Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39443927›Full record

Trial reportBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

Is the phoenix sign phenomenon due to vasodilation? A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing motor function recovery after diagnostic common fibular nerve block with lidocaine and papaverine.

Stephen L Barrett, Bailey Boyd, Sequioa DuCasse, Wajdi Nassier, Nia Mitchell, Artinder P Nagra, Miki Dalmau-Pastor, Dwayne S Yamasaki, Scott Nickerson

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06637046 nacompletednot on this map

Is the Phoenix Sign Phenomenon Due to Vasodilation? a Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Motor Function Recovery After Diagnostic Common Fibular Nerve Block with Lidocaine and Papaverine

TypeinterventionalSponsorStephen BarrettRan2020 to 2023Enrolled20ConditionsDrop FootArmsDiagnostic procedures, Lidocaine HCl
NCT06919289 nacompletednot on this map

Quantifying the Phoenix Sign: A Comparative, Randomized Control Trial Analysis of Lidocaine and Papaverine-Induced Vascular Enhancement After Common Peroneal (Fibular) Nerve Blocks for the Diagnosis of a Focal Peripheral Nerve Entrapment

TypeinterventionalSponsorUS Neuropathy CentersRan2024 to 2024Enrolled4ConditionsDrop FootArmsInfiltration of papaverine, Lidocaine infiltration
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Stephen L BarrettNeuropathy Centers, Marietta, GA, USA. slbarrettpod@me.com.
Bailey Boyd *Neuropathy Centers, Marietta, GA, USA.
Sequioa DuCasse *Neuropathy Centers, Marietta, GA, USA.
Wajdi Nassier *Neuropathy Centers, Marietta, GA, USA.
Nia Mitchell *Neuropathy Centers, Marietta, GA, USA.
Artinder P Nagra *Neuropathy Centers, Marietta, GA, USA.
Miki Dalmau-Pastor *Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Dwayne S Yamasaki *Enso Medical Technologies Inc, St. Augustine, FL, USA.
Scott Nickerson *NE Wyoming Wound Care Clinic, Sheridan, WY, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFocal entrapment of the common fibular (peroneal) nerve (CFN) is the most common nerve entrapment in the lower extremity. Accurate diagnosis can be difficult due to co-existent pathology such as low back pathology. A 1% lidocaine block of CFN is often used to confirm the local entrapment pathology and demonstrate possibility of pain relief. A surprising, unexpected and temporary strengthening of CFN supplied ankle and foot muscles is occasionally produced, termed the Phoenix sign. Aetiology of this phenomenon has been puzzling, but restoration of neural circulation and nutrition via improved local blood flow has been postulated to be responsible.

methodsThis is a double-blinded, randomized, prospective controlled trial of 20 patients, comparing 2 vasodilating agents and their ability to produce the Phoenix effect. Ultrasound guided infiltration of 0.3 mL 1% lidocaine or papaverine HCl 10 mg/mL was executed adjacent to CFN. Motor strength pre- infiltration and 4 min post-infiltration were measured for anterior compartment muscles utilizing MRC manual motor testing reported on a 0-5 scale. The extensor hallucis longus (EHL) muscle proved to be the most significant.

resultsAverage motor strength of the EHL improved from 2.2 (+/-0.40) to 4.9 (+/-0.32).) in the lidocaine group. In the papaverine group, pre-infiltration EHL motor strength averaging 2.1 (+/-0.93) improved to 4.4 (+/- 1.01) post-infiltration. Papaverine and lidocaine produced similar statistically significant increases in muscle strength (p = < 0.05).

conclusionThere was no difference between small local infiltrations of lidocaine or papaverine in production of increased anterior compartment EHL motor strength. It is most likely that the Phoenix Effect is explained by temporary local improvements in the microcirculation of the CFN vasa nervorum.

trial registrationNCT06637046 10/10/2024 Retrospectively registered.

Indexed as

LidocaineNerve BlockPapaverineRecovery of FunctionVasodilationVasodilator AgentsAdultAgedAnesthetics, LocalDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMuscle, SkeletalMuscle StrengthAnesthetics, LocalLidocainePapaverineVasodilator AgentsCommon peroneal nerveDrop footPeripheral nervePeripheral nerve blockVascular perfusion

Identifiers

PMID39443927
PMCPMC11520154

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.