We present the electromyographic (EMG) results
ten years after open decompression of the median nerve at the wrist
and compare them with the clinical and functional outcomes as judged
by Levine’s Questionnaire. This retrospective study evaluated 115
patients who had undergone carpal tunnel decompression at a mean
of 10.47 years (9.24 to 11.36) previously. A positive EMG diagnosis
was found in 77 patients (67%), including those who were asymptomatic
at ten years. It is necessary to include both clinical and functional results
as well as electromyographic testing in the long-term evaluation
of patients who have undergone carpal tunnel decompression particularly
in those in whom revision surgery is being considered. In doubtful
cases or when there are differing outcomes, self-administered scales
such as Levine’s Questionnaire should prevail over EMG results when
deciding on the need for revision surgery.
This study examined the role of vitamin D as a factor accounting for fatty degeneration and muscle function in the rotator cuff. There were 366 patients with disorders of the shoulder. A total of 228 patients had a full-thickness tear (group 1) and 138 patients had no tear (group 2). All underwent magnetic resonance arthrography and an isokinetic muscle performance test. The serum concentrations of vitamin D (25(OH)D3) were measured. In general, a lower serum level of vitamin D was related to higher fatty degeneration in the muscles of the cuff. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were 0.173 (p = 0.001), −0.181 (p = 0.001), and −0.117 (p = 0.026) for supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis, respectively. In group 1, multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the serum level of vitamin D was an independent variable for fatty degeneration of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. The serum vitamin D level has a significant negative correlation with the fatty degeneration of the cuff muscle and a positive correlation with isokinetic muscle torque.