe holders, one on each side at pre-set angles in coronal and sagittal planes, which enables the probe holders to point at the foramen of Monro. A cadaver study was done on eight donors. First, using the guidance system a 1.4 mm endoscope was inserted into the right frontal horn through a twist drill hole. Next, the scope was inserted into the right frontal horn on the same donors using the freehand method. ResultWith the guide, all eight ventricles were entered into on the first trial, and the foramen of Monro was visible end-on. With freehand technique: six ventricles were entered on the first try; however, the foramen of Monro was visible end-on only in one. In the other two, two to three attempts were needed. The guide facilitated 100% visibility for the end-on visibility of the foramen of Monro upon insertion and the results were statistically significant with t=7, df=7, p-value=0.000106. ConclusionThis is a simple system, which is easy to use. The cadaveric study showed a high degree of accuracy to access the ventricles. The data shows significant improvement compared to the freehand technique.

Background Though surgery can correct nasal septal defects through a procedure called septoplasty, many people seek non-surgical options. Papain enzyme has been used in the past to lyse intervertebral disc and has shown to have a lytic effect on cartilage. Therefore, in this paper, the feasibility to use papain for septoplasty was studied. First, an in vitro study on chicken cartilage was done. Cartilage pieces were emerged in papain solution (5 mg/ml of papain in normal saline) and plain normal saline solution (as control) for 2 weeks at room and refrigeration temperatures. Then, the papain solution was injected in a formalin-fixed cadaver in the submucosal space around the nasal septal cartilage. The control group was injected with normal saline. Results The treated group showed significant lysis with the disintegration of the cartilage, both in the in vitro and cadaver study. Conclusion This study shows that papain can lyse cartilage. It also shows that submucosal injection of papain around nasal cartilage will lyse the septal cartilage. Based on prior experience with papain for disc herniation and the present study, it is worthwhile to further investigate this procedure using live animals.