Improvement In Pain Research Articles

Comparing the treatment of endometriosis-related pain by excision of endometriosis or hysterectomy: A multicentre prospective cohort study.

To compare the effectiveness of endometriosis excision alone to excision plus hysterectomy, with and without bilateral oophorectomy, for endometriosis-related symptoms. Multicentre prospective cohort. Eighty-six specialist endometriosis centres. Women undergoing rectovaginal endometriosis surgery between 2009 and 2021. We performed multivariable regression with random effects for patient and centre, controlling for age, BMI, smoking, laparoscopic versus open approach and type of bowel surgery performed, with sensitivity analysis for loss to follow-up. Pain scores, bowel symptoms and quality-of-life measures. Compared to endometriosis excision alone, women undergoing hysterectomy with conservation of ovaries had greater improvement in non-cyclical pain (MD: 1.41/10, 95% CI: 1.03-1.78, p < 0.001), dyspareunia (MD: 1.12/10, 95% CI: 0.71-1.53, p < 0.001), back pain (MD: 1.29/10, 95% CI: 0.92-1.67, p < 0.001) and quality-of-life scores (MD: 8.77/100, 95% CI: 5.79-11.75, p < 0.001) at 24 months post-operatively. Women undergoing hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy also had greater improvement in non-cyclical pelvic pain (MD: 2.22/10, 95% CI: 1.80-2.63, p < 0.001), dyspareunia (MD: 1.05/10, 95% CI: 0.59-1.52, p < 0.001), back pain (MD: 1.18/10, 95% CI: 0.77-1.59, p < 0.001) and quality of life (MD: 12.41/100, 95% CI: 9.07-15.74, p < 0.001) at 24 months compared to endometriosis excision alone. Compared to hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy was associated with greater improvement in non-cyclical pelvic pain (MD: 0.81/10, 95% CI: 0.32-1.30, p = 0.001) at 24 months and quality of life (MD: 3.74/100, 95% CI: 0.56-6.92, p = 0.021) at 12 months, although this result was sensitive to loss to follow-up. Patients who undergo endometriosis excision plus hysterectomy experience greater improvement in pain and quality of life compared to those who have endometriosis excision alone. There are additional benefits of bilateral oophorectomy with hysterectomy, although its value is less clear due to loss of follow-up.

N-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate Adhesive Versus Absorbable Tacks in Laparoscopic Groin Hernia Repair: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

We aimed to determine whether n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NB2C) adhesive is a safe and effective mechanism for nonpenetrating mesh and peritoneal fixation during laparoscopic groin hernia repair. Chronic pain after laparoscopic groin hernia repair has been associated with penetrating fixation, but there had been no US Food and Drug Administration-approved devices for nonpenetrating fixation in this context. Patients undergoing laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAP) or totally extraperitoneal (TEP) groin hernia repair with mesh at 1 of 5 academic medical centers were randomized to mesh (TAP/TEP) and peritoneal (TAP) fixation with NB2C adhesive or absorbable tacks. The primary outcome was improvement in pain (visual analog scale [VAS]) at 6 months. The noninferiority margin was 0.9 (α = 0.025; β = 80%). Recurrence, successful use of the device, quality of life, and rates of adverse events (AEs) were secondary outcomes. From 2019 to 2021, 284 patients were randomized to either NB2C adhesive or absorbable tacks (n = 142/142). Patient and hernia characteristics were comparable, and 65% were repaired using a TAP approach. The difference in VAS improvement at 6 months with NB2C adhesive was not inferior to absorbable tacks in intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses, respectively (0.25 [95% CI, -0.33 to 0.82]; P = 0.013; 0.22 [95% CI, -0.36 to 0.80], noninferiority P = 0.011). There were no differences in secondary outcomes including recurrence, successful use of each device to fixate the mesh and peritoneum, quality of life, and additional VAS pain scores. Rates of adverse and serious AEs were also comparable. NB2C adhesive is safe and effective for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure during laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

Comparison of mid-term effectiveness between diabetic secondary stiff shoulder and primary frozen shoulder after arthroscopic shoulder capsular release combined with acromiohumeral distance restoration

To compare the mid-term effectiveness of arthroscopic shoulder capsular release combined with acromiohumeral distance (AHD) restoration in the treatment of diabetic secondary stiff shoulder and primary frozen shoulder. A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 22 patients with diabetic secondary stiff shoulder (group A) and 33 patients with primary frozen shoulder (group B), who underwent arthroscopic 270° capsular release combined with AHD restoration treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, age, affected side, disease duration, and preoperative AHD, shoulder flexion range of motion, abduction range of motion, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Constant score ( P>0.05). Only the difference in the internal rotation cone rank and external rotation range of motion between the two groups showed significant differences ( P<0.05). The improvement in shoulder pain and function was evaluated by using VAS score, ASES score, and Constant score before operation and at last follow-up. Active flexion, abduction, external rotation range of motion, and internal rotation cone rank were recorded and compared. AHD was measured on X-ray films. All patients were followed up 24-92 months (median, 57 months). There was no significant difference in follow-up time between group A and group B ( P>0.05). No fractures or glenoid labrum tears occurred during operation, all incisions healed by first intention, and no complication such as wound infection or nerve injury was observed during the follow-up. At last follow-up, there were significant improvements in active flexion, abduction, external rotation range of motion, internal rotation cone rank, AHD, VAS score, ASES score, and Constant score when compared with preoperative ones in both groups ( P<0.05). Except for the difference in change in external rotation range of motion, which had significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). Arthroscopic capsular release combined with AHD restoration can achieve good mid-term effectiveness in the treatment of diabetic secondary stiff shoulder and primary frozen shoulder. However, the improvement in external rotation range of motion is more significant in the patients with diabetic secondary stiff shoulder.

Long-Term Outcomes Following Inguinal Hernia Repair With Mesh Performed by Medical Doctors and Surgeons in Ghana.

To assess long-term outcomes following inguinal hernia repair with mesh performed by medical doctors and surgeons in Ghana. Task sharing of surgical care with nonsurgeons can increase access to essential surgery. Long-term safety and outcomes of task sharing are not well-described for hernia repair. This prospective cohort study was conducted in Ho, Ghana. After completing a training course, 3 medical doctors and 2 surgeons performed inguinal hernia repairs with mesh on men with primary, reducible hernias. The primary outcome of this study was hernia recurrence at 5 years. The noninferiority limit was 5 percentage points. Secondary endpoints included pain and self-assessed health status at 5 years. A total of 242 operations in 241 participants were included, including 119 hernia repairs performed by the medical doctors and 123 performed by the surgeons. One hundred and sixty-nine participants (70.1%) were seen in follow-up at 5 years, 29 participants (12.0%) had died and 43 (17.8%) were lost to follow-up. The overall 5-year recurrence rate was 4.7% (n = 8). The absolute difference in recurrence rate between the medical doctor group (2 [2.3%]) and the surgeon group (6 [7.3%]) was -5.0 (1-tailed 95% confidence interval, -10.5; P = 0.06), demonstrating noninferiority of the medical doctors. Participants experienced improvements in groin pain and self-assessed health status that persisted at 5 years. Long-term outcomes of elective mesh inguinal hernia repair in men performed by medical doctors and surgeons in Ghana were excellent. Task sharing is a critical tool to address the substantial morbidity of unmet hernia surgery needs in Ghana.

The Effect of Patient Resilience on Postoperative Scores After One- and Two-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

ObjectiveThe purpose is to investigate the association between resilience and outcomes of pain and neck-related disability after single- and two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). MethodsPatients who underwent single- or two-level ACDF were sent a survey between six months and two years following surgery. The survey included the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-2). Patients completed the VAS and NDI twice, once describing preoperative pain and disability and once describing current pain and disability. Respondents were classified as high resilience (HR), medium resilience (MR), or low resilience (LR). Demographics, PSEQ-2 scores, pre- and postoperative VAS and NDI scores, and change in VAS (ΔVAS) and NDI (ΔNDI) scores were compared between groups. ResultsThirty-three patients comprised the HR group, 273 patients comprised the MR group, and 47 patients comprised the LR group. All groups demonstrated postoperative improvement in VAS and NDI scores that exceeded previously established MCID values. The HR group demonstrated greater improvement in pain compared to the LR group (ΔVAS: -5.8 for HR vs -4.4 for LR, p=0.05). Compared to the MR group, the LR group demonstrated greater postoperative pain (VAS: 3.2 for LR vs 2.5 for MR, p=0.02) and disability (NDI: 11.9 for LR vs 8.6 for MR, p=0.02). ConclusionsPatients demonstrated improvement in pain and neck-related disability after single- and two-level ACDF, regardless of resilience score. Patients with greater resilience may be expected to demonstrate more improvement in pain after ACDF.

Patient-Centered Outcomes of a Lymphedema Pump in Patients with Symptomatic Lower Extremity Edema

Phlebolymphedema is a challenging condition to manage, with limited options for effective treatment. For patients, this may be debilitating and lead to infection, loss of independence and affect quality of life. This study aims to evaluate patient-reported outcomes of an advanced pneumatic compression device (APCD) in the treatment of lower extremity phlebolymphedema. Patients with diagnosis of lower extremity phlebolymphedema at an acute care facility within the New York City Health and Hospitals Cooperation treated with the Flexitouch (FLX) (Tactile Systems Technology, Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota) APCD from December 2021 to March 2023 were evaluated. Patient-perceived subjective outcomes were assessed via a short questionnaire, with subsequent analysis using chi-squared test. Primary end points were subjective improvements in 1) swelling, 2) pain, and 3) ease of use of device as surrogates for patient satisfaction. Secondary end point was subjective patient-reported compliance, obtained by investigating 1) if patients were trained to use device, and 2) if patients were using the device. A total of 52 participants were included in this study, consisting of 30.8% male and 69.2% female patients with a mean age of 71.7years. While selection criteria did not exclude unilateral disease or alternative etiologies, we note that the entire study population had been diagnosed with bilateral lower extremity lymphedema in the setting of chronic venous insufficiency. Other patient characteristics including race, comorbidities and smoking status were documented in Table1. Table2 demonstrates the results of chi-squared analysis. This study noted significant patient-perceived improvement in swelling and pain (91.4% with P<0.00001; 85.7% with P=0.00002 respectively) and patient-reported ease of use of the FLX device (85.7% with P=0.00002). Additional secondary findings included a majority of patients reporting being trained on how to use FLX and also maintaining compliance with the device (69.2% with P=0.005; 67.3% with P=0.012 respectively). FLX APCD use has been found to demonstrate desirable patient-reported outcomes as a general trend. The participants in this study noted statistically significant subjective improvement in swelling and pain, ease of use of device and adherence to training and compliance with device. FLX appears to be positively received by patients, and the authors recommend its consideration for management of bilateral lower extremity phlebolymphedema.

Associations between pain, function and quality of life after total hip arthroplasty

ObjectivesThis study investigated patient reported outcomes, and associations with improvement in quality of life 12-months after total hip arthroplasty (THA).Materials and methods: ParticipantsAdults (n = 433) undergoing THA for osteoarthritis between January 2017 and October 2020 in a large publicly funded tertiary hospital in New Zealand. Participants completed patient reported outcome measures of pain, function and quality of life (QOL) preoperatively, 6- and 12-months following THA. ResultsClinically significant changes in domains of pain and function were associated with improved QOL, even when pre-operation scores were controlled for. The largest gains in all three domains occurred in the pre-to 6-month post-operation period. Baseline demographic variables such as gender and comorbidities were not associated with change in QOL pre-to post-operation. However, although modest, age at surgery was negatively correlated with change in QOL. ConclusionsTHA contributes to substantial improvements in QOL, pain and function outcomes, and although possibly tempered by age, these relationships are likely to be inter-related and mutually reinforcing. Future QOL outcomes research should also consider the impacts on QOL improvement of other aspects of functioning such as psychological and social wellbeing.

Effects of exercise dosage on the treatment of fibromyalgia: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Exercise intensity is a key component of an exercise prescription. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the treatment effect of different exercise doses on fibromyalgia syndrome. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception until 29 December 2023. The studies were subjected to screening using a 2-phase approach by 2 independent reviewers. Reference lists of the included studies were manually searched. Two independent reviewers extracted information regarding the origin, characteristics of study participants, eligibility criteria, characteristics of interventions, outcome measures, and main results using a pre-defined template. This meta-analysis encompassed a total of 19 randomized controlled trials comprising 857 patients. Compared with the low compliance/uncertain group according to ACSM, the high compliance group showed better effectiveness in general condition improvement (SMD: -1.15>-0.71), pain relief (SMD: -1.29>-1.04), sleep quality enhancement (SMD: -1.66>-1.08), and fatigue relief (SMD: -1.72>-1.32). However, there was no difference in the improvement of mental health between the two groups (SMD: -0.93>-0.92). Compared to the ACSM group with compliance uncertainty (<70%), the high compliance group showed improvement in general conditions, pain, sleep quality, and fatigue. However, there was no difference in terms of mental health.

WATSU (Water-Shiatsu) increases body awareness and improves pain and mood: A randomised controlled study

Background and purposeWATSU (Water-Shiatsu) is a body-oriented therapy in warm-water pool with passive movements, massage and breathing techniques. The present study investigated the short-term effect of a single session of WATSU on body awareness. Materials and methodsIn a randomized-controlled study 60 volunteers (18–65 years) were assigned to a 20-min intervention of WATSU or to a 20-min lecture on WATSU. Immediately before and after the intervention they had to answer questionnaires. Primary endpoint of the investigation was the change of the total score of the non-verbal Awareness Body Chart (ABC). Secondary endpoints were the changes of the scores of the 14 single body parts of the ABC, of the Visual Analogue Pain Scale, of a German self-perception questionnaire (KEKS) and changes in mood scored with a German questionnaire on mood (Bf-SR). To compare groups, Mann-Whitney U tests were used. ResultsThe WATSU group had a significantly higher increase in the ABC total score in comparison to the lecture group (WATSU: 0.3 (IQR 0 – 0.8), lecture: 0.1 (IQR -0.2 – 0.2), p = 0.014). In the KEKS no group differences were seen. In WATSU a significantly stronger improvement of pain (Visual Analogue Pain Scale: WATSU: −15 (IQR -29 to −8), lecture: −4 (IQR -9 – 2), p < 0.001) and of mood (Bf-SR: WATSU: −6 (IQR -14 to −2), lecture: −1 (IQR -5 – 1), p = 0.003) could be observed. ConclusionThis study showed that WATSU immediately increases body awareness and improves pain and mood.

A decision framework for improving the service quality of charging stations based on online reviews and evolutionary game theory

With “charging anxiety” gradually replacing “range anxiety” as the major obstacle for consumers to purchase electric vehicles (EVs), the quantity-driven rather than quality-driven charging station development model barely meets the development of the EV market. It is of great practical significance that a comprehensive and in-depth insight into charging stations’ customer requirements (CRs) to uncover their pain points and improvement measures. Therefore, this study develops a decision framework for improving EV charging service quality based on quality function deployment (QFD). First, CRs are extracted based on charging station online reviews and classified by the revised importance performance analysis (IPA) method to identify the charging service’s main highlights and pain points. Then, the process of achieving consensus among experts on evaluating the correlation between CRs and service design requirements (DRs) is considered as an evolutionary game of coalition, with a meritocratic Fermi rule considering affinities (MFA) being introduced. Finally, the importance of DRs is determined by combining the Shapley value and risk aversion theory. The results indicate that regulation and convenience are the main highlights of charging stations to satisfy EV users, while reliability and assurance are primary pain points. The charging station operators should prioritize their limited resources on providing efficient customer and maintenance services, installing charging stations with international standards, and regularly inspecting and updating charging infrastructures. This study is beneficial for charging station operators to understand what customers want and how to satisfy them.

Changes in Widespread Pain After Surgical Weight Loss in Racialized Adults: A Secondary Analysis From a 2-Year Longitudinal Study

Widespread pain (WP) is associated with reduced function and disability. Importantly, three-fourths of the approximately 42% of U.S. adults with obesity have WP. Moreover, rates of adult obesity are higher, and WP outcomes are worse in racialized non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino/a/X groups, potentially exacerbating existing pain disparities. Bariatric surgery significantly reduces weight and improves pain. However, recurrent or unresolved pain after bariatric surgery can hinder weight loss or facilitate weight regain. The current study conducted a secondary analysis of a longitudinal study of predictors and mechanisms of weight loss after bariatric surgery to examine the point prevalence of WP and pain trajectories 24 months post surgery. Our secondary aim was to examine the association between weight loss and pain characteristics. Our exploratory aim was to longitudinally examine racial differences in pain trajectories after bariatric surgery. Our results showed that point prevalence decreased after bariatric surgery. Additionally, significant improvements in pain trajectories occurred within the first 3 months post surgery with a pattern of pain reemergence beginning at 12 months post surgery. Hispanic/Latino/a/X participants reported a higher number of painful anatomical sites before bariatric surgery, and the rate of change in this domain for this group was faster compared with the racialized non-Hispanic Black participants. These findings suggest that pain improvements are most evident during the early stages of surgical weight loss in racialized populations of adults with WP. Thus, clinicians should routinely monitor patients’ weight changes after bariatric surgery as they are likely to correspond to changes in their pain experiences. PerspectiveThis article presents the prevalence and pain trajectories of racialized adults with WP after surgical weight loss. Clinicians should evaluate changes in the magnitude and spatial distribution of pain after significant weight change in these populations so that pain interventions can be prescribed with greater precision.

Multicenter external validation of prediction models for clinical outcomes after spinal fusion for lumbar degenerative disease

BackgroundClinical prediction models (CPM), such as the SCOAP-CERTAIN tool, can be utilized to enhance decision-making for lumbar spinal fusion surgery by providing quantitative estimates of outcomes, aiding surgeons in assessing potential benefits and risks for each individual patient. External validation is crucial in CPM to assess generalizability beyond the initial dataset. This ensures performance in diverse populations, reliability and real-world applicability of the results. Therefore, we externally validated the tool for predictability of improvement in oswestry disability index (ODI), back and leg pain (BP, LP).MethodsProspective and retrospective data from multicenter registry was obtained. As outcome measure minimum clinically important change was chosen for ODI with ≥ 15-point and ≥ 2-point reduction for numeric rating scales (NRS) for BP and LP 12 months after lumbar fusion for degenerative disease. We externally validate this tool by calculating discrimination and calibration metrics such as intercept, slope, Brier Score, expected/observed ratio, Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL), AUC, sensitivity and specificity.ResultsWe included 1115 patients, average age 60.8 ± 12.5 years. For 12-month ODI, area-under-the-curve (AUC) was 0.70, the calibration intercept and slope were 1.01 and 0.84, respectively. For NRS BP, AUC was 0.72, with calibration intercept of 0.97 and slope of 0.87. For NRS LP, AUC was 0.70, with calibration intercept of 0.04 and slope of 0.72. Sensitivity ranged from 0.63 to 0.96, while specificity ranged from 0.15 to 0.68. Lack of fit was found for all three models based on HL testing.ConclusionsUtilizing data from a multinational registry, we externally validate the SCOAP-CERTAIN prediction tool. The model demonstrated fair discrimination and calibration of predicted probabilities, necessitating caution in applying it in clinical practice. We suggest that future CPMs focus on predicting longer-term prognosis for this patient population, emphasizing the significance of robust calibration and thorough reporting.

One-day surgery is safe and effective in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: A prospective comparative study at 1 year of follow-up.

To compare the outcomes and complications of two perioperative protocols for the management of patients who underwent medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA): 24 h (1-day surgery [OS]) versus 72 h (enhanced recovery after surgery [ERAS]) of the length of hospital stay (LOS). In our hypothesis, the reduction of the LOS from 3 to 1 day did not influence the outcomes and complications. A total of 42 patients (21 in each group) with isolated anteromedial knee osteoarthritis and meeting specific criteria were prospectively included in the study. Clinical outcomes included Knee Society Score (KSS) and Forgotten joint score while pain evaluation was performed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Functional outcomes were assessed measuring the knee range of motion (ROM) while radiographic outcomes were evaluated measuring the amelioration of the varus deformity through the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA). Clinical and functional outcomes did not significantly differ between the two groups. Complications occurred in 9.5% of OS and 4.7% of ERAS group patients. Significant improvements in knee ROM, VAS pain, KSS and HKA angle were observed postsurgery, with no significant differences between groups except in KSS expectations and function trends. The OS protocol is safe and effective and LOS, in a well-defined fast-track protocol, did not significantly impact clinical and functional outcomes. OS may lead to reduced hospitalisation costs and potential reductions in complications associated with prolonged stays, benefiting both patients and healthcare facilities. However, further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is needed to confirm these findings. Early mobilisation and rehabilitation protocols are key components of successful patient recovery following UKA procedures. Level II.

[Translated article] Medial gastrocnemius proximal fasciotomy in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis: A systematic review

IntroductionPlantar fasciitis is the main cause of heel pain in middle-aged patients. In chronic cases, limited ankle dorsiflexion caused by isolated gastrocnemius contracture is considered the main risk factor for suffering it. Therefore, in recent years the number of patients operated on by proximal fasciotomy of the medial gastrocnemius (FPGM) has increased to treat chronic plantar fasciitis. Material and methodsSystematic review following the PRISMA guidelines. We have carried out a bibliographic search in Pubmed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases. One hundred and eighty-four articles were found. Data extraction was performed using the Covidence software, and a quality and risk of bias analysis of the included articles was performed based on the Cochrane risk of bias Tool 2.0. ResultsThree articles were included in the review: two randomised clinical trials and one cohort study with a total of 138 patients. In the analysed studies, patients after proximal fasciotomy of the medial gastrocnemius showed significant improvements in pain and in the AOFAS score with high levels of patient satisfaction. Increases in ankle dorsiflexion angle were found after 12 months of follow-up, with no loss of gastrocnemius strength. The complication rate was low and fewer occurred in the proximal fasciotomy compared to plantar fasciotomy. ConclusionProximal fasciotomy of the medial gastrocnemius provides clinical benefit in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis, with a low probability of complications and high patient satisfaction.

Efficacy of self-care foam rolling intervention on muscle function and pain conducted by postoperative patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty from the second to the third postoperative week

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate whether self-care foam rolling (FR) intervention, in addition to regular physical therapy, effectively improves pain, knee joint range of motion (ROM), muscle function (knee extension strength and gait speed), and balance function in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) during the second and third postoperative weeks. MethodsA total of 15 patients admitted to the hospital and who underwent TKA for knee osteoarthritis were enrolled. FR was performed for more than 10 min in the morning and 10 min in the afternoon each day from the second to the third postoperative week. Knee flexion and extension ROM, pain (resting and stretching position), 10 m walk speed, timed up-and-go test (TUG), one-leg stand, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction torques of knee extensors were assessed. ResultsSignificant improvements in knee flexion pain, knee flexion ROM, knee extension ROM, knee extension strength, 10 m walk speed, TUG, and one-leg stand were observed from the second to the third postoperative week. However, at rest, no statistically significant differences in pain were found. ConclusionsMuscle function of the knee extensors improved following the self-care FR intervention probably attributed to the adjusted pain level.

Percutaneous removal of hardware after orthopedic surgery: Is it safe? and What are patients saying?

To analyze our patient's complication profile and rate after removal of hardware (ROH) surgery, and survey our patients to ask their overall status and improvement in symptomatology post-operatively. Retrospective chart review and survey. Academic, tertiary referral center. 173 patients with 314 pieces of hardware. Seventy-six patients (43.9%) responded to our survey. ROH surgery. Patient demographics and complications were recorded. All patients were sent a brief 3-question survey which asked: (1) Why did you get your hardware removed? (2) How did your overall status change after ROH? (3) How did the ROH affect your stiffness, pain, swelling, and mobility? There were 10 complications (5.5%): 5 infections, 2 with unresolved pain, 1 hematoma, 1 chronic regional pain syndrome exacerbation, and 1 recurrent deformity. All infections were treated with oral antibiotics and improved. All other complications resolved with treatment except for the patient who developed recurrent deformity. Patients underwent ROH surgery because their doctor suggested it (76.3%) and to improve mobility (39.5%). 86.9% reported their overall status improved after ROH. They improved regarding stiffness (73.7%), pain (73.6%), swelling (61.8%), and mobility (76.3%). Similar results were seen among different implants removed. The majority of patients who underwent percutaneous ROH were satisfied. They reported improvement in stiffness, pain, swelling and mobility (greatest improvement). The complication rate was low (5.5%). ROH can be a meaningful operation to patients allowing them to improve their quality of life with a low complication rate. Level IV.

Effects of Intra-Articular Triamcinolone Injection on Adhesive Capsulitis after Breast Cancer Surgery.

To investigate the effects of intra-articular glenohumeral joint triamcinolone injection in treating secondary adhesive capsulitis after breast cancer surgery. This study prospectively enrolled 37 participants, including 22 in the breast cancer surgery group and 15 in the idiopathic group. All participants received intra-articular glenohumeral joint triamcinolone injection in the affected shoulder joint. The clinical outcomes included the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), passive range of motion (PROM), and pain intensity on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), which were evaluated before the intervention and 1, 3, and 6 months after. The primary outcome of this study was the mean difference in the total SPADI from baseline to 6 months after the intervention. The mean differences in the total SPADI scores from baseline to 6 months after the intervention were 36.2 ± 16.4 and 47.9 ± 15.2 in the breast cancer surgery group and the idiopathic group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.1495). However, the improvements in the SPADI pain subscale at the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits (-31.2 vs. -48.8, p = 0.042; -34.1 vs. -50.7, p = 0.0006) and the PROM of abduction at the 3-month follow-up (52.4 vs. 70.3, p = 0.0072) were inferior in the breast cancer surgery group compared to the idiopathic group. There were no adverse events in either group. Intra-articular triamcinolone injection is an effective and safe treatment option for adhesive capsulitis after breast cancer surgery; however, it has less effect than for idiopathic adhesive capsulitis.

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Patellar Tendinopathy: A randomized controlled trial correlating clinical outcomes and quantitative imaging

Abstract Background Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a common overuse injury in active individuals, often with incomplete recovery. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment has shown promising results. Traditional qualitative markers are not reliable indicators of treatment response. Advanced quantitative imaging, such as Ultrashort-TE (UTE) MRI and ultrasound (US) shear-wave elastography (SWE) may be valuable adjuncts. Purpose To investigate the clinical outcomes and quantitative imaging changes in adults with symptomatic patellar tendinopathy treated with PRP, needle tenotomy (NT) or sham injection (SH). Materials and Methods Single-blinded prospective randomized controlled trial from April 2017 until July 2022 with three parallel interventions in athletes with symptomatic PT: PRP, NT and SH. VAS pain, VISA-P function, conventional US, shear wave speed (SWS), UTE T2* relaxation time (T2*single) and T2* fraction of fast-relaxing macromolecular-bound water (FF) were acquired at 0, 16 and 52-weeks. Longitudinal analyses were used to compare intra- and inter-group differences over time. Correlations were assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results 29 subjects (mean age, 26.1±5.3 years; 82.8% men) were randomized. At 52-weeks all groups demonstrated a significant improvement in pain, though most pronounced within the PRP group (ΔVAS=-5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-7.8, -3.9], p&amp;lt;.001). SWS increased significantly only in the PRP group (Δ+2.3, [0.8, 3.9], p=.003). Change in SWS was moderately correlated with change in pain across all groups (r=-.52, [-.76, -.15], p=.009). FF significantly increased in all groups (Δ=0.10-0.11, p=.024-0.046); a significant decrease in T2*single was only seen in the PRP group (Δ=-8.07, [-14.6, -1.55], p=.014). Conclusion Clinical improvement was evident irrespective of treatment but was greatest with PRP. SWS correlated with improvement in pain and may represent an adjunctive measure to assess healing in patellar tendinopathy. Correlative changes in T2* UTE quantitative markers suggest their potential for response assessment, but further research is needed to clarify their clinical applicability.

Percutaneous unilateral vertebro-stentoplasty for painful osteoporotic compression fracture of lumbar vertebra

Osteoporosis is one of the common diseases in the elderly population which can cause compression fracture of the vertebral body due to loss of microarchitecture, loss of density, and deterioration of bone tissue leading to chronic pain, kyphotic deformity of the vertebra, and neurological complications. We report the case of a 68-year-old female, who presented to us with severe midback region pain for one year, which was increased over two months along with numbness in the right leg and difficulty in walking. The radiological investigation and magnetic resonance imaging spine revealed chronic compression fracture with the reduction in height of the L1 vertebra, which is seen with anterior wedging. The patient underwent vertebro-stentoplasty (VS) with bone cement, polymethyl-methacrylate. The patient was discharged well on third day of surgery. The VS for compression fracture of the lumbar vertebra demonstrated better results with improvement in pain and radiological finding in our patient.

Clinical outcomes of patients with unilateral internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint following arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy

BackgroundThe management of internal derangement (ID) of the TMJ is challenging because of multiple etiologic factors and varying degrees of severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with unilateral ID treated with arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy during a 6-month period.MethodsA total of 105 patients (87 females, 18 males) with unilateral ID were included in this study. Patients were divided into unilateral anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) and unilateral anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR). Patients with ADDwoR were subdivided according to the erosive bone changes. Objective parameters on mandibular movement and subjective parameters on pain were obtained and assessed.Their clinical outcomes before and after arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy were compared with the chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon singed-rank test.ResultsAll objective parameters of unilateral ID patients significantly increased at the 6-month follow-up. The differences in mean visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were statistically significant in all subjective variables (p < 0.01). In joints with ADDwoR, preoperative maximal mouth opening, and maximal protrusive movement in both groups, with erosive and non-erosive changes were significantly increased after 6 months (p < 0.01). However, right and left maximal lateral movement increased after treatment in both groups but without significant differences. All VAS pain scores on jaw movement and palpation of associated muscles showed a significant decrease regardless of erosive changes.ConclusionsThe combination of arthrocentesis and subsequent stabilization splint therapy was shown to be highly effective in pain reduction and improvement of mandibular movements in both unilateral ADDwR and ADDwoR, as well as in cases with both erosive and non-erosive bony changes associated with unilateral ADDwoR.