Months Of Conservative Treatment Research Articles

Therapeutic Efficacy of Sulfur Hexafluoride Gas in Bilateral Descemet Membrane Detachment: A Case Report

Purpose: To report a case of bilateral Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) persisting for over a month following phacoemulcification.Case summary: A 67-year-old female underwent bilateral phacoemulcification at a local clinic, with a 3-day interval between procedures on each eye. On the first postoperative day, both eyes developed DMD accompanied by central corneal edema. After 1 month of conservative treatment with no improvement, the patient was referred to our clinic. Upon presentation, corrected visual acuity was 0.25 in the right eye and 0.2 in the left eye. The right eye was initially treated with a 0.3-mL injection of 10% sulfur hexafluoride (SF<sub>6</sub>), which did not result in reattachment. However, reattachment was successfully achieved with a subsequent injection of 20% SF<sub>6</sub>. In the left eye, a 20% SF<sub>6</sub> injection into the anterior chamber also achieved reattachment, but partial removal of 10-20% of the gas was necessary to manage elevated intraocular pressure. The procedure was completed without complications. Following treatment, visual acuity improved to 0.8 in the right eye and 1.0 in the left eye.Conclusions: For cases of DMD involving the central cornea or persisting for over 4 weeks without responding to conservative treatment, the injection of 20% SF<sub>6</sub> gas into the anterior chamber represents a viable surgical option. Careful management of intraocular pressure is essential to ensure successful outcomes without complications.

Hematological biomarkers of systemic inflammation in predicting long-term treatment response of temporomandibular disorders

BackgroundChronic systemic inflammation has been proposed as the underlying mechanism of pain chronicity in several pain conditions. In spite of the growing evidence supporting the role of systemic inflammatory markers as a diagnostic tool, their role has not been analyzed in a well-defined group of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients until now. This study aimed to investigate the association between various clinical features and comorbidity levels of TMD in relation to hematological markers and seek its association with long-term treatment response.MethodsClinical features and hematological indices including those for systemic inflammation were assessed in TMD patients (n = 154). Examinations were re-done after 6 months of conservative treatment. Patients were divided into pain improved and unimproved groups based on ≥ 2 numeric rating scale improvement in pain intensity at 6 months for final analysis.ResultsThe portion of patients with low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (p = 0.026), total protein (p = 0.014), hemoglobin (p = 0.040), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.042) values showed significant differences according to prognosis groups. Low hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with unfavorable response to long-term treatment (β = 1.706, p = 0.018). High pre-treatment pain intensity (β=-0.682, p < 0.001) and low Graded Chronic Pain Scale (β = 1.620, p = 0.002) could predict significant pain improvement with long-term treatment.ConclusionsHematologic assessment could be considered in addition to clinical examination to better determine long-term prognosis in TMD patients.

Efficacy of Pericoccygeal Local Injection with Rectal Manipulation in the Treatment of Chronic Coccygodynia

Introduction: Coccygodynia, predominantly affecting women, involves pain around the coccyx, exacerbated by sitting, sexual activity, defecation, or transitioning from sitting to standing. Despite various conservative treatments like NSAIDs, ice packs, and physical therapy, some patients do not experience relief. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of rectal manipulation combined with paracoccygeal steroid injections in patients with chronic coccygodynia unresponsive to conservative treatments. Methods: This retrospective study included 24 patients (20 females, 4 males) with chronic coccygodynia unresponsive to over 3 months of conservative treatment. All patients received a combination of steroid-local anesthetic injections and rectal manipulation. VAS scores were recorded before intervention, on the 10th day post-intervention, at one year, and at the last follow-up visit. Patients were assessed for trauma history, BMI, coccyx type, and dynamic radiographic findings. Results: The mean VAS score significantly decreased from 7.9 pre-treatment to 2.2 on the 10th day post-treatment (p

Core Decompression with Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Implantation in Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head with a Minimum of 2-year Follow-up - A Pilot Study.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), resulting from impaired blood supply to the head of the femur, presents a significant challenge to clinicians due to its debilitating nature. Conservative treatment often offers insufficient pain relief and debilitating functional outcomes which necessitate alternative therapies. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), a potent orthobiologics and rich in mesenchymal stromal cells and growth factors, holds good promise as the minimally invasive procedure for ONFH. With the preceding research suggesting clinical and functional efficacy, we assessed the therapeutic effectiveness of BMAC in ONFH management in joint preservation. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 20 patients suffering from ONFH who failed to respond to 6 months of conservative treatment. A uniform surgical procedure was performed by a single surgeon, involving bone marrow extraction from the anterior iliac crest and subsequent processing into an 8-10 mL of BMAC concentrate. The BMAC was then injected into the implanted into the decompressed femoral head. The post-operative protocol comprised weight-bearing mobilization, physiotherapy, and a 4-week NSAID-free regimen. Outcome measures included pain scores, hip function, knee symptoms, sports activities, patient satisfaction, and recommendation of the procedure. Of the 20 patients suffering from ONFH, primarily the left side, most of whom were at stage 2b, significant pain reduction and functional improvement were observed over 24 months. The mean pain score decreased from 9.00 to 3.55, while the hip function score increased from 46.12 to 88.60. However, some patients encountered complications such as symptom recurrence (5%), disease progression (10%), and persistent pain (5%). Core decompression with BMAC implantation emerges as a promising, effective, and safe treatment for ONFH with better costeffectiveness and minimal side effects, making it a feasible treatment alternative.

Innovative approaches in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis: comparison of pulsed radiofrequency ablation and surgical intervention.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Pulsed Radiofrequency Ablation (PRFA) and surgery for treating chronic plantar fasciitis, focusing on pain relief and functional outcomes. A prospective study involved 30 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis unresponsive to 12 months of conservative treatment. Patients were divided into PRFA (n = 17) and surgical (n = 13) groups. Clinical evaluations were conducted preoperatively and at three, six and 12 months postoperatively using VAS, AOFAS, FFI, and RMS scores. Radiological measurements assessed foot structure impact. Both PRFA and surgery significantly reduced pain and improved function. PRFA had a shorter operative time and quicker return to activities (p < 0.001). At 3 months, PRFA showed superior VAS, FFI, and RMS scores (p < 0.05). Long-term outcomes were similar. No major complications occurred, but minor complications were higher in the surgical group (p < 0.01). PRFA is a minimally invasive, effective treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis with quicker recovery and lower complication rates compared to surgery. Both treatments offer comparable long-term benefits. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Salvaging the transected hypoglossal nerve using descendens hypoglossi in patients undergoing hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis for facial palsy: a randomized clinical trial.

Hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFA) is the most commonly used surgical treatment for severe facial palsy that does not respond to conservative treatments. A major complication of HFA is the loss of tongue function. The authors aimed to evaluate whether anastomosing the transected hypoglossal nerve using the ramus descendens hypoglossi could prevent tongue deviation and dysfunction in patients undergoing HFA. In this randomized trial, adult patients with severe peripheral facial palsy (House-Brackmann grade V or VI) who did not respond to at least 6 months of conservative treatment were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to undergo either HFA alone (control group) or HFA plus anastomosis between the hypoglossal nerve and descendens hypoglossi (intervention group). The primary endpoint was tongue deviation angle at 12 months. Key secondary endpoints included tongue disability (chewing difficulty, swallowing defect, and articulation defect), tongue disability index (TDI; range 1-4, with a higher score indicating more severe disability), and facial nerve function. Twenty patients were enrolled (10 in each group). At 12 months, the tongue deviation angle was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (7.8° ± 5.1° vs 23.6° ± 9.6°, p < 0.001). Although not statistically significant, the intervention group had lower rates of chewing difficulty (1/10 vs 3/10, p = 0.58), swallowing defect (1/10 vs 5/10, p = 0.14), and articulation defect (2/10 vs 6/10, p = 0.17). TDI was significantly lower in the intervention group (1.5 ± 0.6 vs 2.5 ± 0.3, p < 0.001). The percentage of the patients achieving House-Brackmann grade II or III was 80% in each group. Anastomosis of the descendens hypoglossi to the transected hypoglossal nerve attenuated tongue deviation in patients undergoing HFA for facial palsy, without compromising facial nerve function. Clinical trial registration no: ChiCTR2000034372 (Chinese Clinical Trials Registry).

Comparison of Radiofrequency Ablation and Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis; Short and Medium Term Results

Objective: Plantar fasciitis, commonly found in orthopaedic practice, may restrict daily life activities and lead to loss of workforce. We aimed to evaluate the short- and medium-term outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and steroid injection treatments in patients with plantar fasciitis who did not benefit from conservative therapies through pain and function scores. Material and Method: Patients studied at the Hakkari State Hospital for at least six months of conservative treatment due to plantar fasciitis between 01.07.2021-01.01.2023. The patients were divided into two groups: those who received RFA and those who were given steroid injections. Demographic information of the patients, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) score were studied, and both gups were compared. Results: No significant difference was observed when comparing preop VAS and AOFAS values for both groups (p=0.469 p=0.244). No significant difference was observed when comparing the VAS and AOFAS values of the two groups for the first month (p=0.764 p=0.466 respectively). A significant difference was observed when comparing the VAS and AOFAS values in the post-6 month (p=0,001 p=0.001). Significant differences were observed between VAS and AOFAS values in patients receiving RFA in preop and 6 months (p=0.001 p=0.001). No significant difference was observed in preop and 6 month VAS and AOFAS values in steroid injections (p=0.512 p=0.844 respectively).No complications were observed in both groups during the follow-up period. Conclusion: In patients who have received conservative treatment but have not benefited, radiofrequency ablation has been found to be an effective, safe and minimally invasive method of reducing the severity of pain in the short to medium term and improving daily activities.

Basivertebral Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation (Intracept): Procedural Technique.

Intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation is indicated for the treatment of chronic vertebrogenic low back pain with failure of at least 6 months of conservative treatment. This article details patient positioning and setup, step-by-step instructions for the procedure, and postoperative management. Pearls and pitfalls are also discussed. In addition, an instructional procedure video accompanies this paper and can be found online (at https://vimeo.com/791578426/de0e90cfbe).

Acute gastric dilatation with segmented abdominal paresis as a rare manifestation of herpes zoster: a case report and review of the literature

BackgroundHerpes zoster is a common disease that can affect men and women at any age. Sensory neuropathy is the most common complication while motor neuropathy of the abdominal muscles is rare complication appearing in ~ 0.7% of patients. Furthermore, visceral nerve involvement causing gastroparesis is an extremely rare postherpetic complication. We present an extremely rare case of acute gastric dilatation with segmented abdominal paresis as a rare manifestation of herpes zoster infection.Case presentationA 91-year-old Asian man was admitted to hospital with 2-day history of vomiting and left abdominal protrusion. He was previously treated for a rash on the left abdominal wall as herpes zoster infection with oral valaciclovir 2 weeks prior. On physical examination, characteristic herpes zoster rash scars and an ipsilateral abdominal bulge were observed on the left side. Computed tomography revealed no abdominal wall defect, mass, or stenosis. Remarkable distension of the stomach, asymmetrical left flank wall bulge, and a thinner abdominal wall on the left compared with the right side were shown. He was diagnosed as acute gastric dilatation owing to gastroparesis and segmental paresis of the abdominal musculature associated with herpes zoster infection. The patient showed significant improvement in symptoms and abdominal paresis within a month of conservative treatment, including nasogastric tube decompression and mosapride administration.ConclusionAcute gastric dilatation with abdominal paresis is an extremely rare complication of herpes zoster infection, and to date there have been no reports in the literature. It alerts us that, when examining patients with abdominal bulge, we should be conscious of this rare pathology for the optical diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary invasive examination or surgical exploration.

Satisfactory mid-term clinical outcomes of endoscopic tenotomy for iliopsoas tendinopathy following total hip arthroplasty.

To report 5-year outcomes of endoscopic iliopsoas tenotomy in patients with iliopsoas tendinopathy following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and determine whether clinical scores are associated with cup position. Patients who underwent endoscopic iliopsoas tenotomy for iliopsoas tendinopathy following THA (2014-2017) were contacted. Indications for endoscopic iliopsoas tenotomy after THA were groin pain during active hip flexion, exclusion of other causes of groin pain, and no pain relief after 6 months of conservative treatment. Pretenotomy cup inclination and anteversion were measured on radiographs; axial and sagittal cup overhang were measured on computed tomography (CT) scans. Oxford hip score (OHS), modified Harris hip score (mHHS), and groin pain were assessed. The initial cohort comprised 16 men (17 hips) and 31 women (32 hips), aged 60.7 ± 10.6 years. Cup inclination and anteversion were, respectively, 46.2 ± 6.2° and 14.6 ± 8.4°, while axial and sagittal cup overhang were, respectively, 4.4 ± 4.0 mm and 6.9 ± 4.5 mm. At ≥5 years follow-up, fourhips underwent cup and stem revision, twounderwent isolated cup revision and oneunderwent secondary iliopsoas tenotomy. OHS improved by 23 ± 10 and mHHS improved by 31 ± 16. Posttenotomy groin pain was slight in 20.0%, mild in 17.5% and moderate in 12.5%. Regression analyses revealed that net change in mHHS decreased with sagittal cup overhang (β = -3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -4.6 to -1.7; p < 0.001), but that there were no associations between cup position and net change in OHS. Endoscopic iliopsoas tenotomy provides good mid-term clinical outcomes in patients with iliopsoas tendinopathy following THA. Furthermore, improvements in mHHS were found to decrease with increasing sagittal cup overhang, in cases for which adequate preoperative imaging was available. Level IV.

Synovial sarcoma of the dorsal aspect of the hand: a case report

BackgroundSynovial sarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma, with incidences of 0.81/1,000,000 in children and 1.42/1,000,000 in adults. It is most commonly found in soft tissue and rarely in bone. It often has a slow growth pattern and a benign radiologic appearance.Case presentationThis study reports a case of metacarpal synovial sarcoma occurring in the hand-wrist of a 32-year-old Iranian man presented with the chief complaint of a lump on the dorsal ulnar side of his left hand and wrist. Initially, the first physician suspected the case to be a ganglion cyst. After two months of conservative treatment, the size of the lesion gradually increased. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and after an excisional biopsy and a postoperative histological analysis, the tumor was identified as a synovial sarcoma. The patient underwent a scheduled surgical procedure. Unfortunately, he had poor follow-ups and brought the pathologic results two months later when, the tumor had incredible growth, which makes this presentation rare.ConclusionsSince early diagnosis can lead to higher survival rates, this report increases doctors' awareness of this extremely malignant tumor that is rarely seen.

Treating Patellar Instability After Total Knee Arthroplasty with Medial Retinaculum Reconstruction: A Clinical Case and Narrative Review

Background: Patellar instability after a total knee arthroplasty is a disabling complication that often needs surgical revision, prolonging hospital in-stay and rehabilitation. Different surgical techniques exist in literature and no one seem superior to the other in terms of outcome. Clinical Case: 67 years-old patient who underwent kinematic-aligned TKA experienced patellar dislocation during the rehabilitation program. After three months of conservative treatment, patellar instability was still present and thus revision surgery was suggested. Patellar resurfacing, lateral patellar retinacular release and MPFL reconstruction with a cadaveric gracilis tendon was performed. Discussion: Once malalignment of the prosthesis is excluded, soft-tissues imbalance should be considered as the main risk factor for patellar instability. A chance should be given to conservative treatment, but usually a revision surgery is required. The decision to use a cadaveric graft was made to shorten the rehabilitation, also considering the functional requirements of our patient. Conclusion: After the revision surgery, no new episodes of patellar dislocation occurred to our patient. The choice of the graft and the surgical technique seem safe and minimally invasive, guaranteeing a faster and shorten recovery, which is especially important in older patients.

Intrapapillary hemorrhage with adjacent peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage of both eyes after COVID-19 infection: a case report

BackgroundIntrapapillary hemorrhage with adjacent peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage is commonly observed in myopia with tilted optic disc. It presents with typical features on the fundus and follows a self-limiting course. However, due to its complex etiology, clinicians sometimes lack sufficient understanding of it which can easily lead to misdiagnosis or overtreatment. In this case report, we describe a rare case of intrapapillary hemorrhage with adjacent peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage in both eyes.Case presentationAn 18-year-old female who has no past medical history experienced sudden black shadow blocking of her right eye in the right eye for the past 2 days after a 5-day history of COVID-19 infection. The best corrected visual acuity is 0.5 in the right eye and 0.6 in the left eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed tilted optic discs in both eyes, bulged nasal optic discs, and the presence of strong reflective material under the parafoveal retina of the optic discs. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) showed subretinal fluorescence occlusion above and nasolateral to the optic disc in the right eye, with hypofluorescence below the optic disc; the subretinal below the optic disc was obscured by vitreous hemorrhage; hypofluorescence was seen in the optic disc region of the left eye.COVID-19 antigen was positive. The patient was in the early stage of the third COVID-19 infection when the disease occurred. We speculate that it may be related to it. After 5 months of conservative treatment, the patient’s hemorrhage disappeared in both eyes and her best corrected visual acuity returned to normal.ConclusionsIntrapapillary hemorrhage with adjacent peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage usually occurs in myopia with tilted optic disc. In most patients, the cause of the bleeding is unknown, but it can gradually resolve under clinical observation or conservative treatment.

Impact of lifestyle and clinical factors on the prognosis of tennis elbow

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) typically responds well to conservative treatment, and few patients require surgical intervention. This study aimed to investigate the influence of lifestyle and clinical factors on the prognosis of tennis elbow. This prospective, multicenter, nested case–control study included patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis after excluding other conditions. Patients who required surgery because of inadequate improvement after 6 months of conservative treatment were defined as the case group; the remaining patients constituted the control group. Propensity score matching was performed to eliminate baseline differences. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression. This study included 265 patients (53 in the case group, 212 in the control group). Multivariate analysis revealed that smoking, alcohol consumption, and frequent physical exercise were independent risk factors for surgical intervention, whereas combined treatment with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and local corticosteroid injections was a protective factor against surgery. Subgroup analysis showed that heavy drinkers had a 3.74-fold higher risk of requiring surgical treatment within 1 year than occasional drinkers. Smoking and alcohol consumption were associated with non-operative treatment failure in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Combining oral NSAIDs and corticosteroid injections is a favorable conservative treatment option.

Maximal medical treatment of adenoid hypertrophy: a prospective study of preschool children.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the combined maximal medical treatment for adenoid hypertrophy in preschool children. Sixty-four children underwent one-year combined therapy with intranasal mometasone furoate, oral desloratadine, nasal saline irrigation, and bacteriotherapy. Additionally, decongestion drops were applied during scheduled breaks. Of the 64 treated children, 72% showed clinical improvement in adenoid symptoms while 28% did not improve and underwent surgery. These groups differed significantly in terms of the overall reduction in ailments after treatment (p < 0.001), infection rate (p < 0.001), catarrh severity (p < 0.001) and nasal patency (p < 0.001). Endoscopic examination confirmed that responders experienced, on average, a decrease of 8.4% in the adenoid/choana ratio and an improvement in mucosal coverage of the adenoid. These effects were not observed in the group of children whose parents opted for surgery after nine months of conservative treatment. The proposed new schema of long-term maximal medical treatment with the use of combined intermittent treatment of intranasal mometasone furoate and decongestion drops, oral desloratadine, nasal saline irrigation, and bacteriotherapy can be attempted in patients with adenoid hypertrophy symptoms, and responders may avoid the need for surgery. The applied treatment breaks resulted in a low number of therapeutic side effects.

Endometrioid carcinomas with sex cord-like formations and hyalinization: spontaneous pregnancy after conservative treatment

Endometrioid carcinoma with sex cord-like formations and hyalinization of the uterine corpus, or corded and hyalinized endometrioid adenocarcinoma (CHEC), is a rare morphological variant of endometrioid carcinoma, for which there is limited literature and few cases reports. Most researchers tend to consider CHEC as a low-grade cancer with a favorable prognosis. Full-staging surgery is the primary choice for this disease, and no case of CHEC has been previously reported to be treated conservatively. Here, we present the following case to explore the possibility of fertility-preserving treatment for young women with CHEC. A 23-year-old nulliparous patient diagnosed with presumed stage IA CHEC received fertility-sparing treatment at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University and got a complete response (CR) after 10 months of conservative treatment. The patient subsequently became pregnant spontaneously, successfully conceived, and gave birth to a healthy male neonate without any sign of recurrence during 37 months follow-up after CR. The patient’s postpartum follow-up is continuing. Presently, CHEC is not included in the fertility-sparing field of any available guidelines. This case indicates that fertility-sparing treatment may be an option for highly selected patients with CHEC. Continuous follow-up remains mandatory to observe long-term outcomes.

НЕПОСРЕДСТВЕННЫЕ И ОТДАЛЕННЫЕ РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ХИРУРГИЧЕСКОГО ЛЕЧЕНИЯ ФИБРОЗНО-КАВЕРНОЗНОГО ТУБЕРКУЛЕЗА ЛЕГКИХ У ДЕТЕЙ И ПОДРОСТКОВ

Treatment of cavernous or fibro-cavernous pulmonary ТВ, especially multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) or extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB), in children is a huge challenge. At the same time, the incidence of drug-resistant TB is growing throughout the world year after year. We analyzed treatment outcomes in 65 patients (average age 14.8 ± 2.9 years) with cavernous TB (group 1) and 116 patients (average age 15.6 ± 1.9 years) with fibro-cavernous TB (group 2). Treatment effectiveness was evaluated immediately at discharge from hospital, one year and 2–15 years after treatment according to Lazerson’s criteria. There was no in-hospital mortality. Treatment effectiveness at the time of discharge from the surgery department (sputum conversion and cavity elimination) was 100% in both groups. After one year, treatment effectiveness in group 1 was 100%, in group 2 – 97.4% according to Lazerson’s criteria. Surgery for cavernous TB after 10–12 months of conservative treatment implies lower risks of post-operative complications and relapses as compared to surgery for fibro cavernous TB after 22 or more months of treatment. We affirm that a persistent cavity in the lung tissue is the indication for surgery during the first year of treatment.

A Case of Subcutaneous Emphysema and Pneumomediastinum After Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty

The Eustachian tube is a passage that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx and regulates the pressure within the middle ear. If there is persistent inflammation in the mucosa due to infection or allergic reactions, the opening of the Eustachian tube may not function properly, leading to obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction. If symptoms persist even after three months of conservative treatment, balloon Eustachian tuboplasty may be considered. Although rare, severe complications such as subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumothorax can occur, but there have been no reported cases of such complications in the Republic of Korea so far. Here, we present a case of a 52-year-old male who developed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after undergoing balloon Eustachian tuboplasty and discuss prevention and treatment for possible complications following the procedure.

Long-term Changes of Infrared Thermography in Successful Decompression of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract Introduction Infrared thermography (IRT) has demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) diagnosis in previous studies. However, the recovery of the autonomic function after treatment for CTS is rarely addressed in the literature, especially on the long-term. Case Presentation A 59-year-old lady sought treatment for a long-term history of numbness, tingling, and hand and arm pain. CTS was diagnosed by clinical and electrophysiological means. After 6 months of conservative treatment, surgical treatment was offered. Preoperative IRT was performed by static and dynamic evaluations immediately and 5 minutes after the cold challenge test using the FLIR C2 camera with accuracy of 2°C or 2%. Fingers were consistently colder (mean of 3.76°C), which clearly represented an autonomic dysfunction in the patient's hand. The patient underwent mini-open carpal tunnel decompression and did great postoperatively. One year after surgery, the patient was fully recovered and completely asymptomatic. IRT imaging showed a remarkable improvement of fingers temperature (mean of 3.36°C). Conclusion Our long-term results confirmed that functional recovery occurred concomitantly to autonomic recovery, which was demonstrated by consistent improvement in fingers' temperature. IRT has a strong potential at the evaluation of patients with CTS for both diagnosis and follow-up.

Endoscopic Calcaneoplasty in Haglund's Disease: Surgical Technique, Clinical and Subjective Outcomes

Category: Arthroscopy; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: During the last decade, arthroscopic procedures have been replacing open techniques in Haglund's disease treatment due to their considerable advantages. Endoscopic calcaneoplasty is a technique that allows resection of posterosuperior calcaneal exostosis and retrocalcaneal bursitis. The objective of this article is to describe this technique and report its clinical and subjective outcome. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in patients who underwent endoscopic surgery between July 2014 and March 2020. The patients were clinically and radiologically evaluated. All cases included were studied prior to the intervention and postoperative. All patients who did not show any clinical improvement after 6 months of conservative treatment were surgically treated with endoscopic treatment in the prone position through two posterior arthroscopic portals. Results: In this study, 14 endoscopic calcaneoplasties were performed in 14 patients, with an average follow-up of 40 months. The visual analog scale improved from a preoperative average value of 9.07 to 1.79 after surgery (p&gt; 0.0001). The AOFAS scale rose from 38.71 before surgery to 94.57 postoperative (p&gt; 0.0001). Good subjective results were observed in twelve patients ( 85.71%) and all of them would have surgery again. There were no wound complications or infections. No patient required reoperation. Conclusion: Endoscopic treatment is a useful technique, with good clinical and subjective results and few complications, being a good alternative to open techniques.