ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation of the ultrasonographic wrist-to-forearm median nerve area ratio (WFR) and cross sectional area of median nerve at the wrist (CSA-W) to the electrophysiologic severity in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).MethodOne hundred and ten wrists electrophysiologically graded as mild, moderate, and severe CTS and 38 healthy controls underwent ultrasonography of median nerve at the distal wrist crease and mid-forearm. WFR and CSA-W were analyzed according to the severity of CTS.ResultsWFR was 1.12±0.14, 1.91±0.33, 2.27±0.47 and 3.02±0.97 and the CSAs-W was 7.23±1.67 mm2, 13.51±3.72 mm2, 14.67±2.93 mm2, and 18.74±6.01 mm2 in controls, mild (n=28), moderate (n=46), and severe (n=36) CTS, respectively. CSA-W displayed significant differences between the control and the mild CTS, moderate CTS and severe CTS groups. However, there was no significant difference between mild CTS and moderate CTS groups. WFR revealed significant difference between all groups. The sensitivity and specificity of the WFR in grading the severity of CTS were higher than those of the CSA-W.ConclusionUltrasonography is a useful complementary tool for the evaluation of CTS. Both WFR and CSA-W are highly correlated with severity grade of CTS. However, WFR is superior to CSA-W for diagnosis and grading of the severity of CTS.

Ulnar nerve instability increased with elbow flexion and correlated with snapping of the triceps medial head. Ultrasonography of the ulnar nerve is an important tool in ulnar nerve instability assessment.

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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and usefulness of the Hem-o-lok clip for the closure of appendicular stumps and limitations of the Hem-o-lok clip.MethodsFrom May 2010 to August 2011, 105 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomies by three surgeons. XL size Hem-o-lok clips were used for the closure of appendicular stumps by one surgeon. The remaining surgeons used double endoloop ligatures. Prospectively collected data from patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy due to acute appendicitis were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsA total of 105 laparoscopic appendectomies were performed. The endoloop group consisted of 66 patients (mean age, 34.6 years; range, 16 to 82 years), while the Hem-o-lok group consisted of 39 patients (mean age, 43.5 years; range, 11 to 88 years). In three cases, the Hem-o-lok clip was not used due to enlargement and severe inflammation of the appendix base. No specific intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed in either group.ConclusionThe use of Hem-o-lok clips for the closure of appendicular stumps in laparoscopic appendectomy is a feasible, safe, fast and cost-effective procedure in patients with a mildly to moderately inflamed appendix base of less than 10 mm in diameter.

Perforation is the rarest complication of the duodenal diverticulum (DD), but it is the most serious complication. Mortality rate was reported up to 30%, which may be related to diagnostic delay because the symptoms of the perforated DD are vague and nonspecific. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is important to improve the clinical outcome. Surgical treatment was considered as the standard therapeutic option. However, surgical intervention may increase morbidity and mortality due to surgical complications. Therefore, nonoperative management can be considered in some patients with perforated diverticulum who have stable vital signs without generalized peritonitis, or in elderly patients with comorbidities. Several case reports of nonoperative management of perforated DD have been reported. Herein, we describe a patient with perforated DD diagnosed based on a computed tomography scan, who was successfully treated with conservative treatment.