Musculoskeletal Etiologies Research Articles

Explainable deep learning and biomechanical modeling for TMJ disorder morphological risk factors.

Clarifying multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder etiologies supports risk analysis, development of targeted prevention, and treatment modalities. Deep learning enables comprehensive risk factor identification through systematic analyses of disease data sets but does not provide sufficient context for mechanistic understanding, limiting clinical applicability for etiological investigations. Conversely, multiscale biomechanical modeling can evaluate mechanistic etiology within the relevant biomechanical and physiological context. We propose a hybrid approach combining 3D explainable deep learning and multiscale biomechanical modeling; we applied this approach to investigate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder etiology by systematically identifying risk factors and elucidating mechanistic relationships between risk factors and TMJ biomechanics and mechanobiology. Our 3D convolutional neural network recognized TMJ disorder patients through participant-specific morphological features in condylar, ramus, and chin. Driven by deep learning model outputs, biomechanical modeling revealed that small mandibular size and flat condylar shape were associated with increased TMJ disorder risk through increased joint force, decreased tissue nutrient availability and cell ATP production, and increased TMJ disc strain energy density. Combining explainable deep learning and multiscale biomechanical modeling addresses the "mechanism unknown" limitation undermining translational confidence in clinical applications of deep learning and increases methodological accessibility for smaller clinical data sets by providing the crucial biomechanical context.

Delayed Diagnosis of a Ligamentous Lisfranc Injury on a Bomber Task Force Member.

The tarsometatarsal joint, or Lisfranc joint, is an extremely important anatomical structure and injury to it has been shown to cause long-term disabling ramifications. With a wide spectrum of injury involvement, from fracture dislocations to sprains, it is important to establish a diagnosis early to guide management. Although the more extreme higher energy fracture dislocations are more widely studied, there remains a paucity of literature on lower energy purely ligamentous injuries, especially among military service members.1 The deployed setting provides an extra layer of complexity in determining a musculoskeletal injury etiology for the provider, especially in resource-limited areas. When a high level of suspicion for Lisfranc injury exists based upon clinical presentation and in the setting of negative X-rays, more prudence should be placed on additional workup. This will guide decision-making for possible expedited stateside return for the patient and better odds of follow-up care. The following case demonstrates a unique scenario of an undiagnosed, purely ligamentous Lisfranc tear in a 23-year-old woman in a deployed environment with late presentation to an orthopedic surgeon stateside. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on factors that led to her delayed diagnosis and how advocating for advanced imaging modalities up-front can expedite care.

Osteopathic Approach to a Patient with Recurring Low Back Pain following OMT results in Diagnosis of Underlying Gynecological Etiology: A Case Report

Abstract This case report describes the occurrence of acute low back pain, and the application of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment techniques (OMT) initially resulting in resolution of the patient's presenting symptoms. When OMT is successful in resolving the patient's symptoms, this usually supports a musculoskeletal etiology; however, when confronted with recurrence of symptoms despite repeated successful resolution of these symptoms with OMT, the physician should suspect an organic etiology. This case demonstrates the importance of the osteopathic physician understanding viscerosomatic dysfunctions and the efficacy of the osteopathic approach to arriving at correct diagnoses. Of note, the osteopathic approach to a patient with recurring low back pain following OMT resulted in diagnosis of the underlying gynecological organic etiology for this patient's symptoms.

Sports-related peripheral nerve injuries of the upper limb.

Peripheral nerve injuries in athletes affect the upper limb more commonly than the lower limb. Common mechanisms include compression, traction, laceration, and ischemia. Specific sports can have unique mechanisms of injury and are more likely to be associated with certain neuropathies. Familiarity with these sport-specific variables and recognition of the common presentations of upper limb neuropathic syndromes are important in assessing an athlete with a suspected peripheral nerve injury. Evaluation may require imaging modalities and/or electrodiagnostic testing to confirm a nerve injury. In some cases, diagnostic injections may be needed to differentiate neuropathic versus musculoskeletal etiology. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for treatment/management and increases the likelihood of a safe return-to-sport and avoidance of long-term functional consequences. Most nerve injuries can be treated conservatively, however, severe or persistent cases may require surgical intervention. This monograph reviews key diagnostic, management, and preventative strategies for sports-related peripheral nerve injuries involving the upper limb.

Validation of Standing and Locomotion Scoring, Behavioral Assessments, and Mechanical Nociceptive Threshold Testing on Naturally Occurring Sow Lameness.

The objective of this study was to validate standing and locomotion lameness scoring, mechanical nociceptive threshold testing, and behavioral profile tools for the diagnosis of naturally occurring lameness etiologies in pigs. A total of 55 crossbred gilts and sows obtained from a commercial farm were enrolled in the study; with sound pigs classified as controls (8) and the remainder as lame due to integumentary (20), musculoskeletal (15), and combinations of integumentary and musculoskeletal (12) etiologies. Standing and locomotion lameness, mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) test, pig-human interventions, and latency to complete an obstacle course were evaluated. Standing and locomotion lameness scoring systems, MNT, and pig behavior (latency) were capable of discriminating between animals with mild organic lameness and animals that were sound and may have utility on the farm for staff to use to identify and manage lame animals. In rare instances, the tools used here were able to discriminate between broad categories of lameness etiology.

Zoster Sine Herpete: two unusual cases of varicella-zoster reactivation with atypical complaints of acute chest pain and severe headache

In this case report, we describe two unusual presentations of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation without rash, a condition known as Zoster Sine Herpete (ZSH). In Case 1, a 58-year-old woman presented with severe right-sided chest pain under her breast that radiated to the ipsilateral back. After the initial workup ruled out cardiac and musculoskeletal etiologies, the characteristic dermatomal distribution of pain made us suspect VZV reactivation. A diagnosis of ZSH was made with positive VZV IgG and IgM serologies and symptomatic relief after famciclovir treatment. In Case 2, a 43-year-old woman presented with a severe headache and resolved sharp right flank pain. She was diagnosed with varicella meningitis after cerebrospinal fluid showed positive VZV DNA. Intravenous acyclovir treatment resulted in symptom resolution. The most common presentation of VZV reactivation is Herpes Zoster, or shingles, making ZSH a frequently missed diagnosis. High clinical suspicion is warranted to prevent life-threatening complications of ZSH.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis for the General Practitioner

Musculoskeletal complaints are common among children in the primary care setting. Joint pain can be categorized as either inflammatory or noninflammatory (also known as mechanical), and differentiating between these 2 categories affects a physician's differential diagnosis and plan for evaluation. Patients with inflammatory arthritis will frequently present to the primary care physician with musculoskeletal complaints. Specific features in the history and physical examination distinguish juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) from other musculoskeletal etiologies. (1)JIA is the most common cause of inflammatory joint pain in children younger than 16 years, with a variable worldwide incidence; in Europe and North America, the incidence is approximately 7.8 to 8.3 per 1,000, with prevalence rates between 12.8 and 45 per 100,000. (2) It is thought that as many as 8 million children in the world have chronic arthritis. (2) Given its prevalence, it is important for the primary care physician to be able to appropriately recognize this condition and in doing so prevent a delay in diagnosis and management. Arthritis is a common cause of disability in children, and complications of JIA can be severe. Many therapies used in JIA have adverse effects and contraindications (specifically vaccinations and teratogen exposure) that require recognition by the primary care physician. This article discusses the differences between inflammatory and noninflammatory joint pain, the diagnosis and various categories of JIA, long-term outcomes and complications associated with JIA, and the general management of JIA with special emphasis on adverse effects and contraindications of therapies.

Testicular Pain – Not Always What it Seems: A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Patients Presenting for Chronic Scrotal Content Pain at a Tertiary Care Center

ObjectiveTo review historical and examination findings in patients presenting to a tertiary care center for evaluation of Chronic Scrotal Content Pain (CSCP) defined by persistent/bothersome pain present for > 3-months. MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to our medical center for evaluation of CSCP. Pertinent information collected included historical data, physical examination findings, laboratory and imaging results, and treatments recommended by the assessing physician. The data was summarized to present a cross-sectional representation of patients presenting for CSCP. Results110 patients were identified. 80 patients (73%) had seen at least one prior urologist. 26 patients (24%) had undergone a prior unsuccessful surgical intervention for CSCP. Reproducible tenderness was present in 67% of patients including testicular tenderness in 50 (45%), epididymal tenderness in 60 (55%), and spermatic cord tenderness in 31 patients (28%). 33% of patients did not have any reproductible scrotal content tenderness on physical examination. Surgery was recommended in 57/110 patients (52%), including microdenervation in 22%. Musculoskeletal etiologies were suspected based on specific aspects of the history and physical examination in 43 patients (39%), prompting additional evaluation and/or referrals. ConclusionCSCP presents with a wide array of symptoms and many patients do not have reproducible findings on examination, suggesting alternative sources of pain such as referred pain from musculoskeletal causes. The history and physical examination should include assessments for concurrent abdominal, back, hip, and other genital/pelvic pain that may suggest alternative diagnoses and referrals for appropriate treatment.

Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Comprehensive Review

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is explained as a complaint of cyclic or non-cyclic pelvic pain lasting for at least six months with or without dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dysuria, and dyschezia. The etiology of symptoms can be categorized according to organ system involvement. Gynecological causes typically involve endometriosis-related pain, pelvic congestion syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, hydrosalpinx, etc. Endometriosis-related pain is seldom non-cyclic and may present due to recurrent bleeding in endometriotic implants. Engorgement of veins leads to inadequate venous washout and presents chronic pelvic pain in pelvic congestion syndrome. The pressure effect of benign lesions of the uterus and cervix may lead to cyclic pain, as in uterine fibroids. Often presentation of diseases like hydrosalpinx may not present until it has overdistended or may at times present as acute pelvic pain if it undergoes torsion. Long-standing untreated pelvic inflammatory diseases in sexually active females is another cause of pelvic pain. The complaint of CPP is also shared due to the involvement of the gastrointestinal system in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, long-standing abdominal hernias, colorectal cancer, etc. Alteration of the gut biome and dysregulated brain-gut associations lead to typical manifestations of chronic lower back pain and pelvic pain in irritable bowel syndrome. Colorectal tumors, when in the advanced stage, may spread to nearby tissues creating fistulas and affecting nearby nerves, causing pelvic, perineal, and sacral pain. Abdominal hernias with small bowel prolapse are always related to pelvic pain symptoms. Infections in the urinary tract like urethral syndrome, chronic prostatitis, and chronic recurrent cystitis present with CPP and voiding problems. Musculoskeletal etiologies, though varying in degrees, are responsible for isolated complaints of CPP. Examples include pelvic girdle pain, levator syndrome, coccygodynia, and pelvic floor prolapse.

Thoracic outlet syndrome: a review for the primary care provider.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) symptoms are prevalent and often confused with other diagnoses. A PubMed search was undertaken to present a comprehensive article addressing the presentation and treatment for TOS. This article summarizes what is currently published about TOS, its etiologies, common objective findings, and nonsurgical treatment options. The PubMed database was conducted for the range of May 2020 to September 2021 utilizing TOS-related Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) systematic literature review was conducted to identify the most common etiologies, the most objective findings, and the most effective nonsurgical treatment options for TOS. The search identified 1,188 articles. The automated merge feature removed duplicate articles. The remaining 1,078 citations were manually reviewed, with articles published prior to 2010 removed (n=771). Of the remaining 307 articles, duplicate citations not removed by automated means were removed manually (n=3). The other exclusion criteria included: non-English language (n=21); no abstracts available (n=56); and case reports of TOS occurring from complications of fractures, medical or surgical procedures, novel surgical approaches, or abnormal anatomy (n=42). Articles over 5 years old pertaining to therapeutic intervention (mostly surgical) were removed (n=18). Articles pertaining specifically to osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) were sparse and all were utilized (n=6). A total of 167 articles remained. The authors added a total of 20 articles that fell outside of the search criteria, as they considered them to be historic in nature with regards to TOS (n=8), were related specifically to OMT (n=4), or were considered sentinel articles relating to specific therapeutic interventions (n=8). A total of 187 articles were utilized in the final preparation of this manuscript. A final search was conducted prior to submission for publication to check for updated articles. Symptoms of hemicranial and/or upper-extremity pain and paresthesias should lead a physician to evaluate for musculoskeletal etiologies that may be contributing to the compression of the brachial plexus. The best initial provocative test to screen for TOS is the upper limb tension test (ULTT) because a negative test suggests against brachial plexus compression. A positive ULTT should be followed up with an elevated arm stress test (EAST) to further support the diagnosis. If TOS is suspected, additional diagnostic testing such as ultrasound, electromyography (EMG), or magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography (MRI/MRA) might be utilized to further distinguish the vascular or neurological etiologies of the symptoms. Initial treatment for neurogenic TOS (nTOS) is often conservative. Data are limited, therefore there is no conclusive evidence that any one treatment method or combination is more effective. Surgery in nTOS is considered for refractory cases only. Anticoagulation and surgical decompression remain the treatment of choice for vascular versions of TOS. The most common form of TOS is neurogenic. The most common symptoms are pain and paresthesias of the head, neck, and upper extremities. Diagnosis of nTOS is clinical, and the best screening test is the ULTT. There is no conclusive evidence that any one treatment method is more effective for nTOS, given limitations in the published data. Surgical decompression remains the treatment of choice for vascular forms of TOS.

Postprandial Referred Shoulder Pain: A Case Report

The precise mechanism of referred pain is not well understood; however, diaphragmatic irritation is a well-known etiology of referred pain. Left side referred pain due to diaphragmatic irritation is most commonly attributed to splenic laceration i.e. Kerr's sign. Here, we report an unusual case of left-sided referred pain that followed eating. An adult male presented vague and chronic left shoulder pain that followed eating. The pain was described as a deep boring type of discomfort that was poorly localized to the region deep to the acromion and extended superomedially along the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. The pain was present immediately after eating heavy meals and always abated approximately 30 minutes later. There was no history of previous surgery and physical examination was unremarkable. CT examination of the abdomen and thorax did not show any pathology or anatomical variations that would result in such referred pain. Although the exact etiology of this case is unclear, the most likely cause would be left-sided diaphragmatic irritation from the stomach after eating. The current literature does not enclose reports pertaining to similar findings. Although unusual and seemingly rare, postprandial referred shoulder pain should be considered by clinicians alongside other causes of referred shoulder pain when presented with shoulder pain without an obvious musculoskeletal or neural etiology.

Testicular Pain – Not Always What it Seems: A Cross-sectional Assessment of Patients Presenting for Chronic Scrotal Content Pain at a Tertiary Care Center

ABSTRACT Introduction Introduction:: Chronic scrotal content pain (CSCP) is generally defined by persistent and bothersome pain present for > 3-months. This symptom complex leads to frustration for patients and providers alike, as the underlying etiology varies and in many instances is unknown. Scrotal pain may arise from outside the scrotal contents, as is seen with musculoskeletal conditions involving the hips, lower back, and pelvic musculature. Identifying those patients who have signs or symptoms of a musculoskeletal etiology earlier in their clinical course will allow for a more streamlined treatment pathway and minimize the need for unnecessary referrals. Objective To review historical and examination findings in patients presenting to a tertiary care center for evaluation of chronic testicular pain. Methods We reviewed our clinical experience with referrals for surgical intervention for “chronic testicular pain” at a tertiary care medical center between July 2019 and October 2020. Prior to scheduling an appointment, patients are queried via a list of questions to gather additional information in order to determine whether specialist consultation is indicated. Pertinent information was collected including historical patient data, physical examination findings, laboratory and imaging results, and treatment as recommended by the assessing physician. In addition, we gathered data on the number of prior consults and interventions performed by outside clinicians. The data was summarized to present a cross-sectional representation of patients presenting for CSCP. Results In total, 126 patients were seen for a primary chief complaint of CSCP. Mean patient age was 45 years [standard deviation (SD) 15]. 31 (24%), 55 (44%), and 40 (32%) were self-referred or referred by their primary care provider or a urologist, respectively. 88 patients (70%) had seen at least one prior urologist. 22/126 (17%) reported bilateral testicular pain. 29 patients (24%) had undergone a prior unsuccessful surgical intervention for their pain. On examination, reproducible testicular tenderness was present in only 57 patients (45%), despite 109 patients (87%) stating testicular pain as their primary chief complaint. Digital rectal examination of the pelvic floor musculature was positive for tenderness in 31/126 patients (25%), suggesting a possible pelvic floor contribution. After thorough assessment, musculoskeletal etiologies were suspected to underlie CSCP in 49 patients (39%), prompting additional evaluation and/or referrals. This included 35 patients (28%) who were specifically referred to a pelvic floor physical therapy specialist. Surgery was recommended in 68/126 patients (54%), including microdenervation of the spermatic cord in 22% (after successful diagnostic spermatic cord block), and epididymectomy in 13%. Conclusions CSCP presents with a wide array of concurrent symptoms. The history and physical examination must include assessments for concurrent abdominal, back, hip, and other genital/pelvic pain that may lend towards an alternative non-urologic treatment pathway. Disclosure No

Comparison of patient-demographics, causes, and costs of 90-day readmissions following primary total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis

IntroductionReadmissions following orthopaedic surgery are associated with worse outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Studies investigating trends, causes, and costs of readmissions following primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for the indication of glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA) are limited. The objective was to compare: 1) patient-demographics of those readmitted and not readmitted within 90-days following primary TSA for OA; 2) causes of readmissions and 3) associated costs. MethodsA retrospective query from 2005 to 2014 was performed using a nationwide administrative claims database. The study group consisted of patients readmitted within 90-days following primary TSA for glenohumeral OA, whereas patients not readmitted served as controls. Causes of readmission were stratified into the following groups: cardiovascular, hematological, endocrine, gastrointestinal (GI), musculoskeletal (MSK), neoplastic, neurological, pulmonary, infectious, renal, and miscellaneous causes. Patient demographics were compared, in addition to the frequency of the causes of readmissions, and their associated costs. Chi-square analyses compared demographics between groups. Analysis of variance was utilized to determine differences in 90-day costs for the causes of readmission. A p-value less than 0.001 was significant. ResultsThe overall 90-day readmission rate was 2.4% (3432/143,878). Patients readmitted following primary TSA were more likely to be over the age of 75, female, and higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, including psychiatric and medical conditions. Readmitted patients had a higher overall comorbidity burden per mean Elixhauser-Comorbidity Index (ECI) scores (10 vs. 7,p < .0001). The leading cause of readmissions were due to MSK (17.34%), cardiac (16.28%), infectious (16.26%), and gastrointestinal (11.64%) etiologies. There were differences in the mean 90-day costs of care for the various causes of readmissions, with the leading cost of readmissions being cardiac causes ($10,913.70) and MSK ($10,590.50) etiologies. ConclusionPatients with greater comorbidities experienced increased incidence of readmission following TSA for glenohumeral OA. Cardiac and MSK etiologies were the primary cause of readmissions. Level of evidenceIII.

PoCUS: Just because we can doesn't mean we should.

PoCUS: Just because we can doesn't mean we should.

New Clinical Phenotype of the Post-Covid Syndrome: Fibromyalgia and Joint Hypermobility Condition.

Fibromyalgia can be defined as a chronic pain condition, affecting the musculoskeletal system, etiology and pathophysiology of which is sufficiently understudied. Despite the fact that many authors consider this entity to be a manifestation of central sensitization, and not an autoimmune disease, the high prevalence of fibromyalgia in patients with post-COVID-19 conditions requires taking a fresh look at the causes of the disease development. During the patient examination, the authors identified a combination of symptoms that occurs so often, that they can be carefully described as a clinical pattern. These manifestations include young age, female gender, joint hypermobility, the onset of pain after COVID-19, physical traumatization of one particular tendon and the development of the fibromyalgia pain syndrome during the next several weeks. As well as an increase in the titer of antinuclear antibodies and some other systemic inflammation factors. It can be assumed with great caution that local damage to the connective tissue in patients with joint hypermobility, having COVID-19 as a trigger factor can lead to the development of fibromyalgia syndrome. This article presents three clinical cases that illustrated this hypothesis.

Reasons and Risk Factors for Emergency Department Visits After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Analysis of 1.3 Million Patients

BackgroundWell-powered studies investigating the relationship of emergency department (ED) visits and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are limited. Therefore, the specific aims of this study were to: 1) compare patient demographics of patients who did and did not have an ED visit; and for the visits, identified: 2) leading reasons; and 3) risk factors for ED visits (prearthroplasty/postarthroplasty). MethodsPatients undergoing primary TKA who had an ED visit within 90 days after their index procedure were identified from a nationwide database. The query yielded 1,364,655 patients who did (n = 5689) and did not have (n = 1,358,966) an ED visit. Baseline demographics such as age, sex, and comorbidity prevalence between the two cohorts; reasons for ED visits; and prearthroplasty and postarthroplasty risk factors were analyzed. Odds ratios (ORs) of ED visits were assessed using multivariate binomial logistic regression analyses. A P-value less than 0.001 was considered statistically significant. ResultsPatients who did and did not have ED visits differed with respect to age (P < .0001) and mean Elixhauser Comorbidity Index scores (9 vs 6, P < .0001). Musculoskeletal etiologies were the most common reason for ED visits. Hypertension was the greatest contributor to ED visits prearthroplasty and postarthroplasty. Comorbid conditions associated with ED visits postarthroplasty included peripheral vascular disease (OR: 1.61, P < .0001), coagulopathy (OR: 1.58, P < .0001), and rheumatoid arthritis (OR: 1.56, P < .0001). ConclusionBy identifying demographic patterns of patients, reasons, and risk factors, the information found from this study can help identify targets for quality improvement to potentially reduce the incidence of ED visits after primary TKA.

Peripheral Field Nerve Stimulation in Refractory Subcutaneous Persistent Postsurgical Pain

Background: The mechanistic underpinnings of nerve stimulation technology is an area of active debate in interventional pain literature. Whether the technology is transcutaneous, subcutaneous, or directly on the spinal cord/dorsal root ganglion, there are ample theories without substantive evidence. Although, these technologies have been proven to be invaluable for pain relief. Direct spinal cord stimulation is purported to be effective for peripheral pain through centrally mediated stimulation. However, in select cases, there is evidence for superior analgesia from a peripherally directed device, such as a subcutaneously placed peripheral field nerve stimulator (PFNS), when compared to spinal cord stimulators (SCS). Case Report: An 81-year-old man was referred for left upper thoracic pain exacerbated by lipoma excision with diagnostic imaging unsupportive of musculoskeletal etiology. The patient was found to have soft tissue tenderness to palpation worsened by activity. He failed numerous conservative treatments and procedures. An epidural SCS was trialed, with appropriate paresthesia mapping, but was unsuccessful in providing significant relief. Ultimately, a PFNS was trialed and found to provide adequate relief. A PFNS was later implanted, resulting in successful pain relief. Conclusion: The case demonstrates the importance of developing evidence-based guidelines for the application of PFNS. Additionally, it is important to delineate the shared and unique targets of nerve stimulator technologies so that patients may minimize risk through trial-and-error procedures. Key words: Surgical procedures, operative, spinal cord stimulation, refractory pain, paroxysmal nerve pain, intractable pain, electric stimulation therapy, back pain without radiation,transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation

Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today's Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach.

Risk of fall (ROF) is a worldwide major concern for its prevalence and consequent dramatic outcomes in the elderly population. The growing age-related risk appears to be associated with increasing motor, sensory, and cognitive problems in the elderly population. There is a consensus on the need to screen for these balance dysfunctions, but the available methods are largely based on subjectively assessed performances. The instrumented Romberg test using a force plate represents a validated assessment process for the evaluation of balance performances. The purpose of this study is to propose an innovative instrumental method to identify balance deficits, assess their severity, and give an automated indication of the most likely etiology. The proposed new method was applied to the instrumented Romberg test, using force plate data recorded in a cohort of 551 females aged >65 participating in adapted physical activity courses. The method allowed us to identify 145 dysfunctional subjects and to determine the likely origin of their deficit: 21 central, 5 vestibular, 9 visual, 59 proprioceptive (musculoskeletal etiology), and 51 functional. Based on the preliminary findings of the study, this test could be an efficient and cost-effective mass screening tool for identifying subjects at risk of fall, since the procedure proves to be rapid, non-invasive, and apparently devoid of any contraindications.

Sidewinder gait in horses.

BackgroundSidewinder gait in horses is poorly understood and characterized by walking with the trunk and pelvic limbs drifting to 1 side.Hypothesis/objectivesTo report causes, clinical and diagnostic features.AnimalsHorses examined at 2 institutions.Materials and MethodsRetrospective study (2000‐2019). Cases with sidewinder gait, neurological and orthopedic examination, and diagnostic work up or postmortem evaluation were included. Descriptive statistics were performed.ResultsTwenty‐four horses (mean age 18.9 years) of various breeds and both sexes were included. Onset was acute (N = 10), subacute (N = 6), and insidious (N = 8). Electromyography and muscle biopsy supported neurologic disease and further aided in localizing site of lesion (N = 9/9). Neurologic causes included dynamic thoracolumbar spinal cord compression (N = 5), equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (N = 4, confirmed and presumed [2 each]), thoracic myelopathy of unknown etiology (N = 4), gliosis (N = 2), and thrombosis of thoracic spinal cord segments (N = 1). Non‐neurologic causes included osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joint (N = 4), multiple displaced pelvic fractures (N = 2), bilateral rupture of the ligamentum capitis ossis femoris (N = 1), and severe myonecrosis of multiple pelvic limb muscles (N = 1). Case fatality was 79%.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceSidewinder gait is usually observed in older horses and can have neurologic or musculoskeletal etiologies. Electromyography can be used as a diagnostic aid to determine neurologic versus non‐neurologic disease and further localize those of neurologic origin. The condition often has a poor prognosis for function and life.

Superior gluteal vein syndrome: an intrapelvic cause of sciatica.

The role of malformed or dilated branches of iliac vessels in causing pelvic pain is not well understood. Such vessels may entrap nerves of the lumbosacral (LS) plexus against the pelvic sidewalls, producing symptoms not typically encountered in gynecological practice, including sciatica and refractory urinary and/or anorectal dysfunction. We describe cases of sciatica in which laparoscopy revealed compression of the LS plexus by variant superior gluteal veins (SGVs). In demonstrating an improvement in patient symptoms after decompression, we identify this neurovascular conflict as a potential intrapelvic cause of sciatica. This study is a retrospective case series (Canadian Task Force Classification II-3). Nerve decompression laparoscopies were performed in São Paulo, Brazil. Thirteen female patients undergoing laparoscopy for sciatica with no clear spinal or musculoskeletal causes were included in this study. In all cases, we identified LS entrapment by aberrant SGVs, and performed decompression by vessel ligation. The average preoperative visual analog scale score of 9.62 ± 0.77 decreased significantly to 2.54 ± 2.88 post-operatively (P < 0.001). The success rate (defined as ≥ 50% improvement in visual analog scale score) was 92.3%, over a follow-up of 13.2 ± 10.6 months. Our case series demonstrates a high success rate and significant decrease in pain scores after laparoscopic intrapelvic decompression, thereby identifying pelvic nerve entrapment by aberrant SGVs as a potential yet previously unrecognized cause of sciatica. This intrapelvic neurovascular conflict—the SGV syndrome—should be considered in cases of sciatica with no identifiable spinal or musculoskeletal etiology.