Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Combined with Drug Therapy in Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome : A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a nonspecific pelvic pain in the absence of signs of infection or other obvious local pathology for at least three of the last 6 months. Evidence for treatment approach is limited. So the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) combined with pharmacotherapy in the treatment of CP/CPPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical  trial, 31 patients with CP/CPPS were investigated in two groups: the intervention group (n=16) was treated with a combination of an alpha-blocker, an anti-inflammatory agent, a muscle relaxant and a short course of antibiotic in combination with 4 sessions of focused ESWT (a protocol of 3000 impulses, 0.25 mJ/mm2  and 3 Hz of frequency). The control group (n=15) received the aforementioned pharmacotherapy with 4 sessions of sham-ESWT . Follow-up was performed 4 and 12 weeks following ESWT by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), International index of Erectile function (IIEF) 5, National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaires. Post void residual (PVR) urine and maximum flow rate (Qmax) were also assessed in both groups. RESULTS: The patients mean age was 43.7 ±12.6 years. In both groups, the mean scores of NIH-CPSI (total and sub-domains) and VAS showed statistically significant improvements after 4 and 12 weeks compared to the baseline (P < .001). In the intervention group, IPSS (mean difference: 4.25) and Qmax (mean difference: 2.22) were also significantly improved (P < .001).  There was a significant improvement in NIH-CPSI (mean difference: 1.1) and VAS scores (mean difference: 1.1) in the intervention group as compared to the control group (P < .01). Qmax, PVR and IIEF score were not statistically different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: ESWT in combination with pharmacotherapy could improve the treatment outcome in patients with CP/CPPS.

Electrodiagnostic Findings in 441 Patients with Ulnar Neuropathy - a Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: Ulnar neuropathy (UN) is the second most common focal neuropathy in the upper extremities. Electrodiagnostic studies (EDx), including nerve conduction study (NCS) and electromyography (EMG), are reliable tools for the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the medical records of patients diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy in a seven-year period and report our findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, documents of the patients whose ulnar nerve injury was confirmed through electrodiagnostic study in two departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation were collected and demographic data, subjective complaints of the patient, the cause, and electrodiagnostic findings were extracted from each patient's file. The following points were specifically evaluated in the electrodiagnostic records; type of injury, location, accompanying injuries, sensory nerve action potentials (SNAP) of the fifth finger, SNAP of dorsal ulnar cutaneous nerve (DUCN), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle, nerve conduction velocity (NCV) across elbow, patterns of muscle involvement, and the severity of insult. RESULTS: Out of 441 records, 305 (69.2%) were male and 68.1% were non-traumatic. Based on our clinical criteria, the intensity of the injury was mild in most cases. The elbow and forearm were the most involved regions in non-traumatic and traumatic cases respectively. Across elbow nerve conduction velocity showed decreased velocity in 71% of records. In non-traumatic cases, the most affected muscle was ADM (97%) and then FDI (85%). CONCLUSION: In focal entrapments such as ulnar neuropathy, electrodiagnostic findings are very helpful in assessing location, severity, and type of injury. If a consensus is achieved for the diagnosis of UN, even retrospective studies can become valuable sources for studying UN.

Efficacy of High-Power Laser in Alleviating Pain and Improving Function of Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: In this study, a single-blind and randomized controlled trial (RCT) for assessing the effectiveness of high-power (up to 12 W) laser therapy (HPLT) on patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) was carried out. Methods: Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups by generating random numbers with MATLAB 2014b software, where odd and even numbers were attributed to sham laser group (group A) and actual laser group (group B), respectively. Group B patients underwent HPLT with total dose of 300 J/session for 5 consecutive sessions separated by a 2-day interval. On the other hand, sham laser was applied to group A patients. Both groups had the same exercise therapy programs during the study period (3 months). The exercise therapy program included isometric knee exercise for 3 sets per day and 10 times in each set, with duration of 10 seconds per time and straight leg raise for 15 seconds 10 times a day. The group codes of patients were not revealed to subjects and data analyzer until completion of the study. Kujala, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaires were chosen as outcome measures. These questionnaires were completed at three points during the study; at the beginning of the study to obtain the pre-therapy conditions and one month and three months after the start of the study to evaluate post-therapy conditions. Results: Two main analyses were conducted: within-group and between-group analyses. Withingroup analyses indicated significant improvements in respect to all measurements where pretherapy and post-therapy comparisons were conducted in both groups (P < 0.05). On the other hand, between-group comparisons did not reveal any statistically significant functional difference between group A and group B regarding the evaluative criteria (P > 0.05) except for pain VAS (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that short-term HPLT accompanied by appropriate exercise regimen significantly decreased pain in patients with PFPS. But it was not recommended as an efficient modality in functional improvement. Also, it was observed that, in the short-term period of study, HPLT was a safe modality.

Does intra articular platelet rich plasma injection improve function, pain and quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee? A randomized clinical trial.

We designed a randomized clinical trial with control group, to investigate the effects of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on pain, stiffness, function and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomly divided in two groups. For both groups of participants, therapeutic exercise was prescribed. In the PRP group, two courses of leukocyte rich PRP (5.6 fold higher platelet concentration) with a 4-week interval was injected. For each participant, Western Ontario and McMaster University's Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and the SF-36 questionnaire (Farsi version) were filled at the baseline and 6 months after treatments. Thirty-one patients in the PRP group and 31 patients in the control group were studied. Mean changes of total WOMAC, physical component summery and mental component summery of Short Form-36 in PRP group showed better improvement than control group (P<0.05). This study showed that intra articular PRP knee injection combined with therapeutic exercise can be more effective in pain reduction and improvement of stiffness and quality of life, compared with therapeutic exercise alone.

The effect of polarized polychromatic noncoherent light (bioptron) therapy on patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: To study the effects of Polarized Polychromatic Noncoherent Light (Bioptron) therapy on patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized clinical trial. Forty four patients with mild or moderate CTS (confirmed by clinical and electrodiagnostic studies) were assigned randomly into two groups (intervention and control goups). At the beginning of the study, both groups received wrist splinting for 8 weeks. Bioptron light was applied for the intervention group (eight sessions, for 3/weeks). Bioptron was applied perpendicularly to the wrist from a 10 centimeter sdistance. Pain severity and electrodiagnostic measurements were compared from before to 8 weeks after initiating each treatment. RESULTS: Eight weeks after starting the treatments, the mean of pain severity based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores decreased significantly in both groups. Median Sensory Nerve Action Potential (SNAP) latency decreased significantly in both groups. However, other electrophysiological findings (median Compound Motor Action Potential (CMAP) latency and amplitude, also SNAP amplitude) did not change after the therapy in both groups. There was no meaningful difference between two groups regarding the changes in the pain severity. CONCLUSION: Bioptron with the above mentioned parameters led to therapeutic effects equal to splinting alone in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. However, applying Bioptron with different therapeutic protocols and light parameters other than used in this study, perhaps longer duration of therapy and long term assessment may reveal different results favoring Bioptron therapy.

Effects of acupuncture for initiation of labor: a double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate whether use of acupuncture could initiate labor at term and thus reduce post-term induction. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2011, a total of 80 women at 38 weeks of gestation or greater were randomized to acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups. Acupuncture points LI4, SP6 and BL67 were needled bilaterally. The primary outcome was initiation of labor. The time from acupuncture to delivery, mode of delivery, fetal and maternal outcome and Apgar scores were recorded. The trial is registered at irct.ir, number IRCT201111218151N1. RESULTS: Eighty women were randomized and 75 women completed the study procedure. Age, BMI, parity and gestational age were similar in both groups. Spontaneous labor was initiated in 94.7 % of acupuncture group and 89.2 % of sham acupuncture group (p = 0.430). There were no statistically significant difference between groups for time from enrollment to delivery (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: According to this study, it seems that acupuncture was not effective in labor initiation compared to sham acupuncture.

The pattern of muscle involvement in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of muscle involvement in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated all patients referred for upper limb electrodiagnostic study (EDX) during 2007-2011 and included. patients with clinical signs and symptoms of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. All patients had nerve conduction studies (NCS) for ulnar neuropathy. Needle electromyography (EMG) of four ulnar innervated muscles, flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), flexor digitrom profoundus (FDP), first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM)) was evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period 34 (23 males and 11 females) patients were diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and three of them had bilateral involvement. Muscle involvement by EMG was as follows: FDI: 91.9%, ADM: 91.3%, FCU: 64.9% and FDP: 56.8%. CONCLUSION: In this study, EMG abnormalities of nerve damage were presented more commonly in the FCU muscle than in the FDP in patients with ulnar nerve lesion at the elbow.

Prevalence of accessory deep peroneal nerve in referred patients to an electrodiagnostic medicine clinic.

BACKGROUND: Accessory Deep Peroneal Nerve (ADPN) is an anatomic variation that can potentially cause disturbance in electrodiagnostic studies. This anomaly could be detected by nerve conduction studies. There are no recent updates about prevalence of this anatomic variation. Electrodiagnostic medicine clinic is the best environment for detecting presence and prevalence of this nerve, so present study enrolled. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this cross sectional descriptive study that take place from March 2009 to July 2010, 230 cases comprising 460 legs referred for electrodiagnostic studies of upper limbs problems participated in the study. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and Nerve conduction Velocity (NCV) of Deep Peroneal Nerve (DPN) were measured by using EMG machine by stimulating DPN at knee, ankle and lateral malleolous areas accordingly, with recording from extensor digitorum brevis muscle. Results were analyzed and conclusion made. RESULTS: The study population included 120 females (52%) and 110 (47%) males with mean age of 42.1 ± 13.5 years. ADPN was detected in 28 patients (12%). Among them,10(17.9%) had bilateral ADPN and in remained 18 cases (82.1%) APN was unilateral. In 8 patients there was no recorded CMAP from EDB by proximal and distal stimulation implying EDB agenesis. Gender distribution was similar which means half of the cases (14 patients) belonged to each gender. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ADPN in this study was 12.2%, (17.9% bilateral and 82.1% unilateral).

Utility of flexor carpi radialis h-reflex in diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy.

PURPOSE: The sixth and seventh roots are among the most common roots involved in cervical radiculopathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of flexor carpi radialis H-reflex in patients with suspected C6 or C7 root lesion. METHODS: This study was performed on 42 controls and 38 patients with suspected C6 or C7 radiculopathy. All patients were evaluated by physical examination, electromyogram, nerve conduction study and flexor carpi radialis H-reflex (superficial technique), and cervical magnetic resonance imaging. Side-to-side difference >1 millisecond or ipsilateral absent H-responses is considered as an abnormal response. Results were analyzed with SPSS. RESULTS: Specificity and sensitivity of H-reflex are 86% and 50% in C6 radiculopathy and 86% and 75% in C7, respectively. In six (54.5%) patients without electromyogram finding, flexor carpi radialis H-response was ipsilaterally abnormal. The mean of H-latency in control group was 15.7 (+/-1) milliseconds, and mean of side-to-side H-latency difference in this group was 0.43 (+/-0.39) milliseconds. CONCLUSION: Flexor carpi radialis H-reflex can be a helpful additional technique to routine needle electromyogram in the diagnosis of root lesions. The probability of abnormal flexor carpi radialis H-reflex in C7 root lesion is higher than that of C6 root lesion; however, it was not statistically significant.