The abnormal plantar pressure distribution and value play a key role in the formation of plantar calluses and diabetic foot ulcer. The prevalence of the highest pressure different distribution and its association with various factors among patients with diabetes is not well known. The study purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of different regions for the highest pressure on the sole and its association with selected factors among patients with diabetes. Medical records of nonulcer patients were retrospectively analysed. The relationship between pressure patterns on the sole obtained during a pedobarographic test as a semiquantitative assessment with colourful print analysis and neuropathy, gender, age, and BMI was searched. The most common location of the highest pressure was the central part of the forefoot. No association was found between the different highest pressure regions and age, sensory neuropathy, calluses, and foot deformities. The highest pressure on the lateral part of the foot and midfoot was observed more often in females and in patients with a BMI≥35. The prevalence of the highest pressure on the forefoot was more common in patients with a BMI<35. Conclusions. The most frequent regions of the highest pressure on the sole in patients with diabetes were the central part of the forefoot (2-3 metatarsal heads) with no simple relationship to the assessed variables other than BMI<35. Female gender and higher BMI seem to be responsible for shifting the place of the highest pressure to other places of the foot.

PurposeIntraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) can serve as a tool to increase skills in recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) identification and complete removal of thyroid tissue. The aim of this study was to validate this hypothesis.MethodsThis prospective study involved 632 patients (1161 RLNs at risk) who underwent thyroid surgery in 2011–2014. Although IONM was not used until 2012, this prospective study started on 1 January 2011. The three participating surgeons knew about the study before that date and that the rate of RLN identification would be carefully measured in total and near-total surgery. Solely, visual identification of the RLN was used throughout 2011. IONM was introduced as a training tool in 2012–2014 for the first 3 months of each year. In the remaining months, thyroid operations were performed without IONM. Outcomes of non-monitored thyroid operations were compared before (01-12/2011) vs. after (04-12/2012–2014) 3 months of exposure to IONM yearly (01-03/2012–2014). The rate of RLN identification was assessed in total and near-total thyroidectomies and in totally resected lobes in Dunhill’s operation. The prevalence of RLN injury and the utilization of total thyroidectomy were evaluated.ResultsIn 2011, the rate of successful RLN visual identification in total and near-total thyroidectomies and in totally resected lobes in Dunhill’s operation was 45.71 %. After the introduction of IONM in 2012–2014, in the procedures performed without IONM, the rate was 86.66, 90.81, and 91.3 %. The prevalence of RLN injury in 2011 was 6.8 %, while in the years following the introduction of IONM, it was 3.61, 2.65, and 1.45 %. Utilization of total thyroidectomy increased from 47.9 % in 2011 to 100 % in 2014.ConclusionsExperience with IONM led to an increase in RLN identification (p < 0.0001), a decrease of RLN injury (p < 0.05), and an increase in the safe utilization of total thyroidectomy (p < 0.0001) in non-monitored thyroid operations. IONM is a valuable tool for surgical training.

PurposeThe aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in identifying anatomical variants of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroidectomies, with emphasis on the nerve’s relationship to the inferior thyroid artery (ITA), Zuckerkandl’s tubercle, nonrecurrent laryngeal nerves (NRLNs), and extralaryngeal bifurcation.MethodsA total of 128 subjects undergoing surgery for thyroid disorders were enrolled in the study, and the course and anatomical variants of RLN were assessed with IONM application.ResultsThe standard relationship between RLN and ITA was that the artery and nerve intersect (100%). The right RLN was below the ITA in 76.67% of the patients, and the left RNL was below it in 75.81%. There were no statistically significant differences in the relationship between RLN and ITA on the two sides; and gender did not significantly influence the relationship between the RLN and ITA on either side. In one patient a nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve was present on the right side (0.83%). RLN bifurcation was observed in 33.33% of the patients on the right and in 19.35% on the left side; the difference between sides was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Posterior tubercle (Zuckerkandl’s tubercle) was observed on the right in 83% of the subjects and on the left in 69%. The age, thyroid volume and body mass index (BMI) did not influence the size of the tumor.ConclusionsThe utilization of IONM of the RLN in thyroid surgery adds a new dimension to the standard of visual nerve identification allowing for functional nerve testing at the most vulnerable area of the dissection: at the level of Berry’s ligament, posterior tubercle (Zuckerkandl’s tubercle) and crossing of the RLN with the inferior thyroid artery.

PurposeThyroid reoperations are at a high risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the use of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) can aid in the RLN identification and minimize the risk of its injury, in comparison with visual RLN identification.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent thyroid reoperations with and without the use of IONM. Primary endpoint was the RLN identification rate; secondary: the prevalence of RLN injury, the frequency of total thyroidectomies, and the course of the RLN.ResultsThe study involved 61 patients undergoing thyroid reoperation among whom 24 were operated on with visual RLN identification only, while 37 procedures used IONM. In the non-monitored reoperations, 44.4% of the RLN were visually identified, as opposed to 91.6% in the IONM group (p < 0.001). Transient paresis occurred in three nerves with visualization (6.6%), and in one in IONM group 1.6% (p = 0.185). Permanent paresis occurred in the group with visualization (6.6%), as opposed to none with neuromonitoring. The extent of resection in both groups was significantly different (p = 0.043). Total, near-total thyroidectomies, Dunhill operations and subtotal thyroidectomies were performed in 71, 17, 4, and 8% in the visualization group, and in 94, 0, 3, and 3%, respectively, in the IONM group. A non-anatomical RLN course was observed in 80% of the reoperations with IONM.ConclusionsThyroid reoperation should be performed using IONM, because it allows for a significantly improved RLN identification rate and a significantly more radical resection.

PurposeIntraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is often used in thyroid surgery. However, this procedure is complex and requires a learning period to master the technique. The aim of the study was to evaluate the learning curve for IONM.MethodsA 3-year period (2012–2014) of working with IONM (NIM3.0, Medtronic) was prospectively analyzed with a special emphasis on comparing the initial implementation phase in 2012 (101 patients, 190 RLNs at risk) with subsequent years of IONM use in 2013 (70 patients, 124 RLNs at risk) and 2014 (65 patients, 120 RLNs at risk).ResultsThe rate of successful IONM-assisted RLN identification increased gradually over the 3-year study period (92.11 % in 2012 vs. 95.16 % in 2013 vs. 99.16 % in 2014; p = 0.022), with a corresponding decrease in the rate of technical problems (12.87, 4.3, and 4.6 %, respectively; p = 0.039). The rate of RLN injuries tended to decrease over time: 3.68, 1.55, and 0.83 %, respectively (p = 0.220). Between 2012 and 2014, increases in the sensitivity (71.4 vs. 100 %), specificity (98 vs. 99 %), positive predictive value (62.5 vs. 75 %), negative predictive value (98 vs. 100 %), and overall accuracy of IONM (97.4 vs. 99.6 %) were observed (p = 0.049). Increasing experience with IONM resulted in more frequent utilization of total thyroidectomy (92 % in 2012 vs. 100 % in 2013–2014; p = 0.004).ConclusionsThere was a sharp decrease in the number of technical problems involving equipment setup from 2012 to 2014.