Lower Extremity Research Articles

Effect of Digital Therapeutics on Range of Motion, Flexibility, Dynamic Balance, Satisfaction, and Adherence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigated the effect of digital therapeutics on ROM, flexibility, dynamic balance, satisfaction, and adherence. A sample of 34 volunteers was randomly assigned into a Digital Therapeutic Group (DTG) (n = 17) and a Non-Digital Therapeutic Group (NDG) (n = 17). The groups performed four calf muscle stretches and two hamstring stretches for 4 weeks. Flexibility and balance were evaluated to assess the effectiveness of the exercise program. A survey was conducted to assess subjects’ satisfaction, and exercise performance record papers and video records were assessed for exercise adherence. The paired t-test was used to compare the two populations before and after the program. The independent t-test was used to compare the change scores between groups. In the pre- and post-comparison within each group, the DTG group showed significant differences in all items except the dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) (p < 0.05). The left straight leg raise (SLR) was significantly different (p < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in exercise satisfaction and participation between the two groups (p < 0.05). DTG showed improved flexibility, dynamic balance, and higher exercise satisfaction and adherence than NDG. The application, providing lower extremity stretching, can improve dorsiflexion ROM, flexibility of the lower extremity, dynamic balance, exercise satisfaction, and exercise adherence.

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on balance, gait function and quality of life in patients with stroke

ABSTRACT Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used in various neurological diseases due to its positive effects on cortical excitability. The aim of our study is to examine the effects of tDCS in stroke and 28 patients with stroke were randomly divided into two groups as intervention and control groups. Balance was evaluated with the Timed Up and Go Test and Berg Balance Scale. Walking functions were evaluated using the 10-meter Walk Test and the 6 Minutes Walk Test, lower extremity function was evaluated by Fugl Meyer Lower Extremity Scale, quality of life by Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL). A task-oriented physiotherapy and rehabilitation program was applied to both groups. In addition to the task-oriented program, anodal tDCS was applied in the intervention group and carried out with a current of 2 mA, 5 days a week, 20 min, for a total of 4 weeks. In the control group, after the flow was opened for 30 s and the patient felt a tingling sensation, it was turned off without the patient noticing. As a result, significant improvement was obtained in all parameters in both groups (p < 0.05). At the difference values of both groups, only SS-QOL mobility subgroup was significant and other parameters were not significant. Considering all these results, it can be seen that tDAS applied in addition to the task-oriented training program in individuals with stroke makes a positive contribution to the patients’ balance, walking function and quality of life. We think that tDAS may be a feasible and safe additional approach in this patient group.

Physiotherapists’ Use of Outcome Measure Tools in the Assessment of Neuro-Musculoskeletal Injuries for Short-Term Functional Rehabilitation Domains to Minimize Impairments and Disability following Commercial Motorcycle Road-Related Accident, Eldoret, Kenya

Bed immobilization remains a core intervention to stabilize neuro-musculoskeletal injuries following commercial motorcycle-related road traffic accidents. Despite timely operative and conservative management, most patients remain handicapped, requiring short- and long-term physical therapy. That calls for physiotherapists to assess and make use of outcome measure tools to determine the level of impairments and disability and make informed decisions when developing management goals. The objective of the study was to determine short-term functional rehabilitation domains, the use of outcome measure tools, and physiotherapy interventions used to minimize impairments and disability following a commercial motorcycle road-related accident in Eldoret, Kenya. Biopsychosocial theory guided the study. A prospective cohort study was adopted. Purposive sampling was used for the selection of 79 participants for 6 months between March 2021 and July 2021 in level 5 hospitals in Eldoret, Kenya. The target population included post-operative patients in both male and female orthopedics wards, physiotherapists, and social workers in the orthopedic department of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The study population was 150 patients. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used. The data collected was entered and analyzed with SPSS 20. The findings of this study revealed that forty-four percent (44%) of total participants were bedridden for fracture immobilization and spinal cord injuries for more than 3 days before and after orthopedic and neurological surgery. The majority (100%) of the participants had been referred for physiotherapy rehabilitation. All 100 participants were assessed with different outcome measure tools for neuro-musculoskeletal injuries to determine the level of physical function. Forty-three percent (43%) had lost functional abilities of the upper extremity (19 males, 15 females). Fifty-one-point nine percent (51.9%) had lost physical function due to lower extremity fractures (39% (26 males, 15 females) and 24% (15 males, 4 females) with spinal cord injuries. Four participants (5%) reported lost days to school, and 94.9% reported lost days to income-generating activities (27 females, 48 males). The majority (100%) of the participants pre- and post-operatively were assessed with standardized outcome measure tools that remain significant for prompt best evidence-based physiotherapy practices. Pain (100%) and impaired physical functions (100%) were the main rehabilitation domains that posed the biggest challenge to patients’ post-trauma. Multicomponent physiotherapy interventions ranging from stretching, strengthening, breathing exercises, bed positioning, mobility and transfers, balance and coordination, and gait training tailored to patients’ physical function levels, prevention of muscle atrophy and strength, and joint stiffness were core. This study recommended short-term physiotherapy rehabilitation on early bed mobilization and ambulation for patients, which remains core for the restoration of physical functional levels and a return formula to socioeconomic status.

Care Priorities for Individuals with Lower Extremity Amputations: A Patient Delphi Study.

To gather preliminary evidence on short- and long-term care priorities for people with lower extremity amputations. A three-round modified Delphi study using semi-structured interviews. A convenience sample of 20 adult participants who had undergone lower extremity amputations at a tertiary public hospital. Consensus on each care priority was defined a priori as an agreement of more than 50%. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the rationales for endorsing the care priorities. Consensus was reached on 24 short-term care priorities and 12 long-term care priorities in the biomedical, practical and psychological and spiritual domains. The rationales for endorsing each of the care priorities generated three themes: preparedness; mental health, psychological and spiritual well-being; and participating in life, with respect and dignity. Our results highlight the substantial need to improve patient access to education and planning support prior to undergoing limb amputation, and optimising post-amputation rehabilitation programmes, enabling people with amputations to participate in meaningful life roles that provide them with purpose, dignity, and self-respect. The knowledge of care priorities revealed in this study may promote effective patient-centred care and improve clinical outcomes.

Non-unions of the upper extremities

The diagnosis and treatment of non-unions still represents an interdisciplinary challenge. Therefore, prevention, early detection and specific treatment are of great importance. Non-unions of the upper extremities, although less common than that of the lower extremities, requires special attention for successful treatment due to the central role of the shoulder girdle and arm in day to day activities. Successful treatment of non-unions requires acomprehensive evaluation of the patient's medical history, athorough clinical examination and in particular radiological imaging. In order to effectively treat the pseudarthrosis it is crucial to distinguish between pseudarthroses that are suspected to be due to infections and those that are not. This article presents atreatment algorithm for managing both pseudarthrosis due to infection and pseudarthrosis without infection in the upper extremities.

Validity and reliability of ultrasonographic assessment of femoral and tibial torsion in children and adolescents: a systematic review.

Torsional disorders of the lower limb are common in childhood, and they are one of the primary reasons parents seek consultation with healthcare providers. While clinical manoeuvres can assess femoral and tibial torsion, their reliability is medium to low. Various imaging-based techniques, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, fluoroscopy, biplanar radiology and ultrasonography, have been used to evaluate torsional alterations of the lower extremity. Among these, ultrasound assessment offers certain advantages: it is a low-cost, non-irradiating technique, which allows the follow-up of children's torsional development. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, its validity and reliability have not been summarised in a systematic review. This study aims to analyse the validity and reliability of ultrasonography in determining femoral and tibial torsion in children and adolescents. A search from Medline (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL databases were performed from inception to 16 March 2023. No restrictions were placed on the publication year or language. The methodological quality of all eligible studies was independently reviewed by two authors using QUADAS and STARD checklists. Overall, 1546 articles were identified through the searches; 30 were considered eligible for full-text screening; and 8 studies were finally included in this review. The included studies were conducted in Germany, Norway and the UK. Among them, 7 studies analysed the validity of ultrasonography compared with other imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and biplanar X-ray, and 4 studies assessed intra- and inter-observer reliability. All the studies assessed femoral torsion, but only one of them also included tibial torsion. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a good alternative for routine evaluation and follow-up of femoral torsional alterations in children and adolescents due to its safety, accessibility and immediate results in the clinical examination room. Although ultrasound has good accuracy and reliability for routine evaluations, there is controversy about whether it is sufficient for surgical planning. In cases where greater accuracy is required, magnetic resonance imaging and biplanar radiography are the preferred imaging techniques. What is Known: • Several imaging-based techniques have been described for the assessment of torsional alterations of the lower extremity. • Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, biplanar radiology and ultrasonography are the most used and studied methods. What is New: • Ultrasonography represents a good alternative for the assessment of femoral and tibial torsional alterations in children and adolescents, given its safety, accessibility and immediacy of results in the consultation room. • Its accuracy and reliability are good but not sufficient for surgical planning, in which case MRI and biplanar X-ray will be the preferred choices.

A Late Antiquity case of a chronic osteomyelitis from the population of Cortijo Coracho, Córdoba, Spain (IV-VIII centuries AD).

The Cortijo Coracho archaeological site dates from the Late Antiquity period, from the 5th to the 8th century AD. During this period, a number of populations settled in the area (Germanic peoples until Visigothic rule, Byzantine until the arrival of the Arabs, etc.), each of them concentrating the historical characteristics in the Sub-Baetic that are currently known. The Cortijo Coracho archaeological site is currently located in the city of Lucena (Cordoba, Spain), found after the works on the A-45 motorway. The necropolis consists of 294 inhumations and the remains of a basilica, although after a series of surveys it is estimated that there are around 700 additional burials, which would make it the largest necropolis with ad sancti burials surrounding a martyrial basilica dating back to the 4th century AD. Among the burials, 397 subjects were recovered, which implies a large presence of shared and/or reused burials. These subjects were transferred to the city's museum, where they were examined, reorganised and classified. At this point, subjects of scientific interest were found, as is the case of subject 204, the topic of this article. This individual, described as an adult male, is an example of the living conditions of this period, since despite his injury on the left lower extremity, a double fracture aggravated by a chronic osteomyelitis infection, he continued to use that limb. This paper will give the details of that distinctive lesion and the possible hypotheses underlying it.

Outcomes in Drainage Ankle Disarticulation vs Guillotine Transtibial Amputation in the Staged Approach to Below-Knee Amputation.

A transtibial amputation is the traditional primary staged amputation for source control in the setting of non-salvageable lower extremity infection, trauma, or avascularity prior to progression to proximal amputation. The primary aim of the study is to compare preoperative risk factors and postoperative outcomes between patients who underwent transtibial amputation versus ankle disarticulation in staged amputations. A retrospective review of 152 patients that underwent staged below the knee amputation were compared between those that primarily underwent transtibial amputation (N = 70) versus ankle disarticulation (N = 82). The mean follow-up for all 152 patients was 2.1 years (range = 0.04-7.9 years). The odds of incisional healing were 3.2 times higher for patients with guillotine amputation compared to patients with ankle disarticulation (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.437-7.057). The odds of postoperative infection is 7.4 times higher with ankle disarticulation compared to patients with guillotine amputation (OR = 7.345, 95% CI = 1.505-35.834). There were improved outcomes in patients that underwent staged below the knee amputation with primarily guillotine transtibial amputation compared to primarily ankle disarticulation. Ankle disarticulation should be reserved for more distal infections, to allow for adequate infectious control, in the aims of decreasing postoperative infection and improving incisional healing rates.Levels of Evidence: 3, Retrospective study.

The Reliability and Validity of the OneStep Smartphone Application for Gait Analysis among Patients Undergoing Rehabilitation for Unilateral Lower Limb Disability.

An easy-to-use and reliable tool is essential for gait assessment of people with gait pathologies. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the OneStep smartphone application compared to the C-Mill-VR+ treadmill (Motek, Nederlands), among patients undergoing rehabilitation for unilateral lower extremity disability. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were extracted from the treadmill and from two smartphones, one on each leg. Inter-device reliability was evaluated using Pearson correlation, intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC), and Cohen's d, comparing the application's readings from the two phones. Validity was assessed by comparing readings from each phone to the treadmill. Twenty-eight patients completed the study; the median age was 45.5 years, and 61% were males. The ICC between the phones showed a high correlation (r = 0.89-1) and good-to-excellent reliability (ICC range, 0.77-1) for all the gait parameters examined. The correlations between the phones and the treadmill were mostly above 0.8. The ICC between each phone and the treadmill demonstrated moderate-to-excellent validity for all the gait parameters (range, 0.58-1). Only 'step length of the impaired leg' showed poor-to-good validity (range, 0.37-0.84). Cohen's d effect size was small (d < 0.5) for all the parameters. The studied application demonstrated good reliability and validity for spatiotemporal gait assessment in patients with unilateral lower limb disability.

Bilateral effect of acupuncture on cerebrum and cerebellum in ischaemic stroke patients with hemiparesis: a randomised clinical and neuroimaging trial

BackgroundAcupuncture involving the limb region may be effective for stroke rehabilitation clinically, but the visualised and explanatory evidence is limited. Our objectives were to assess the specific effects of acupuncture...

Targeted treatment in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in children.

10046 Background: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) and epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma (EIMS)-a variant of IMT, are rare mesenchymal neoplasms in children. Surgical resection has been the mainstay of treatment, however it may cause morbidities due to the size, location, invasiveness of the tumor. With the identification of targetable molecular alterations, targeted treatment has begun to be used in inoperable/relapsed/refractory cases. Methods: Files of children with IMT diagnosed and treated between 1990-2023 were retrospectively evaluated for demographic, clinical, molecular characteristics, treatment and outcome. Results: The mean age of 8 patients (5 male, 3 female) at diagnosis was 9 years (8 months-17 years). Six had IMT and two EMS. Tumor localization was intestine, retroperitoneum, lower extremity in two patients each; liver and back in one each. None had metastatic at diagnosis. Three of the six patients (one EMS) who underwent only surgical resection had negative surgical margins (one after re-resection) and are under follow-up with no evidence of disease (NED). Molecular analysis was performed in six patients. ALK was positive in the tumor tissue of five patients. One patient with an inoperable local recurrence received chemotherapy, had a life-threatening infection and resistant hypercalcemia. The molecular analysis by next-generation sequencing revealed a YWHAE-ROS fusion and she was treated by ceritinib, after which a significant (&gt;90%) tumor shrinkage occurred and hypercalcemia resolved. She is currently in remission and continuing treatment. The patient with a positive surgical margin experienced local and metastatic (lung, liver) recurrences during follow-up and was treated with chemotherapy containing vincristine, actinomycin-D, and cyclophosphamide, the patient died due to progressive disease. In a patient with an unresectable tumor and ALK positivity, crizotinib treatment was initiated. After a treatment duration of seven months with crizotinib, the tumor completely regressed and treatment was stopped. On follow-up, local recurrence was detected after two months of cessation of crizotinib, crizotinib was restarted, considering the infiltrative appearance of the tumor and possible morbidities if operated. Two months after readministering crizotinib, complete response was achieved once again. The patient is continuing treatment with crizotinib. Thus, 7/8 patients are alive with NED for a median of 99 (9-174) months. Conclusions: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor and epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma are rare in children. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is yet unclear despite its use in inoperable cases. Molecular analysis of tumor tissue is highly recommended as targets such as ALK rearrangements or ROS fusions may enable the use of targeted treatments with fewer side effects.

Electromyographic Analysis of Upper- and Lower-extremity Muscles in Adults during Agro-healing Activities

This study investigated the activity of upper- and lower-extremity muscles for 15 agricultural tasks of agro-healing. For the development of an agro-healing program using farm resource types, 15 selected agro-healing activities (namely, digging, raking, fertilizing, planting transplants, tying plants to stakes, watering, harvesting, washing, cutting, cooking, collecting natural objects, decorating natural objects, interacting with dogs, walking dogs, and feeding fish) were extracted and performed in a total of 21 adults (average age: 42.29 ± 14.76 years) at D Care Farm in Cheongju, Korea, from June to July 2022. Before these activities, informed consent was obtained from participants and muscle activity of the upper and lower extremities was measured. Muscle activation during activity performance was measured using electromyography (EMG), and the rating of perceived exertion for each activity was investigated. Bipolar surface EMG electrodes were attached at 16 locations on the left and right upper-extremity muscles (anterior deltoid, biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris) and lower-extremity muscles (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius). The results indicated that the activity of the lower-extremity muscles was higher than that of the upper-extremity muscles during 15 agricultural activities. During plant-mediated activity and animal-assisted activities, the rate of right muscle use was higher than that of left muscle use among the upper-extremity muscles, whereas the rate of right and left muscle use showed a similar tendency among the lower-extremity muscles. During plant-mediated activities, agricultural activities involving the use of heavy tools highly activated the right forearm muscle (flexor carpi ulnaris), whereas holding and interacting with animals highly activated the left forearm muscles (biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris). It is expected that the EMG data obtained in this study can be used as basic biomechanical data when designing an agro-healing program to improve physical function.

Isolated visceral manifestation of Buerger’s disease presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report

Introduction and importance: Buerger’s disease is an uncommon segmental nonatherosclerotic vasculitis essentially affecting small to medium-sized arteries and veins of upper and lower extremities and can lead to limb amputation. Visceral vessel involvement is quite rare accounting for 2% of cases presenting with acute abdomen due to mesenteric ischemia. Moreover, isolated visceral involvement is even rare. Case presentation: A 42-year-old gentleman, a chronic smoker, presented with abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting and loose stool of 2 months duration. Magnetic resonance enterography revealed segmental circumferential wall thickening with stricture in the mid part of the jejunum with lymphadenopathy features of possible inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease). Furthermore, intraoperative surgical findings were also suggestive of Crohn’s disease. However, histologic findings were consistent with thromboangiitis obliterans. Discussion: Thromboangiitis obliterans can present with inflammatory vascular lesions without necrosis in the early stage to varying degrees of recanalisation, gangrene, and amputation in the late stage. It rarely involves the brain, heart, and abdominal viscera. The visceral involvement may be in the form of intestinal obstruction or mesenteric ischemia or can mimic Crohn’s in a background of smoking. Conclusion: This case report will help to learn more about the rarer intestinal presentation of intestinal Buerger’s disease. It can present with features of bowel ischemia, obstruction or Crohn’s. So, histology would play a pivotal role in differentiating the diagnostic dilemma.

Investigating the fluctuating nature of post-COVID pain symptoms in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors: the LONG-COVID-EXP multicenter study.

This cohort study used Sankey plots and exponential bar plots for visualizing the fluctuating nature and trajectory of post-COVID pain in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. A cohort of 1266 subjects hospitalised because of COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic were scheduled for a telephone interview at 8.4 (T1), 13.2 (T2), and 18.3 (T3) months in average after hospitalization for collecting data about post-COVID pain. Patients were asked for about pain symptomatology that was attributed to the infection. Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from medical records. The prevalence of myalgia as COVID-19-associated symptom was 29.82% (n = 389) at hospitalization (T0). The prevalence of post-COVID pain was 41.07% (n = 520) at T1, 34.29% (n = 434) at T2, and 28.47% (n = 360) at T3. The recovery exponential curve revealed a decrease trend visualizing that post-COVID pain improved over the time span investigated. Pain in the lower extremity and widespread pain were the most prevalent locations. Female sex (OR 1.507, 95% CI 1.047-2.169), pre-existing pain symptoms (OR 1.724, 95% CI 1.237-2.403), headache as onset-symptom (OR 2.374, 95% CI 1.550-3.639), days at hospital (OR 1.012, 95% CI 1.000-1.025), and presence of post-COVID pain at T1 (OR 13.243, 95% CI 9.428-18.601) were associated with post-COVID pain at T2. Only the presence of post-COVID pain at T1 (OR 5.383, 95% CI 3.896-7.439) was associated with post-COVID pain at T3. Current results show a fluctuating evolution with a decreasing tendency of post-COVID pain during the first years after hospitalization. The development of post-COVID pain soon after SARS-CoV-2 infection predispose for long-lasting chronic pain.

Analysis of demographic and socioeconomic factors in adamantinoma using data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

e23501 Background: Adamantinoma is a rare low-grade primary malignant bone tumor accounting for less than 1% of all malignant bone tumors. It largely presents in the tibia of young adults, is locally aggressive, and can metastasize. Definitive diagnosis is primarily established by histopathological examination. This rare tumor with uncertain histogenesis remains under-studied. Therefore, exploring trends in diagnoses may provide insight into its epidemiology. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was examined to reveal the demographic factors in patients diagnosed with Adamantinoma. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis utilizing the 2004–2020 NCDB included 206 patients with a histologically-confirmed diagnosis of adamantinoma (ICD-O-3 Code 9261). Demographic factors such as age, sex, race, Hispanic status, insurance status, facility type, distance from facility, and Charlson-Deyo score were analyzed via descriptive statistics. Trends in incidence were interpreted using regression analysis. Results: A total of 206 patients were identified in the NCDB with a confirmed diagnosis of adamantinoma of long bones between 2004-2020. Incidence remained relatively stable over this time period (R² = 0.009). The most common primary site of diagnosis were the long bones of lower limb and associative joints (97%). Most individuals (88%) had a Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score of 0. The majority of patients (66%) were classified as Stage 1 AJCC staging. Men were more likely to be diagnosed (56%) compared to women (44%). Most patients were White (78%) and non-Hispanic (85%). A higher percentage of patients were privately insured (67%) and lived in metropolitan areas (87%). Treatment facilities primarily were academic programs (74%). Almost all of the patients were treated surgically (92%) with the most common approach being lymph node dissection (61%) more so than local tumor excision or removal of adjacent organs. Following surgery, the patients observed had a very good prognosis, with a 99% ninety-day survival, a 93% five-year survival, and an 89% ten-year survival. Conclusions: Adamantinoma has a risk for recurrent and metastatic disease. This first NCDB analysis on adamantinoma’s demographics addresses a significant knowledge gap on this topic. The primary site of diagnosis were lower extremity long bones, most commonly treated with surgical intervention, and had a high survival rate which is consistent with earlier studies. The majority of patients included in this study tend to be White, non-Hispanic, and privately insured. This may suggest a demographic and socioeconomic factor that plays a part in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of individuals with adamantinoma. Future research should focus on the understanding of factors that impact the course of one’s health and the etiology of this rare pathology.

Sorafenib treatment duration in desmoid tumors.

11585 Background: Desmoid tumors are soft-tissue neoplasms, which, although unable to metastasize, can cause significant morbidity due to local invasion. Currently, the first-line approach is active surveillance. For tumors that progress during surveillance, systemic therapies can be used, including nirogacestat, sorafenib, pazopanib, and cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, their optimal duration is unknown. Here, we aim to assess the risk of treatment failure after discontinuing sorafenib before one year. Methods: We analyzed all patients with desmoid tumors treated with sorafenib at three academic centers from 01/01/2000-12/01/2021. We included patients who discontinued sorafenib not due to radiological or clinical progression and had documented no intention to start the next line of therapy at the time of discontinuation. The primary endpoint was 2-year treatment-free survival between patients who stopped sorafenib before and after 1 year. The secondary endpoint was the rate of toxic effects recorded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events during treatment. We calculated treatment-free survival using the Kaplan-Meier method with the Log-Rank Test to estimate the 95% confidence interval. All patients were censored at the 2-year mark. Fischer’s Exact T-test was performed to assess between-group differences. Results: 40 patients received sorafenib and discontinued it with no intention to start a next line of therapy. The main reasons for discontinuation were side effects (n=21, 52%) and physician-patient preference (n=10, 25%). 27 (67%)were women, and median age at diagnosis was 36.Regarding race and ethnicity,27 (47%)were White, 8 (20%)were Black, and 16 (40%) were Latino. The tumor was in the lower extremity in 10 (25%) cases, trunk in 3 (7%) cases, abdominal wall in 10 (25%), intra-abdominal in 5 (12%), upper extremity in 5 (12%) head-neck in 1 and breast in 1. 20 patients stopped treatment before one year and 20 after one year, with 7 and 3 patients requiring a next line of therapy in each group, respectively. The 2-year treatment-free survival was 60% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35 to 0.85) in the prior to 1-year group and 87.5% (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.0) in the post-1-year group (P = 0.046). The most frequently reported adverse events while on sorafenib were grade 1 or 2 events of palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (40%) and diarrhea (40%), with no difference between groups on therapy discontinuation due to side effects (p=0.1). Conclusions: Discontinuing sorafenib prior to 1 year was associated with a higher risk of requiring further therapy within the following two years. Still, most patients did not require additional therapy. This finding underscores the complexity of determining the optimal duration for sorafenib therapy, and multiple features should be considered, including side effects, symptom improvement, fertility planning, tumor cellularity (evaluated by T2 MRI signal), and physician-patient shared decision.

High-grade surface osteosarcoma: A National Cancer Database study of demographic characteristics.

e23508 Background: High-grade surface osteosarcoma (HGSO) is an extremely rare malignant subtype of osteosarcoma. HGSO often affects long bones, particularly the femur, and is the rarest subtype of surface osteosarcomas. Though data is limited, current information suggests this cancer presents with a poor prognosis, generally affecting adults aged 20 to 40. Current treatment standards involve wide resection and chemotherapy. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was examined to establish the demographic factors among HGSO patients and identify diagnostic and treatment trends. Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2005-2020 was conducted using the NCDB. A total of 99 patients were found with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of high-grade surface osteosarcoma (ICD-9194-3). Factors such as gender, age, race, insurance status, rural/urban residence, treatments, mortality rates, and Charles/Deyo scores were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and trends in incidence were interpreted via regression analysis. Results: Yearly HGSO incidence rates increased from 2005 to 2020 (R2 = 0.19). The average age of diagnosis was 41 years (SD = 24.9, range = 10-90) with men diagnosed (54%) slightly more than women. The majority of patients were non-Hispanic white (73%), had private insurance (55%), and lived in a metropolitan area with over 250,000 in population (89%). The average patient was diagnosed at a hospital 40.4 miles away from their home (SD = 84.9, range 0.4-648.4 miles). Most patients (55%) were in stage II at diagnosis, and 86% of patients had a Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score of 0. The most common primary site of this malignancy was the long bones of the lower limb and associated joints (67%), while the upper extremities (8%) and pelvic bone (8%) served as less common primary sites. Surgery was the most common primary treatment (62%). Data from 69 patients revealed the 90-day mortality post-surgery was 3%. The mean survival rate was 70% at two years and 52% at five years. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first NCDB analysis of HGSO. Our analysis demonstrated that HGSO occurs most often, but not exclusively, within the lower extremity long bones, which may be an important diagnostic distinction. It was previously indicated that the average age at HGSO diagnosis is 20-40 years, but our analysis suggested it is closer to 40. Our analysis revealed a five-year survival rate of 52% which is worse than prior studies have indicated. Demographic data has revealed the majority of patients were non-Hispanic white, privately insured, and living within a metropolitan area. This trend may suggest access to healthcare resources is influencing this cancer’s diagnosis and treatment. Further research is warranted to explore whether the demographic patterns seen in HGSO are indicative of biological causes or socioeconomic factors that are significantly influencing diagnosis.

Effects of running with surgical masks on cardiopulmonary function in healthy male university students.

[Purpose] In Japan, one measure against the novel coronavirus disease-2019 infection involves the public use of surgical masks. Research indicates that exercising while wearing a mask increases the physical burden, particularly affecting young people during high-intensity exercise. This study examined the effects of wearing masks while running in male university students. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 20 healthy male university students (21.6 ± 1.6 years). The participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise tests with the masks on and off on different days until exhaustion. The following parameters were measured: exercise duration, Borg Scale rating (respiratory or lower extremities), surface temperature around the mouth, time to sweat onset, metabolic reaction, pulmonary ventilation, and cardiovascular reaction parameters. [Results] The results showed that VO2 max remained consistent between the mask-on and mask-off conditions. However, minute ventilation, respiratory rate, and heart rate decreased in the mask-on condition, which correlated with a reduction in exercise duration. Furthermore, running with the mask significantly decreased the VE/VO2, VE/ VO2, Borg Scale rating of the lower extremities, and the time to sweat onset. [Conclusion] Running with a surgical mask affected respiratory function and decreased exercise duration in healthy male university students. However, it did not induce any changes in VO2 max.

The role of next-generation sequencing in achieving diagnostic precision for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and its fibrosarcomatous variant.

e23531 Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a locally aggressive skin and subcutaneous fibroblastic neoplasm, characterized by COL1A1:: PDGFB fusions and, less frequently, PDGFD fusions. Approximately 10-15% of DFSP cases progress to distant metastases, yet the genetic mechanisms behind this transformation to fibrosarcomatous DFSP (FS-DFSP) or metastatic development remain unclear. Reports of DFSP in deeper tissues suggest a broader occurrence than previously recognized. We hypothesize that conventional histopathology may not adequately identify certain DFSP variants, especially those in deep tissues, potentially missing critical opportunities for targeted therapy with FDA-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Methods: We searched Caris’s database to identify solid tumors with PDGFB or PDGFD fusions, markers of DFSP or FS-DFSP. We reviewed histologic features and clinical information, along with exome sequencing and copy number amplifications. Significance was tested using Mann Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests as appropriate. Results: We identified 59 cases with PDGFB or PDGFD fusions: 55 COL1A1:: PDGFB, 3 EMILIN2:: PDGFD, and 1 COL1A2:: PDGFB cases. Of these, 51 were primary specimens and 8 metastatic. The patients included 31 males and 28 females, with a median age of 49 years (range: 14-93). Primary tumors occurred mainly in the skin/subcutis or deep soft tissues (35 trunk, 9 head and neck, 7 lower extremity, 2 upper extremity), but 6 were found in visceral organs (4 uterus, 1 cervix, 1 lung). Histologically, 20 cases were conventional DFSP and 32 were FS-DFSP. Notably, 21 tumors (36%) had been initially misclassified; most of which had metastatic presentation, unusual histology, or atypical location. Tumor sequencing revealed a higher incidence of genetic changes in addition to the PDGFB/ PDGFD fusions: concurrent mutations were detected in 66% of FS-DFSP cases versus 25% of DFSP cases (p = 0.009). Moreover, tumor mutational burden was significantly higher in FS-DFSP than DFSP (p = 0.006). The most prevalent mutations were in the TERT promoter and NF1, found exclusively in FS-DFSP cases. Conclusions: Conventional histology commonly fails to recognize FS-DFSP, leading to missed opportunities for targeted therapy. This highlights the essential role of next-generation sequencing in achieving greater diagnostic accuracy for DFSP and its fibrosarcomatous variant. While no single gene mutation consistently differentiates DFSP from FS-DFSP, the occurrence of additional genetic alterations is notably more common in FS-DFSP cases.

Sponge-incorporated VS Multilayer Padding Long Leg Cast to Prevent Pediatric Heel Pressure Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To measure and compare the incidence of cast-related pressure injuries at the heel between sponge-incorporated long leg cast and multilayer padding cast following orthopedic lower extremity surgery. Materials and Methods: Patients aged 1 to 18 years who were scheduled for elective lower extremity soft tissue surgery were recruited. They were equally randomized into two groups: sponge padding cast (Group 1) and multilayer padding cast (Group 2). A multilayer padding cast, consisting of five layers of Webril®, was applied to the heel and bony prominence areas. At the 2nd and 4th weeks postoperatively, cast-related heel pressure injuries were evaluated using the 2016 National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) staging system. Changes in alignment and other complications were also recorded. Results: 100 patients were recruited. At two weeks postoperatively, the incidence of cast-related heel pressure injuries in Group 1 was 4/46 cases (8.7%), with all cases being stage 1. In Group 2, there were 6/54 cases (11.1%), with 3 cases in stage 1 and 3 cases in deep tissue pressure injury (p=0.479). At four weeks postoperatively, Group 1 had 6/46 cases (13%), with 4/46 cases (8.7%) being stage 1 and 2/46 cases (4.3%) being deep tissue pressure injuries. Group 2 had 6/54 cases (11.1%) (p&gt;0.99), with all cases being stage 1. There was no statistical difference in loss of alignment. No serious complications, such as compartment syndrome or neurovascular injury, were found. Conclusion: The incidence of cast-related heel pressure injury was comparable between sponge padding cast and a multilayer cotton padding cast.