Orthopedic sports injuries: advanced imaging modalities, return-to-play criteria, and injury prevention

Orthopaedic sports injuries encompass a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions resulting from the physical demands of athletic activities. These injuries can vary from acute, such as sprains and fractures, to chronic overuse syndromes like tendinopathies. Prevalent due to the global enthusiasm for sports, they affect bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. The etiology of these injuries is multifactorial, stemming from biomechanical stressors, training methods, genetics, and environmental conditions. Advanced imaging modalities like magnetic resonance imaging and Computed tomography have revolutionized the assessment and diagnosis of these injuries, aiding in treatment decisions and return-to-play criteria. Injury prevention is paramount and involves understanding intrinsic (athlete-related) and extrinsic (environmental) risk factors. Strategies include pre-participation screening, strength and conditioning programs, biomechanical analysis, neuromuscular training, proper equipment use, rule changes, education, and creating a safety-conscious culture. Effective prevention reduces the burden of these injuries. Treatment strategies range from conservative approaches to surgery, depending on the type and severity of the injury. Emerging trends in sports medicine, including biologic therapies and telemedicine, offer promising avenues for improved diagnosis and recovery. The holistic approach to orthopaedic sports injuries encompasses prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ensuring athletes' well-being and longevity in their chosen sports.

Evaluation, treatment, complications, and prognosis of craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis is a congenital craniofacial anomaly that typically presents at birth and affects the skull's shape. It is characterized by the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures in infants, which can impair brain development and function. While craniosynostosis is considered rare, it has a global prevalence of around three to six cases in 10,000 live births. This review article aims to synthesize the latest developments in diagnostic techniques, treatment strategies, and potential complications for the benefit of healthcare providers, researchers, and affected families. This review commenced on 31 October 2023, following a thorough examination of existing literature. Diverse databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane, were utilized for the literature review. Early diagnosis and evaluation involve a multidisciplinary approach, including clinical assessments, medical history reviews, and advanced imaging techniques like computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgical intervention is the primary treatment option, with the goal of releasing or reshaping the fused sutures to allow for normal skull growth. While open surgical procedures like suturectomy have been prevalent, less invasive methods like minimally invasive endoscopic strip craniectomy are becoming more popular due to reduced complications. Untreated craniosynostosis can lead to complications such as increased intracranial pressure, developmental delays, vision and hearing problems, and psychosocial impacts, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention. However, surgical treatments carry their own risks, necessitating a well-planned and individualized approach. Overall, the prognosis for craniosynostosis is generally positive, and factors such as the specific type of craniosynostosis, the timing of treatment, and the quality of post-operative care all influence outcomes. Prenatal diagnosis and multidisciplinary care have emerged as valuable tools for improving prognosis.

Assessment and management of thyroid disorders in primary care

Thyroid disorders are clinical conditions that affect and are common to millions of individuals worldwide. Thyroid disorders can lead to symptoms and complications such, as tiredness, changes in weight, shifts in mood, heart related issues and difficulties with fertility. Healthcare practitioners who specialize in care have a role in identifying, treating and overseeing patients, with thyroid disorders. This review covers several aspects, such as the clinical complications, diagnostic approaches, and treatment choices for types of thyroid disorders. it's crucial to recognize multiple signs to identify thyroid dysfunction. Different management plans are introduced. Additionally, it explores the challenges and debates surrounding the management of these disorders, such as the screening strategies to adopt the potential use of new biomarkers for diagnosis purposes, the benefits of combination therapy, and how to manage cases with mild or borderline thyroid dysfunction. To sum up, this review offers insights for healthcare professionals to enhance the level of care for patients who have been diagnosed with thyroid disorders.

Impact of orthodontic treatment on speech and phonetics: a review

Orthodontic devices, including both fixed and removable devices, have the potential to impact dental anatomy, the space within the oral cavity, the displacement of the tongue, and the production of speech. The usage of fixed labial appliances may cause transient or persistent speech and phonetics changes, particularly affecting sibilant and stopped sounds. Lingual fixed appliances, while providing aesthetic advantages, can lead to difficulties in maintaining oral hygiene, pain in the tongue, and speech disturbances. Orthodontic retainers, used post-treatment, can also affect speech and phonetics by altering the oral cavity space and tongue position. Other appliances like removable appliances, palatal expanders, and prosthetic dental appliances may also disrupt speech production. Objective, semi-objective, and subjective assessments are utilized to evaluate speech disruptions induced by orthodontic devices. Patients considering orthodontic aligners should be informed about potential temporary limitations in speech production, which can be managed by removing the device when necessary. The adaptation to orthodontic treatment may vary based on individual characteristics. Orthodontists should consider these effects and communicate them to patients. This review article explores the effect of orthodontic treatment on speech and phonetics.