Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Functional Electrical Stimulation in upper limb rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: 90 children with spastic cerebral palsy, age between 6 and 9 years, were randomized into two groups. 45 children, represented the control group, performed conventional physical and occupational therapy and robot-assisted therapy. In addition to the control group, the experimental group received functional electrical stimulation interventions with postural control on the affected upper limb. Results: The experimental group's motor performance after treatment (improved coordination by 8.2%, wrist flexion by 9.75°, three-fingered grasp strength by 1.04°, and functional limitation lowered by 5.93) was considerably better than the control group's which coordination increased by 5.5%, wrist flexion by 8.72°, three-fingered grasp strength by 0.7 and functional limitation decreased by 2.33. Conclusions: Functional electrical stimulation intervention was found to be an effective manner to improve motor performance, in terms of coordination, range of motion, and three-fingered grasp strength, visibly reducing functional limitation and improving performance in activities of daily living.

Cerebral palsies (CPs) disturb the voluntary movement control at extremities’ level, entailing various disability degrees. In over 80% of the CP cases there is an upper limb disorder, mainly manifested by the decrease in hand control and the presence of contractures1, which, in time, lead to the adoption of abnormal postures which affect the abilities of the CP patients’ hands. The aim of this study was to identify the way the motor deficit at upper limb level – reflected by coordination disturbances and by the condition of the three-fingered (tripod) grasp – influences the CP patient’s functional independence. The study demonstrated the existence of significant correlations betweenFunctional Independence Measure (FIM) score2, coordination and three-fingered grasp. It was proven that the unilateral coordination dysfunctions have a strong negative influence on the coordination of the opposite side and lead to a decrease of the functional independence level. Therefore, the rehabilitation treatment is recommended to be based on a bilateral training, both in order to improve coordination and to obtain a functional level of the threefingered grasp power and of the physiological amplitude at wrist flexion level.

Benign biliary strictures (BBS) are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose diagnosis and treatment may be challenging. Surgical injury of the bile duct is the most common cause in the Western world (1). Inflammatory lesions of the biliary ducts, such as chronic pancreatitis represent the second most common cause of BBS.
The appropriate evaluation and management frequently require collaboration between gastroenterologists, surgeons and radiologists. The confirmation of the stricture is preferably made by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). A mainstay of diagnosis is the differentiation of BBS from malignant obstructions which are more prevalent. Tissue sampling during ERCP or endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration can be useful.