Implementation of ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release.

INTRODUCTION: Ultra-minimally invasive ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release is a surgical procedure for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome that is associated with less surgery-related morbidity and faster recovery than open surgery. The objectives of this study were to describe how the surgical technique may be acquired and to report the results obtained after implementation in a clinical setting. METHODS: The study consisted of two parts: 1) description of the surgical skills needed to perform the procedure, and 2) evaluation of the procedure in the first ten consecutively operated patients after 12-month follow-up using questionnaires and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: The procedure was performed on 29 cadaveric arms and assessed regarding surgical release success and signs of iatrogenic damage. Subsequently, the procedure was performed on ten patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The results of the six-item Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Scale (1-5) improved from 3.3 ± 0.9 (mean ± standard deviation) preoperatively to 1.2 ± 0.3, p = 0.002, after 12 months. Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) (0-100) results improved from 33.4 ± 14.8 to 2.3 ± 4.0, p = 0.002. There were no infections or iatrogenic damage to nerves or blood vessels. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a way to safely acquire the skills needed to perform the procedure and implement it in an out-patient setting. The results were comparable to previous findings regarding both effectiveness and safety. MRI documented the surgical gap in the transverse carpal ligament, release length, cross-sectional area changes in the carpal tunnel and median nerve, and reactive changes in the carpal tunnel. FUNDING: None. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not relevant.

An Isometric and Functionally Based 4-Stage Progressive Loading Program in Achilles Tendinopathy: A 12-Month Pilot Study.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, and its management remains challenging. Hypothesis/Purpose. By conducting a pilot study, we aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and clinical improvement of a new home-based 4-stage rehabilitation program with progressive loading including isometric exercises on a small scale prior to setting up a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Ten recreational athletes with chronic midportion AT were included. The primary outcome was change in VISA-A score after 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months. Secondary outcomes included tenderness on palpation of the tendon and ultrasonographic changes after 6 months. Results: Average VISA-A improvements of 26.9 points (P=0.004) and 35.4 points (P=0.006) were observed at 6- and 12-month follow-up, respectively. Tenderness on palpation of the tendon (0-10) was reduced from 5.5 to 2.5 (P < 0.001). Color Doppler ultrasound activity (0-4) was reduced by 50%, from an average of grade 2 to grade 1 (P=0.023). The hypoechoic cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon was reduced from an average of 29.1% to 8.5% (P=0.001). Tendon thickness showed no statistically significant change (P=0.415). Conclusion: Following the 4-stage rehabilitation program for AT based on isometric training and progressive loading, we observed improvement in both VISA-A score and ultrasonography in a group of athletes who had previously failed to benefit from standard AT rehabilitation. The study was feasible in terms of high adherence to the program and with no observed safety issues. The results of this pilot study support a further assessment of this specific approach for rehabilitation in a future randomized controlled trial.

Long-Term Prognosis of Plantar Fasciitis: A 5- to 15-Year Follow-up Study of 174 Patients With Ultrasound Examination.

BACKGROUND: Plantar fasciitis (PF) affects 7% to 10% of the population. The long-term prognosis is unknown. PURPOSE: Our study had 4 aims: (1) to assess the long-term prognosis of PF, (2) to evaluate whether baseline characteristics (sex, body mass index, age, smoking status, physical work, exercise-induced symptoms, bilateral heel pain, fascia thickness, and presence of a heel spur) could predict long-term outcomes, (3) to assess the long-term ultrasound (US) development in the fascia, and (4) to assess whether US-guided corticosteroid injections induce atrophy of the heel fat pad. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: From 2001 to 2011 (baseline), 269 patients were diagnosed with PF based on symptoms and US. At follow-up (2016), all patients were invited to an interview regarding their medical history and for clinical and US re-examinations. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to estimate the long-term prognosis, and a multiple Cox regression analysis was used for the prediction model. RESULTS: In all, 174 patients (91 women, 83 men) participated in the study. All were interviewed, and 137 underwent a US examination. The mean follow-up was 9.7 years from the onset of symptoms and 8.9 years from baseline. At follow-up, 54% of patients were asymptomatic (mean duration of symptoms, 725 days), and 46% still had symptoms. The risk of having PF was 80.5% after 1 year, 50.0% after 5 years, 45.6% after 10 years, and 44.0% after 15 years from the onset of symptoms. The risk was significantly greater for women (P < .01) and patients with bilateral pain (P < .01). Fascia thickness decreased significantly in both the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups (P < .01) from 6.9 mm and 6.7 mm, respectively, to 4.3 mm in both groups. Fascia thickness (P = .49) and presence of a heel spur (P = .88) at baseline had no impact on prognosis. At follow-up, fascia thickness and echogenicity had normalized in only 24% of the asymptomatic group. The mean fat pad thickness was 9.0 mm in patients who had received a US-guided corticosteroid injection and 9.4 mm in those who had not been given an injection (P = .66). CONCLUSION: The risk of having PF in this study was 45.6% at a mean 10 years after the onset of symptoms. The asymptomatic patients had PF for a mean 725 days. The prognosis was significantly worse for women and patients with bilateral pain. Fascia thickness decreased over time regardless of symptoms and had no impact on prognosis, and neither did the presence of a heel spur. Only 24% of asymptomatic patients had a normal fascia on US at long-term follow-up. A US-guided corticosteroid injection did not cause atrophy of the heel fat pad. Our observational study did not allow us to determine the efficacy of different treatment strategies.

Treatment of lateral epicondylitis with platelet-rich plasma, glucocorticoid, or saline: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a common musculoskeletal disorder for which an effective treatment strategy remains unknown. PURPOSE: To examine whether a single injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is more effective than placebo (saline) or glucocorticoid in reducing pain in adults with LE after 3 months. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with chronic LE were randomized (1:1:1) to receive either a blinded injection of PRP, saline, or glucocorticoid. The primary end point was a change in pain using the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire at 3 months. Secondary outcomes were ultrasonographic changes in tendon thickness and color Doppler activity. RESULTS: Pain reduction at 3 months (primary end point) was observed in all 3 groups, with no statistically significant difference between the groups; mean differences were the following: glucocorticoid versus saline: -3.8 (95% CI, -9.9 to 2.4); PRP versus saline: -2.7 (95% CI, -8.8 to 3.5); and glucocorticoid versus PRP: -1.1 (95% CI, -7.2 to 5.0). At 1 month, however, glucocorticoid reduced pain more effectively than did both saline and PRP; mean differences were the following: glucocorticoid versus saline: -8.1 (95% CI, -14.3 to -1.9); and glucocorticoid versus PRP: -9.3 (95% CI, -15.4 to -3.2). Among the secondary outcomes, at 3 months, glucocorticoid was more effective than PRP and saline in reducing color Doppler activity and tendon thickness. For color Doppler activity, mean differences were the following: glucocorticoid versus PRP: -2.6 (95% CI, -3.1 to -2.2); and glucocorticoid versus saline: -2.0 (95% CI, -2.5 to -1.6). For tendon thickness, mean differences were the following: glucocorticoid versus PRP: -0.5 (95% CI, -0.8 to -0.2); and glucocorticoid versus saline: -0.8 (95% CI, -1.2 to -0.5). CONCLUSION: Neither injection of PRP nor glucocorticoid was superior to saline with regard to pain reduction in LE at the primary end point at 3 months. However, injection of glucocorticoid had a short-term pain-reducing effect at 1 month in contrast to the other therapies. Injection of glucocorticoid in LE reduces both color Doppler activity and tendon thickness compared with PRP and saline.

Comparative effectiveness of injection therapies in lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Injection therapy with glucocorticoids has been used since the 1950s as a treatment strategy for lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). Lately, several novel injection therapies have become available. PURPOSE: To assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of injection therapies in patients with lateral epicondylitis. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials comparing different injection therapies for lateral epicondylitis were included provided they contained data for change in pain intensity (primary outcome). Trials were assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Network (random effects) meta-analysis was applied to combine direct and indirect evidence within and across trial data using the final end point reported in the trials, and results for the arm-based network analyses are reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs). RESULTS: Seventeen trials (1381 participants; 3 [18%] at low risk of bias) assessing injection with 8 different treatments-glucocorticoid (10 trials), botulinum toxin (4 trials), autologous blood (3 trials), platelet-rich plasma (2 trials), and polidocanol, glycosaminoglycan, prolotherapy, and hyaluronic acid (1 trial each)-were included. Pooled results (SMD [95% confidence interval]) showed that beyond 8 weeks, glucocorticoid injection was no more effective than placebo (-0.04 [-0.45 to 0.35]), but only 1 trial (which did not include a placebo arm) was at low risk of bias. Although botulinum toxin showed marginal benefit (-0.50 [-0.91 to -0.08]), it caused temporary paresis of finger extension, and all trials were at high risk of bias. Both autologous blood (-1.43 [-2.15 to -0.71]) and platelet-rich plasma (-1.13 [-1.77 to -0.49]) were also statistically superior to placebo, but only 1 trial was at low risk of bias. Prolotherapy (-2.71 [-4.60 to -0.82]) and hyaluronic acid (-5.58 [-6.35 to -4.82]) were both more efficacious than placebo, whereas polidocanol (0.39 [-0.42 to 1.20]) and glycosaminoglycan (-0.32 [-1.02 to 0.38]) showed no effect compared with placebo. The criteria for low risk of bias were only met by the prolotherapy and polidocanol trials. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found a paucity of evidence from unbiased trials on which to base treatment recommendations regarding injection therapies for lateral epicondylitis.