Improvement In Visual Analog Scale Pain Scores Research Articles

Poster 361: Prolotherapy in the Treatment of Sports-Related Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Prolotherapy (PrT) involves the injection of a proliferant in order to irritate a microenvironment and promote healing via the inflammatory cascade. PrT has become an increasingly popular nonoperative treatment in orthopedics. However, numerous prolotherapy solutions exist and varying applications and results have been described. The purpose of this study is to review high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that analyzed efficacy and safety profiles of prolotherapy (PrT) treatments for the most common sports-related tendinopathies. Methods: All RCTs published in English between January 1st 1980 and July 30th 2021, reported in Embase, Medline, and Web of Science databases, were queried with search terms including sclerotherapy, prolotherapy, sports medicine, sports injuries, tendinopathies, and musculoskeletal pain/injuries. PRISMA guidelines were used. Studies analyzing tendinopathies using a RCT design were included, while case controls, reviews, and observational studies were excluded. Duplicates were eliminated through Endnote. The remaining articles were screened by titles, followed by abstract and then by full text analysis. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to assess for risk of bias. Two researchers independently performed the screening and conflicts were resolved using Rayyan © software (Rayyan Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA). Graphical representations were created using SPSS version 28.00. Results: Application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded 20 RCTs (fig. 1): 6 studies on lateral epicondylitis (LE); 6 on rotator cuff tendinopathy (RC); 5 on plantar fasciitis (PF); 2 on Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD); 1 on Achilles tendinosis. Most of the trials used dextrose injections over P2G or hypertonic glucose (fig. 2), and the most common studied conditions were LE and RC (fig.3). The average follow-up period was 12 weeks. No significant adverse effects were reported, and the most common outcome measures were visual analog scale (VAS), patient rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE), quick- disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (Q-DASH), and symptoms relief. For the treatment of LE, dextrose PrT was associated with significant improvement in VAS pain score at rest and PRTEE compared to normal saline (p<0.041, p<0.013 respectively). Additionally, compared to hyaluronic acid and lifestyle modifications, PrT showed significant improvement in VAS pain score with activity, Q-DASH, and PRTEE scores (p<0.04, p<0.04, p<0.05 respectively). For the treatment of RC, dextrose PrT was found superior to physiotherapy in the shoulder disability index (p<0.001). Finally, dextrose PrT demonstrated significant improvements in foot function index (p<0.001) for the treatment of PF, and reduction of symptoms in OSD (p<0.024) compared to physical therapy and lidocaine controls. Patients with AT had a more rapid improvement in symptoms in the combined PrT/eccentric loading exercises protocols compared to dextrose PrT alone (p<0.007). A graphical representation of the results is reported in figure 4. Conclusions: This systematic review summarized high quality RCTs and found PrT injections to be overall safe and effective in the treatment of sports-related tendinopathies. Further RCTs with larger sample sizes and comparisons to orthobiologics would add to the literature. Based on the current findings, sports medicine professionals may safely pursue PrT as an additional component of conservative treatment before surgery.

Clinical Outcomes of Revision Arthroscopic Osteocapsular Arthroplasty in Primary Elbow Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Arthroscopic osteocapsular arthroplasty (OCA) achieves significant medium-term outcomes in patients with primary elbow osteoarthritis (OA); however, outcomes after revision arthroscopic OCA are not well known. Purpose: To assess clinical outcomes after revision arthroscopic OCA as compared with those after primary surgery in patients with OA. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients who underwent arthroscopic OCA attributed to primary elbow OA between January 2010 and July 2020 were enrolled. Range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) were assessed. Operation time and complications were assessed by chart review. Clinical outcomes between the primary and revision surgery groups were compared, and subgroup analysis for radiologically severe OA was performed. Results: Data from 61 patients were analyzed (primary, n = 53; revision, n = 8). The mean ± SD age was 56.3 ± 8.5 and 54.3 ± 8.9 years in the primary and revision groups, respectively. The primary group had significantly better ROM arcs preoperatively (89.9°± 20.3° vs 71.3°± 22.3°; P = .021) and postoperatively (112.4°± 17.1° vs 96.9°± 16.5°; P = .019) than the revision group; however, the degree of improvement was comparable (P = .445). Postoperative VAS pain score (P = .164) and MEPS (P = .581) were comparable between the groups, as were the degrees of improvement in VAS pain score (P = .691) and MEPS (P = .604). The revision group required a significantly longer operative time than the primary group (P = .004) and had a nonsignificant higher complication rate (P = .065). Subgroup analysis showed that radiologically severe cases in the primary group had significantly better preoperative (P = .010) and postoperative (P = .030) ROM arcs than the revision group and a comparable postoperative VAS pain score (P = .155) and MEPS (P = .658). Conclusion: Revision arthroscopic OCA is a favorable treatment option for primary elbow OA with recurrent symptoms. Postoperative ROM arc was worse after revision surgery as compared with primary surgery; however, the degree of improvement was comparable. Postoperative VAS pain score and MEPS were comparable with primary surgery.

Efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid in patients with burning mouth syndrome compared to that of placebo or other interventions: a systematic review with meta-analyses.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic oral disorder of unknown etiology which presents therapeutic challenges. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has been studied as a potential treatment for BMS. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of ALA compared to that of placebo or other interventions in individuals with BMS. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) using ALA to treat BMS were identified from MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to February 3, 2021. The assessment of the risk of bias in the included studies was based on the Cochrane guidelines. The primary outcome evaluated was the visual analog scale (VAS) pain intensity. ALA was compared with placebo, clonazepam, gabapentin, pregabalin, ALA plus gabapentin, capsaicin, Biotène®, and laser therapy. Altogether, 137 records were scanned for inclusion/exclusion, and nine RCTs (two unclear and seven at high risk of bias) were included in the qualitative and quantitative analyses, with a total of 594 patients with BMS included in this review. All studies reported an improvement in VAS pain scores ranging from -0.72 to -2.77. Meta-analysis results showed a non-significant reduction in pain intensity for ALA (P = 0.616) compared to that of placebo on a VAS of 0–10. Patients taking ALA were 1.923 times more likely to show an improvement in self-reported BMS symptoms (P = 0.031) than those in the placebo group. Clonazepam and pregabalin showed a significant VAS pain reduction of 4.08 and 4.68 (P < 0.001), respectively, compared to that with ALA. Although ALA intervention provided a non-significant improvement in the pain score and was more likely to produce a reduction in BMS symptoms, the evidence was of low quality. Further research is needed to establish clear guidelines for the use of ALA for BMS treatment.

Prospective comparative study evaluating the role of flavonoids after endovenous thermal ablation.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of flavonoids in the improvement of post-operative symptoms after endovenous thermal ablation (EVTA). A prospective comparative study of 120 consecutive patients undergoing EVTA of the greater saphenous vein associated with phlebectomies was undertaken. Patients were grouped in those receiving micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF- 60 patients) agent 500 mg Bid 7 days pre- and 30 days post- operatively (MPFF group) and those in the control group (60 patients) who did not. Demographics, intra-operative details, Clinical -Etiology- Anatomy- Pathophysiology (CEAP) clinical class, 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (CΙVIQ-20) were recorded. Primary outcome was the postoperative pain assessement using the VAS scale and CIVIQ pain score. Secondary outcomes included assessement of VCSS and CΙVIQ-20 scores. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding demographics, clinical and procedural characteristics. Patients in MPFF group reported significantly lower VAS pain levels than control group at 7- (-3.6 ± 1.2 vs -2.7 ± 1.9, p < .0001) and 30- post-operative day (-4.9 ± 0.1 vs -4.2 ± 1, p < .0001). MPFF group also showed better outcome in terms of CIVIQ pain score at 7- (-3.7 ± 1.3 vs -3.5 ± 1.8, p = .008) and 30- post-operative day (-5.3. ± 1.1 vs -4.4 ± 1, p = .017). Both groups showed a significant improvement in VAS pain score (p = .047), global CIVIQ-20 (p = .009) and VCSS (p = .008) at 7- and 30-days post-operatively. Administration of flavonoids in patients undergoing EVTA associated with phlebectomies reduces pain by a small amount during early postoperative period.

Long-term Outcomes of Immediate Weightbearing with Anchorless Achilles Debridement and Secondary Reconstruction for Insertional Achilles Tendonopathy

Category:Hindfoot; SportsIntroduction/Purpose:Achilles debridement and secondary reconstruction is a widely accepted procedure for treatment of insertional Achilles tendonopathy with or without Haglund resection, calcaneus exostectomy, retrocalcaneal bursectomy, and possible flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer. When less than 50% of the tendon is pathologic and elevated from the calcaneus, primary reconstruction with or without bony fixation (bone tunnels or anchors) has been advocated. Postoperative protocols demonstrate wide variability in the orthopaedic literature. This study is the first to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with insertional Achilles tendonopathy who underwent soft tissue only Achilles debridement and secondary reconstruction with immediate plantigrade weightbearing in plantigrade foot ankle stabilizer (FAS) high walking boot.Methods:All patients with symptomatic insertional Achilles tendonopathy who failed conservative management underwent Achilles debridement and secondary reconstruction with or without Haglund resection, calcaneus exostectomy, and retrocalcaneal bursectomy by a single senior foot and ankle surgeon at a single tertiary center between January 2006 to December 2013 were included in our retrospective case series. Patients with greater than 50% involvement of the tendon requiring flexor hallucis longus transfer were excluded. Demographics, clinical outcomes, patient comorbidity information, and Coughlin satisfaction scores were collected. The primary outcome was change in visual analog scale (VAS) pain score. Secondary outcomes were reoperation, minor complications (local wound care, use of antibiotics, and skin dehiscence).Results:From 2006 to 2013, 66 patients (40.9% male, 59.1% female) at an average age of 53.6 years (range 19 to 78) underwent Achilles debridement and secondary reconstruction. At final average follow up of 4.3 years, average VAS score improved from 5.9 to 2.3 preoperatively to postoperatively. There were a total of 10 reoperations in 9.1% of patients (n=6). Minor complications were present in 12.1% of patients (n=8; 3 local wound care, 8 use of antibiotics, and 5 skin dehiscence). Physical therapy desensitization was utilized in 25.8% of patients (n=17).Conclusion:The present study demonstrates a significant improvement in VAS pain scores following Achilles debridement and secondary reconstruction for treatment of insertional Achilles tendonopathy with immediate plantigrade weightbearing in plantigrade FAS high walking boot. This technique appears to be safe and effective.

Endoscopic Repair of Full-Thickness Gluteus Medius and Minimus Tears—Prospective Study With a Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up

To evaluate the short-term outcomes of endoscopic repair of full-thickness gluteus medius and minimus tendon tears with a minimum of 2-year follow-up and add to the paucity of literature on abductor tendon tears. All patients who underwent endoscopic abductor tendon repair between December 2013 and August 2017 were prospectively evaluated. The inclusion criteria for this study were primary full-thickness gluteal tendon tears and at least 2-years of follow-up. Clinical outcome data consisted of visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, hip abduction strength, Trendelenburg sign, complications, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score, Non-arthritic Hip Scale, International Hip Outcome Tool-33, and Lower Extremity Functional Scale. A total of 15 hips, all full-thickness tears, met inclusion criteria with an average follow-up of 31.2 months, with no patients being excluded. On physical examination, there was a significant improvement in VAS pain score from 5.36 to 2.43 (P=.0243), hip abduction strength with 8 (53.3%) hips improving by at least 1 point (P= .02056), and resolution of Trendelenburg sign in all 15 hips at 2-years (P= .0019). The mean difference for all 6 PROMs was statistically significant, even after Bonferroni adjustment, with the majority of patient improvement exceeding the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds: modified Harris Hip Score: 86.67%, Hip Outcome Score-ADL: 86.67%, Hip Outcome Score-SSS: 66.67%, Non-arthritic Hip Scale: 93.33%, and International Hip Outcome Tool-33: 80%. Greater Goutallier grade was associated with a greater VAS pain score. There were no complications, including no retears. In this study of 15 hips with full-thickness gluteal tendon tears managed endoscopically, we found excellent outcomes that exceeded the MCID thresholds in the majority of patients at an average of 31.2 months follow-up, while offering the potential advantages of less tissue violation, ambulatory day surgery, and fewer complications compared with open repair. Level 4, Case Series.

Safety and Efficacy of Sacroplasty for Sacral Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sacroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic and malignant sacral fractures by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature. PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were searched from their inception until February 2018 for articles describing sacroplasty. Inclusion criteria were as follows: studies reporting > 5 patients, and pain assessment before and after the procedure recorded with visual analog scale (VAS). Demographic data, procedural details, technical success rates, VAS scores before and after the procedure, and procedural complications were recorded. A random-effects meta-analyses of the VAS pain score before the procedure, at 24-48 hours, at 6 months, and at 12 months were calculated. Nineteen studies (18 case series and 1 cohort study) were identified consisting of 861 total patients (682 women and 167 men; mean age 73.89 ± 9.73 years). Patients underwent sacroplasty for the following indications: sacral insufficiency fractures secondary to osteoporosis (n= 664), malignancy (n= 167), and nonspecified sacral insufficiency fractures (n= 30). Technical and clinical successes were achieved in 98.9% (852/861) and 95.7% (623/651) of patients undergoing sacroplasty, respectively. The pooled major complication rate was 0.3%, with 3 patients requiring surgical decompression for cement leakage. Random-effects meta-analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences in the VAS pain level at preprocedure, 24-48 hours, 6 months, and 12 months, with cumulative pain scores of 8.32 ± 0.01, 3.55 ± 0.01, 1.48 ± 0.01, and 0.923 ± 0.01, respectively. Sacroplasty appears safe and effective for pain relief in patients with osteoporotic or malignant sacral fractures, with statistically significant sustained improvement in VAS pain scores up to 12 months.

P109. Tobacco use is associated with worse patient-reported outcomes following elective cervical spine surgery

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Tobacco use has been shown to be a major modifiable risk factor for the development of postoperative complications in elective orthopedic surgeries. Numerous studies have described the adverse health effects of tobacco use and the associations between tobacco use and poor surgical outcomes, as well as increased post-operative health care utilization. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of preoperative tobacco use on (1) pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcomes, (2) complications, and (3) pre- and postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective chart review. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 179 consecutive patients who underwent elective cervical spine surgery at a single academic institution from 2014-2016 with 2-year follow up data. OUTCOME MEASURES Perioperative variables, pre- and postoperative, opiod consumption, Neck Disabiity Index (NDI) score, VAS (visual analog scale) pain scores and Distressed Communities Index (DCI) METHODS Patient tobacco use, baseline characteristics, medical comorbidities, operative variables, and surgical complications (superficial and deep infection, wound complication, emergency department [ED] visits, readmissions, and repeat operations) were recorded. Additionally, preoperative ED visits, pre- and postoperative opioid use, total postoperative opioid prescription quantities, and most recent date of opioid prescription were collected. Quantitative measurements of pain (VAS) and disease specific disability score (NDI) were recorded preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. In addition, the Economic Innovation Group's 2017 Distressed Communities Index (DCI) was recorded for each patient's home zip code. DCI Scores are based on percentages of adults without a high school education, percentage living under the poverty line, unemployment rates, and the overall housing and business climate in a given area. DCI Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicative of greater economic distress, and DCI Scores ≥80 are considered to be highly distressed regions. Continuous variables were compared between patients that did vs did not use tobacco using two-tailed independent t-test, and categorical variables were compared using chi-square or Fisher Exact tests. RESULTS Of the 179 patients involved in this study, 98 (54.7%) were current tobacco users. Compared to non-users, current tobacco users were more likely to have COPD (p=0.001), illicit drug abuse (p=0.002), and worse distressed community index scores (p=0.02). Tobacco users had less pain relief than non-smokers at 3 months postoperatively (4.9±2.7 vs. 2.7±2.3, respectively), as they experienced significantly less improvement in VAS pain score (p 0.05). There were no other between-group differences. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco users undergoing elective cervical spine surgery may experience significantly worse pain during the early postoperative period compared to non-smokers. Tobacco use may represent a modifiable risk factor for persistent pain in this population. Surgeons should counsel patients about reducing tobacco use before cervical spine surgery, and socioeconomic status should be considered when developing patient education materials and smoking cessation programs for this at risk subset. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Comparison of Cortical Bone Trajectory Screw Placement Using the Midline Lumbar Fusion Technique to Traditional Pedicle Screws: A Case-Control Study.

Cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screws are an alternative to traditional pedicle screws (PS) for lumbar fixation. The proposed benefits of CBT screws include decreased approach-related morbidity and greater cortical bone contact to prevent screw pullout. Relatively little data is published on this technique. Here, we compare the midline lumbar fusion (MIDLF) approach for CBT screw placement to transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for traditional PS placement. A prospectively maintained institutional database was retrospectively reviewed for all patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion using CBT screws over the past 5 years. Controls were identified from the same database as patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion with traditional PS placement and matched based on age, sex, and number of levels fused. Exclusion criteria included prior lumbar instrumentation. The electronic health record was retrospectively reviewed for demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data. A total of 23 patients who underwent CBT screw placement and 35 controls who received traditional PS were included in the study. The median follow-up time was 52.5 months. The CBT screw group had significantly less mean estimated blood loss than the PS group (186 mL versus 414 mL respectively; P = .008). Both groups experienced significant improvements in preoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in regard to operative time and amount of improvement in VAS pain score or ODI. The CBT group was associated with a significantly shorter mean length of stay (LOS). There were 2 instances of screw pullout in each group. The MIDLF approach with CBT screw placement is associated with less intraoperative blood loss and shorter LOS than traditional PS placement. There is no difference between the 2 techniques in regard to improvement in pain or disability.

Ultrasound Guidance Does Not Improve the Results of Shock Wave for Plantar Fasciitis or Calcific Achilles Tendinopathy: A Randomized Control Trial.

To establish whether the use of ultrasound to direct shock waves to the area of greater calcification in calcaneal enthesopathies was more effective than the common procedure of directing shock waves to the point where the patient has the most tenderness. Two-armed nonblinded randomized control trial with allocation concealment. The Sports Clinic at Sydney University. Participants 18 years or older with symptomatic plantar fasciitis (PF) (with heel spur) or calcific Achilles tendinopathy (CAT). Seventy-four of 82 cases completed treatment protocol and 6-month follow-up. Patients were randomized to receive either ultrasound-guided (UG) or patient-guided (PG) shock wave at weekly intervals over 3 to 5 weeks. Reduced pain on visual analog scale (VAS) and improved functional score on Maryland Foot Score (MFS) (for PF) or Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) (for CAT). Follow-up was at 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months. Comparative 6-month improvements in MFS for the 47 PF cases were PG +20/100 and UG +14/100 (P = 0.20). Comparative 6-month improvement in VISA-A score for the 27 CAT cases were PG +35/100 and UG +27/100 (P = 0.37). Comparative (combined PF and CAT) 6-month improvement in VAS pain scores for all 38 PG cases were +38/100 with +37/100 for all 36 UG shock wave cases. Although both treatment groups had good clinical outcomes in this study, results for the 2 study groups were almost identical. This study shows that there is no major advantage in the addition of ultrasound for guiding shock waves when treating calcaneal enthesopathies (PF and CAT).

Avascular necrosis of femur treated with combination therapy of pulsed radio frequency of articular branches of femoral and obturator nerve with autologous intra-articular platelet-rich plasma therapy: A case report

We report a case of a 53-year-old man with early stage (stage II) avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head treated with pulsed radio frequency (pRF) of articular branches of femoral and obturator nerves with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intra-articular injection. Autologous PRP was injected into the diseased hip under fluoroscopy guidance. The patient was followed up at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after treatment, together with visual analog scale (VAS) Walking Index, Harris Hip Score, and Range of Motion (ROM) assessments. The patient's severe hip pain considerably improved during subsequent follow-up at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after treatment, with significant improvement in VAS pain scores, Harris Hip Score, and ROM. This case represents the first evidence of complete resolution of symptoms of stage II AVN of the hip, following a combination treatment with pRF with PRP having a synergistic beneficial effect.

A Comparison of Headache Treatment in the Emergency Department: Prochlorperazine Versus Ketamine

Intravenous subdissociative-dose ketamine has been shown to be effective for pain management, but has not been specifically studied for headaches in the emergency department (ED). For this reason, we designed a study to compare standard treatment (prochlorperazine) with ketamine in patients with benign headaches in the ED. This study was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial with a convenience sample of patients presenting to the ED with benign headaches. Patients were randomized to receive either prochlorperazine and diphenhydramine or ketamine and ondansetron. Patients' headache severity was measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and the need for rescue medications were also tracked. Patients were contacted at 24 to 48 hours posttreatment to rate their satisfaction and to determine whether they were still experiencing a headache. There were a total of 54 subjects enrolled. Two patients in the ketamine group and one in the prochlorperazine group withdrew because of adverse effects of the medications. In regard to the primary outcome, at 60 minutes, the prochlorperazine group had a mean improvement in VAS pain scores of 63.5 mm compared with 43.5 mm in the ketamine group, corresponding to a between-groups difference of 20.0 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8 to 37.2 mm) and a Pvalue of .026. At 45 minutes, the prochlorperazine group had a mean improvement in pain scores of 56.1 mm compared with 38.0 mm in the ketamine group, a difference of 18.1 mm (95% CI 1.0 to 35.2 mm). At 24- to 48-hour follow-up, the mean satisfaction score was 8.3 of 10 for prochlorperazine and 4.9 of 10 for ketamine, a difference of 3.4 (95% CI 1.2 to5.6). There was not a statistically significant difference in the percentage of patients who had a headache at follow-up or in other secondary outcomes. Prochlorperazine appears to be superior to ketamine for the treatment of benign headaches in the ED.

The Influence of Body Mass Index on Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopic Surgery With Capsular Plication for the Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement

Background: It remains unknown how variations in body mass index (BMI) influence outcomes after primary hip arthroscopic surgery with capsular plication for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Purpose: To evaluate the effect that abnormal BMI (namely, overweight, obese, morbidly obese, and underweight) versus normal weight has on patient-reported clinical outcomes more than 2 years postoperatively from primary hip arthroscopic surgery with capsular plication by a single surgeon. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A clinical repository containing patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopic surgery for FAI between January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2014, with a minimum 2-year follow-up was queried. Outcome measures included the Hip Outcome Score (HOS)–Activities of Daily Living (ADL), HOS-Sports, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain; satisfaction, and Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State (PASS) for the HOS-ADL; scores were collected preoperatively and at 3 months, 1 year, and minimum 2 years postoperatively. Included patients were segregated by preoperative BMI into the following categories: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), obese (30.0-34.9 kg/m2), and morbidly obese (≥35.0 kg/m2). A multivariate logistic regression model controlling for patient demographics and disease severity was used to identify independent associations between BMI categories and outcomes. A Bonferroni adjustment lowered the threshold for significance to P < .01. Results: There were 409 hips in 381 patients appropriate for study inclusion: 7 underweight, 197 normal BMI, 130 overweight, 31 obese, and 16 morbidly obese. The mean age was 33.1 ± 12.1 years, with 232 (61%) female patients. At 2 years postoperatively, significant differences in the trend among HOS-ADL, HOS-Sports, and mHHS scores were evident, with normal BMI patients, followed by underweight patients, demonstrating greater scores than their overweight, obese, and morbidly obese counterparts. Obese patients demonstrated lower satisfaction scores than normal BMI patients. Overweight, obese, and morbidly obese patients had lower improvements in VAS pain scores compared with normal BMI patients. Increasing BMI (not subdivided into the 5 BMI categories) was associated with a higher infection risk (mean BMI for infections: 32.3 ± 9.8 kg/m2 vs mean BMI for noninfections: 25.2 ± 4.8 kg/m2; P = .0035). However, with multivariate analysis, no significant differences in patient clinical outcomes between the BMI categories met the threshold for significance. Among obese patients (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2), no specific risk factors were found to be significantly associated with decreases in the change in VAS, HOS-ADL, HOS-Sports, mHHS, satisfaction, or PASS for the HOS-ADL scores. However, because of the small cohort sizes at the extremes of the BMI categories, this analysis may have been underpowered to identify a significant difference in underweight or morbidly obese patients. Conclusion: In the current cohort, there were multiple potential confounding variables, and while some clinical differences were observed initially (higher HOS-ADL, HOS-Sports, and mHHS scores for normal BMI patients than overweight and obese patients at 2 years postoperatively; lower satisfaction scores for obese patients than normal BMI patients; and lower improvement in VAS pain scores for overweight, obese, and morbidly obese patients when compared with normal BMI patients), after multivariate analysis, no associations were observed between BMI and clinical outcomes after hip arthroscopic surgery with capsular plication for FAI.

Deep Friction Massage Versus Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis.

The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of deep friction massage in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis by comparing outcomes with a control group treated with splinting and therapy and with an experimental group receiving a local steroid injection. A randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare outcomes after recruitment of consecutive patients presenting with lateral epicondylitis. Patients were randomized to receive one of 3 treatments: group 1: splinting and stretching, group 2: a cortisone injection, or group 3: a lidocaine injection with deep friction massage. Pretreatment and posttreatment parameters of visual analog scale (VAS) pain ratings, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, and grip strength were measured. Outcomes were measured at early follow-up (6-12 weeks) and at 6-month follow-up. There was a significant improvement in VAS pain score in all treatment groups at early follow-up. DASH score and grip strength improved in the cortisone injection group and the deep friction massage group at early follow-up; these parameters did not improve in the splinting and stretching group. At 6-month follow-up, only patients in the deep friction massage group demonstrated a significant improvement in all outcome measures, including VAS pain score, DASH score, and grip strength. Deep friction massage is an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis and can be used in patients who have failed other nonoperative treatments, including cortisone injection.

Trigger Point Injections for Pelvic Floor Myofascial Spasm Refractive to Primary Therapy

Introduction A retrospective chart review was conducted of visual analog scale (VAS) scores completed before and after trigger point injections (TPIs) for pelvic floor myofascial spasm to evaluate response. Methods Sixty-eight female patients who underwent TPIs from October 9, 2007 to March 12, 2015 were included. The primary end point was the difference between scores. Secondary analyses were conducted for patients who needed repeat TPIs. Descriptive and paired t test analyses were used. Results The key result was an improvement in VAS scores for 65% (44/68) of patients (p&lt;0.0001). The median pre-injection VAS score was 7 (1 to 10), (mean 6.3). The median post-injection VAS score was 4 (0 to 9), (mean 4.3). The median difference between scores in patients who improved was 3 (1 to 8), (mean 3.6). Seventeen of 68 (25%) patients needed repeat TPI, and the median time between injections was 1.5 months (1 to 7 months), (mean 2.2 months). When analyzing pre-injection VAS scores in patients who underwent subsequent repeat injection when compared to patients who did not require repeat injection, there was no difference (p = 0.32). In addition, the differences between pre- and post-injection VAS scores in the patients who underwent repeat injection and those who did not was not significant (p = 0.26). Conclusions We report on 68 women who underwent TPIs, with an improvement in VAS pain scores in 65%. It appears that TPIs for pelvic floor myofascial spasm are successful in reducing pain scores for patients who are refractory to primary therapy.

The Therapeutic Effect of Intra-articular Normal Saline Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Evidence Level 1 Studies

Background: Intra-articular normal saline (IA-NS) injections have been utilized as a placebo in a number of randomized controlled trials pertaining to the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA); however, it is believed that these “placebo” injections may have a therapeutic effect that has not been quantified in the literature. Purpose: To (1) quantify the effect of IA-NS injections on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and (2) compare postinjection PROs to established minimal clinically important difference (MCID) criteria to demonstrate a potential therapeutic effect. Study Design: Meta-analysis. Methods: A review was conducted to identify all randomized, placebo-controlled trials on injection therapy for knee OA between 2006 and 2016. Patient demographics and PROs before the injection and at 3 and 6 months after the injection were collected for patients in the IA-NS injection group in each study. A random-effects model was used to compare preinjection scores and scores at each postinjection time point in a pairwise fashion. Results: In total, there were 14 placebo cohorts in 13 studies that were analyzed after meeting inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. This included 1076 patients (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-4), with a weighted mean age of 62.53 years and mean body mass index of 28.67 kg/m2. There was only sufficient information to perform analyses of visual analog scale (VAS) pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) total scores. At 3 months after the IA-NS placebo injection, there was a significant improvement in VAS pain scores (mean difference [MD], 12.10 [95% CI, 3.27 to 20.93]; P = .007), whereas improvement in the WOMAC total scores approached but did not reach statistical significance (MD, 19.75 [95% CI, –0.50 to 40.09]; P = .06). At 6 months, both VAS pain scores (MD, 16.62 [95% CI, 12.13-21.10]; P < .00001) and WOMAC total scores (MD, 11.34 [95% CI, 7.03-15.65]; P < .00001) were significantly improved in comparison to preinjection values. Furthermore, improvements in both the VAS pain and WOMAC total scores at 6 months were clinically significant (MCID, 1.37 and 9, respectively). Conclusion: The administration of an IA-NS placebo injection yields a statistically and clinically meaningful improvement in PROs up to 6 months after the injection in patients with knee OA. This observation supports the notion that the so-called placebo effect for IA-NS injections achieves a clinically meaningful response in patients with OA when provided during comparison studies to an active treatment group (ie, hyaluronic acid).

Intravenous Caffeine for the Treatment of Acute Migraine: A Pilot Study

Background: Caffeine has a long profile of use as an adjuvant therapy for headache and migraine. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of intravenous caffeine citrate for patients with acute migraine headache. Methods: In this single arm study, 61 patients were enrolled who were diagnosed with migraine according to International Headache Society criteria. Patients received 60 mg caffeine citrate intravenously (i.v.) in about 10 min. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were measured on baseline and 1 h and 2 h after caffeine infusion. Results: The improvement in VAS pain score was >3 point change from baseline to 1 h after i.v. infusion (p 5 point change from baseline to 2 h after i.v. infusion (p<0.001). Patients who received other medication before caffeine i.v. infusion did not show better improvement after 1 h (p=0.304) or 2 h (p=0.926) compared with other patients. Conclusions: Infusion of 60 mg caffeine citrate i.v. is safe and well tolerated. It achieved therapeutic success for ...

Psychological Distress in Hip Arthroscopy Patients Affects Postoperative Pain Control

To determine whether patients with higher levels of preoperative psychological distress more frequently use a postoperative fascia iliaca nerve block for pain control after hip arthroscopy, and to determine whether a fascia iliaca nerve block is an effective adjunct to multimodal oral and intravenous analgesia after hip arthroscopy. One hundred seven patients undergoing hip arthroscopy were prospectively enrolled. Before surgery, patients were administered the Distress Risk Assessment Method questionnaire to quantify their level of preoperative psychological distress. Postoperatively, patients with pain inadequately controlled by multimodal oral and intravenous analgesics could request and receive a fascia iliaca nerve block. Pain scores, opioid consumption, time in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and postoperative complications were recorded for all patients. Patients with normal Distress Risk Assessment Method scores requested fascia iliaca nerve blocks approximately half as frequently (18 of 50 [36%]) as patients in the at-risk category (28 of 47 [60%]) or distressed category (7 of 10 [70%]) (P = .02). Patients with high levels of distress also received 40% more intraoperative opioid than patients with normal scores (P = .04). In the study population as a whole, patients who received a fascia iliaca nerve block (n = 53) had a higher initial visual analog scale (VAS) pain score in the PACU (7.2 ± 0.3 v 5.5 ± 0.4, P = .001) and showed greater improvement in the VAS pain score by PACU discharge (-4.3 ± 0.2 v -2.1 ± 0.3, P ≤ .0001) compared with patients who did not receive a block (n = 54). Patients with higher levels of preoperative psychological distress more frequently requested a postoperative nerve block to achieve adequate pain control after hip arthroscopy. Patients receiving a block had greater improvement in VAS pain scores compared with patients managed with oral and intravenous analgesics alone. Level IV, case series.

Kyphoplasty versus vertebroplasty for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Background The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures increases with advancing age and is associated with significant healthcare expenditure. Patients who have sustained fractures from osteoporosis are at increased risk of additional fractures because of loss of bone strength caused by osteoporosis. Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive vertebral augmentation procedure to relieve pain; it stabilizes the vertebral body. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive method for correction and augmentation of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Materials and methods This study included two groups of patients suffering from painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: the first group comprised 26 patients with 33 vertebral compression fractures treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty between April 2007 and October 2008. The results of this group were compared with those of another group of 18 patients (24 vertebrae) who were treated by kyphoplasty between November 2008 and July 2011. The visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were applied for the assessment of patients preoperatively and postoperatively. Results In the vertebroplasty group, the mean VAS score improved from 7.8 to 2.4 according to VAS and from 69 to 15 according to ODI. Cement leakage was noted in four patients (15.4%), without clinical consequence. Ten vertebrae (30.3%) revealed a mean improvement in vertebral height of 11% (8–14%). No patient showed progression of vertebral angles of the augmented vertebrae during the follow-up period. In the kyphoplasty group, the mean pain score improved from 8 to 2.1 according to VAS and from 71 to 17 according to ODI. Cement leakage was noted in two patients (11.11%), without clinical consequence. No thoracolumbar back pain was reported after kyphoplasty. Nineteen vertebrae (79.16%) revealed a mean improvement in vertebral height of 22% (range, 18–38%). No patient showed progression of vertebral angles of the augmented vertebrae during the follow-up period. Conclusion Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty resulted in significant improvement in VAS pain scores. Vertebroplasty, although less expensive than kyphoplasty, had a statistically greater risk for cement leakage and adjacent vertebral fracture.

Preliminary study of highly cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based combination therapy for management of knee osteoarthritis-related pain

BackgroundHyaluronic acid has been extensively used for treatment of knee osteoarthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to act as a synovial lubricant. Furthermore, it has found application in combination with other drugs in the dermatological field and in pre-clinical studies in animal models of osteoarthritis. Experimental evidence suggests that a combination of this macromolecule with other drugs may act as a slow-release depot. However, to date, to the best of our knowledge, no one has tested local intra-articular delivery of highly cross-linked hyaluronic acid combined with bisphosphonate or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for management of knee osteoarthritis pain in the clinical setting. The aim of the present randomized double-blind study was to investigate, for the first time, the effect of a highly cross-linked hyaluronic acid, Variofill®, alone or in combination with diclofenac sodium or sodium clodronate, for management of bilateral knee osteoarthritis-related pain.MethodsSixty-two patients with symptomatic bilateral medial tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren–Lawrence grade II and III) and pain in both knees corresponding to a daily visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥ 30 in the month before the beginning of the study were included in this investigation. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1, treated with an injection of hyaluronic acid alone (66 mg) into each knee; group 2, treated with an injection of hyaluronic acid (49.5 mg) plus diclofenac sodium (5 mg) into each knee; group 3, treated with an injection of hyaluronic acid (49.5 mg) plus sodium clodronate (5 mg) into each knee. Patients also underwent blood tests for measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) immediately before and at 6-month follow-up.ResultsHyaluronic acid alone and in combination with sodium clodronate or diclofenac sodium produced a significant improvement in mean VAS pain score at 3 and 6-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, therapy with hyaluronic acid plus sodium clodronate was the most beneficial in terms of percentage improvement in VAS pain score. A significant improvement in ESR and CRP was observed at 6-month follow-up in each treatment group. No significant difference was observed when the percentage change from baseline related to these parameters was compared among the groups. No dropout was observed in any group. No serious adverse events were observed.ConclusionFurther studies are necessary to determine the effect of a therapy based on hyaluronic acid combined with diclofenac sodium or sodium clodronate in larger cohorts of patients affected by knee osteoarthritis and in longer-term follow-up.