Upper extremity lymphedema occurs in one of five women after breast cancer treatment and causes significant morbidity. Women often report being uninformed regarding awareness of lymphedema and other side effects after the cancer surgery. The aim of the study was to assess the postoperative information and education about lymphedema in patients with lymphedema related to breast cancer surgery in the rehabilitation unit of a tertiary hospital. One hundred eighty patients who had admitted to lymphedema rehabilitation unit between September 2013 and February 2015 were recruited to the study. The demographic properties of women, duration, and grade of lymphedema were recorded. The patients were asked whether they had received any information about awareness of lymphedema or whether they have been educated for reducement of the risk of lymphedema after the breast cancer surgery. One hundred eighty women with a mean age of 52.9 ± 10.7 years (27-53) and with a mean lymphedema duration of 19.8 ± +39.4 months were included. Ninety-eight (54.4 %) patients had grade 1, 80 (44.4 %) patients had grade 2, and 2 (1.11 %) patients had grade 3 lymphedema. Among the participants, only 35 (19.5 %) had reported that they had received information or education about lymphedema. One hundred forty-five patients (80.5 %) were not informed or trained about the development of lymphedema. The degree and duration of lymphedema were lower in patients that had been informed or educated about lymphedema as compared to the patients who had not been informed or educated, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.052). Only a minor group of patients (19 %) had received information and education about lymphedema and there is an unmet need for education or information about lymphedema after breast cancer treatment, especially in developing countries. The nonsignificant correlation between education and the degree and duration of lymphedema was thought to be related with the incongrous numbers of the subgroups. In conclusion with the growing population of breast cancer survivors, patient awareness and education about postoperative lymphedema risk after the cancer surgery is warranted.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of complex decongestive therapy (CDT) in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), in regard to volume reduction, functional status and quality of life (QoL).Methods: Fifty patients with unilateral BCRL were included. The demographic variables focusing on lymphedema were recorded. All patients received combined phase 1 CDT including skin care, manual lymphatic drainage, multilayer bandaging and supervised exercises, ve times a week for three weeks, as a total of 15 sessions. Patients were assessed by limb volumes and excess volumes according to geometric approximation derived from serial circumference-measurements of the limb, prior and at the end of third week. The functional disability was evaluated by quick disability of arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire (DASH). Quality of life was assessed by the European Organization forResearch and Treatment of Cancer Core Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and its breast cancer module (EORTC-QLQ-BR23 ).Results: Fifty females with mean age of 53.22±11.2 years were included. The median duration of lymphedema was 12 months. There were 22 patients in stage1, 26 in stage2 and 2 patients in stage3. The mean baseline limb and excess volumes were signi cantly decreased at the end of therapies (3262±753cm³ vs 2943±646.6cm³ and 31.36±16.5% vs 19.12±10.4%, p=0.000,respectively). The DASH and EORTC-QLQ-C30 and BR23 scores were also decreased signi cantly (p<0.05). The improvements in volumes were related negatively with the duration of lymphedema,and the stage of lymphedema. Conclusion:In conclusion phase 1CDT in a combined manner performed daily for 3 weeks, greatly reduces the volumes as well as improves the disability and QoL, especially when performed earlier.

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Background Regarding the increasing application of neuromusculoskeletal sonography among medical specialties, specifically physiatrists, this study aims to assess the knowledge and skill level of these specialists in neuromusculoskeletal sonography in Iran. Methods This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in 2018. The utilized questionnaire developed based on previous studies in collaboration with 6 university lecturers of Shaheed Beheshti, Iran, and Tabriz medical universities and a physiatrist from Hacettepe University (Turkey); it included questions entailing demographic data, knowledge, and performance levels. Its validity and reliability were evaluated through face validation, pilot study, and the Cronbach α calculated via SPSS. Data extraction and analysis were also performed by SPSS-25. Results Of 364 questionnaires distributed, 300 were properly filled and entered into the study, of which, 38% were filled by clinical residents, 10% university lecturers, and 52% other categories (e.g. private sector). The average number of musculoskeletal patient visits was 140.6 ± 119 and the mean number of musculoskeletal sonographies requested was 8.2 ± 5.2 per month (the three most common indications reported as the shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendon injuries). 95% of the participants considered the importance of sonography for physiatrists to be “very high” or “high”; with the most valuable applications “as a guide for procedures (90%), its diagnostic utility (68%), and follow up/evaluating the response to treatment (45%). 86% of physiatrists reported they had participated in musculoskeletal sonography courses, 60% during residency, and the rest through workshops. Also, the participants mentioned safety (83%), the possibility of performing simultaneous diagnosis and intervention procedures (70%), repeatability (58%), and dynamic imagery (52%) as the major advantages of musculoskeletal ultrasound. Conclusion a large number of doctors consider musculoskeletal sonography to be essential for physiatrists, though insufficient education on the subject and the low number of ultrasound devices are some of the obstacles in enhancing the use of this technology in PM&R setting. Presenting certified specific training courses during residency, provision of necessary rotations, using the capacities of the PM&R scientific committee, and the private sector for running workshops and professional training courses are suggested for enhancing the knowledge and skills of neuromusculoskeletal sonography.

33-yr-old female patient was seen for hypoesthesia of the fourth and fifth fingers in her left hand 3 mos after an open surgery for ipsilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The medical history was otherwise noncontributory. The findings from the physical examination revealed weakness in the abduction and the adduction of the second, third, fourth, and fifth digits and weakness in the adduction of the first digit. The findings from nerve conduction studies of the ulnar and median nerves were normal bilaterally. The result of the needle electromyography of the first dorsal interosseosus muscle was consistent with partial axonal injury and regeneration of the left ulnar nerve (a few fibrillations.increased polyphasia, and decreased recruitment were observed). Thereafter, ultrasound imaging of the median and ulnar nerves was performed. The operated median nerve was still edematous and accompanied by a persistent median artery (Figs. \A~B, 2A-B). Further, the left ulnar nerve also seemed to be injured (Figs. M-B). The patient was diagnosed with a mild iatrogenic ulnar neuropathy and a healing median nerve after carpal tunnel surgery.Median neuropathy at the wrist is the most common entrapment neuropathy, and decompression surgery can be performed for its treatment. However, there may be certain early postoperative complications such as injury to the median nerve (and its branches), the ulnar nerve/Guyon canal, the superficial palmar arch, and the ulnar artery and incomplete release of the transverse carpal ligament.Ĉ omplications associated with the ulnar nerve are relatively rare, and the relevant literature comprises only anectodal cases.^ Moreover, the diagnosis is generally based on clinical and electromyographic findings. The authors know of only one case report whereby ultrasound was used for such a diagnosis.T he diagnostic value of ultrasound in peripheral nerve lesions is well established.^ Particularly in entrapment syndromes, it can confirm the diagnosis morphologically and it may be used to guide an onward intervention/surgery or assist with close follow-up thereafter.^ In the described subject, the ultrasound detected the postoperative edema in the ulnar nerve and, additionally, it depicted the persistent median artery as the likely cause of the carpal tunnel FIGURE 1 Comparative ultrasound imaging of the patient's median nerves. On longitudinal view, the median nerve (white arrowheads) is observed as an anechoic long tubular structure. The (operated) left median nerve is, however, significantly enlarged proximally (B). Healthy side (A).