Platelet-rich plasma for nonoperative management of degenerative meniscal tears: A systematic review.

Background: Meniscus tears are a common cause of knee pain encountered in orthopedics and sports medicine. There are numerous management strategies, from physical therapy and oral medications to surgery. Recent evidence is more favorable for conservative management, as operative treatment has limited clinical benefits and is associated with an accelerated progression toward osteoarthritis. Injections with orthobiologic therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), are emerging as an alternative therapeutic tool for degenerative tears. This study aims to evaluate the latest evidence regarding the efficacy of PRP injections for the nonoperative management of degenerative meniscal pathology. Data sources: Articles were obtained from Embase, PubMed, World of Science, Cochrane, and Galileo databases after searching "Platelet-rich plasma" AND "Meniscus." Inclusion criteria consisted of original, human studies evaluating the use of platelet-rich plasma for nonoperative management of meniscus tears. Main results: A total of 384 articles were screened, with ten studies selected for final inclusion. The pooled study population comprised 686 patients, with an average age ranging from 33 to 53 years, and a 38% female population. Three different injection approaches were utilized, categorized as intra-articular alone (IA), intra-meniscal alone (IM), or a combination of both. Most studies demonstrated improved pain and functionality by 3 months that persisted for at least one year. Within the IA and IM groups, the majority of patients were either radiographically stable (30-70%) or demonstrated interval healing (40-60%). Several studies within IM and combined treatment groups evaluated rates and time to arthroscopy, and found lower failure rates and greater arthroscopy-free survival time than control comparison groups. Conclusion: PRP appears to be a safe and efficacious treatment strategy for degenerative meniscal pathology. However, due to diverse periprocedural techniques, PRP injectate characteristics, and a lack of high-quality studies, additional trials are needed to provide greater a degree of confidence in PRP's clinical impact on patients with meniscus tears. Level of evidence: Systematic Review.

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.

Gray-Scale and Power Doppler Ultrasound Findings Predictive of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Severity.

BACKGROUND: The use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) is an attractive alternative to electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies, but its utility is binary with poor severity correlation. We hypothesize that increasing ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) and power Doppler measurement of intraneural vascularity may predict the extent of disease. METHODS: We identified 20 elbows from patients with a history of CuTS and 20 elbows in 10 asymptomatic controls. Electrodiagnosis was performed for symptomatic patients. Gray-scale ultrasound and power Doppler ultrasound were performed to measure CSA and intraneural vascularity in all participants. Functional measures, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System surveys were also completed. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation was found between CSA and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) decrease between elbow and forearm, which increased when BCTQ >2 was used as a screening criterion. Increased CSA also demonstrated a high positive predictive value (PPV) in predicting MNCV changes, but poor ability to predict axonal loss. In contrast, power Doppler ultrasound demonstrated 100% PPV and 94% negative predictive value (NPV) in predicting severe CuTS (defined as compound motor action potential [CMAP] amplitude <6 mV and electromyography [EMG] findings). CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional area is a sensitive method for identifying changes in MNCV and amplitude but does not stratify disease severity, as defined by diminished CMAP amplitude and/or evidence of denervation on EMG. The presence of increased intraneural vascularity is relatively sensitive but highly specific for axonal loss. The combination of nerve CSA, BCTQ screening, and power Doppler ultrasound may provide an alternative means for CuTS assessment.

Team Approach: Management of Brachial Plexus Injuries.

¼: Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are relatively rare but potentially devastating injuries with substantial functional, psychological, and economic consequences. ¼: Prompt referral (ideally within 6 weeks of injury) to a center with a team of experts experienced in the diagnosis and management of these injuries is helpful to achieving optimal outcomes. ¼: Preoperative and intraoperative decision-making to diagnose and plan reconstructive procedures is complex and must take into account a number of factors, including the time from injury, concomitant injuries, preservation of cervical nerve roots, and the availability of intraplexal and extraplexal donor nerves for nerve transfer. ¼: A team approach is essential to ensure accurate localization of the pathology before surgery and to maximize rehabilitation after surgery, necessitating close contact between the surgical team, physiatrists, radiologists, and therapists.

Prevalence of lateral epicondylosis in veteran manual wheelchair users participating in adaptive sports.

Objective: Determine the prevalence of lateral epicondylosis (LE) of the dominant elbow in manual wheelchair users based on ultrasound assessment and physical exam.Design: Prospective, cross-sectional.Setting: National Veteran Wheelchair Games 2018 and 2019 (event medical services).Participants: Manual wheelchair users who attended the National Veteran Wheelchair Games (n = 87).Interventions: Participants completed a questionnaire then underwent an ultrasound assessment and a physical exam of their dominant arm evaluating for common extensor tendinopathy (CET) or clinically LE.Main Outcome Measure: Prevalence of CET diagnosed by ultrasound criteria was compared with other diagnostic criteria with MaNemar test for paired binary data.Results: Forty-six percent (N = 40) of participants met diagnostic criteria for CET by ultrasound assessment and 17% (N = 15) of participants met criteria for LE based on physical exam. These values are dramatically higher than what has been reported in the able-bodied population where the prevalence is estimated to be <2%. Age and number of years of wheelchair use were significant predictors of ultrasound diagnosis of LE (P = 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.11) and (P = 0.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.09), respectively. Association analysis based on odds ratio and CI found no association between ultrasound findings suggestive of LE with regular adaptive sport participation greater than 1.5 h per week.Conclusion: Compared to able-bodied population, there is an increased prevalence of both CET and LE in manual wheelchair users based on either ultrasound assessment or physical exam. CET is associated with increased age and increased years using a manual wheelchair. There is no association between the diagnosis of LE and participation in adaptive sport.

Isolated Anterior Interosseous Neuropathy Affecting Only the Flexor Digitorum Profundus to the Index Finger After Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACT: Anterior interosseous nerve neuropathy is an uncommon neuropathy with multiple potential etiologies. We present a rare case of anterior interosseous nerve neuropathy affecting only the flexor digitorum profundus to the index finger and occurring after shoulder arthroscopy. This unique presentation used a combination of both electrodiagnostic testing and neuromuscular ultrasound to obtain an accurate diagnosis and highlights the importance of these complementary tests in the evaluation of nerve disorders. To our knowledge, anterior interosseous nerve neuropathy after shoulder arthroscopy affecting only the flexor digitorum profundus to the index finger has not been previously described in the literature.

Interpretation of Electrodiagnostic Studies: How to Apply It to the Practice of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Electrodiagnostic studies may help orthopaedic surgeons to identify and confirm nerve pathology, determine severity of disease, localize the lesion, identify concomitant or alternative pathology, and prognosticate potential outcomes with nonoperative or operative treatment. Surgeons should recognize the indications for electrodiagnostic studies, principles of their performance, and how to assess the primary data generated by the examination and how it can inform their treatment plans.

Head Motion Predicts Transient Loss of Consciousness in Human Head Trauma: A Case-Control Study of Mixed Martial Artists.

OBJECTIVE: Concussion with transient loss of consciousness is a commonly observed but poorly understood phenomenon with mounting clinical significance. This study aimed to examine the relationship between head motion in varying planes and transient loss of consciousness in athletes with brain injuries. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control design was used. The Ultimate Fighting Championship database was screened for events ending with knockouts from 2013 to 2016. Time of strike, striking implement, strike location, and head motion were recorded for all knockout strikes (cases) and for a subset of nonknockout strikes (controls). Characteristics of winners and losers were compared using two-tailed t tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios for strike characteristics associated with transient loss of consciousness. The Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to describe the temporal distribution of knockouts. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-six fights were identified and 110 videos were included. Head motion in the axial plane was strongly associated with transient loss of consciousness (odds ratio, 45.3; 95% confidence interval, 20.8-98.6). Other predictors of transient loss of consciousness were head motion in sagittal and coronal planes, nonfist striking implements, and strikes to the mandible or maxilla. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated a decreasing rate of knockouts through time. CONCLUSIONS: Rotational head acceleration, particularly in the axial plane, is strongly associated with transient loss of consciousness.

Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome presenting with symptoms in an ulnar nerve distribution: A prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients presenting with symptoms of pain/paresthesias primarily in an ulnar nerve distribution may be noted to have exclusive median mononeuropathy at the wrist on subsequent electrodiagnostic testing. There has been limited research looking at the prevalence of this clinical presentation. METHODS: A cohort of adults were surveyed to assess for severity and localization of hand symptoms using the Katz hand diagram and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptoms Severity Scale. Thirty volunteers met our case definition for ulnar neuropathy and underwent a standardized physical examination, electrodiagnostic testing, and nerve ultrasound. RESULTS: Eleven of 30 subjects (37%) were found to have exclusive median mononeuropathy at the wrist. DISCUSSION: Carpal tunnel syndrome should remain high on the differential for patients presenting with symptoms of pain/paresthesias primarily in an ulnar nerve distribution. Muscle Nerve 59:60-63, 2019.

Absence of the Pronator Quadratus Muscle Precluding Distal Nerve Transfer.

The branch of the anterior interosseous nerve to the pronator quadratus (PQ) is increasingly used as a donor nerve for end-to-end and reverse end-to-side nerve transfers. The anatomy of the PQ (and its nerve branch) is generally considered reliable in the absence of prior trauma. In this report, we describe a patient with an absent PQ despite intact clinical examination of other muscles supplied by the anterior interosseous nerve. The absence of the PQ precluded the use of its nerve as a donor nerve for transfer.

Persistent Hiccups After an Epidural Steroid Injection Successfully Treated With Baclofen: A Case Report.

Persistent hiccups are an established adverse reaction to epidural steroid injections. Although oral baclofen has been used to treat hiccups in various clinical settings, none of the previously reported studies that used baclofen were related to hiccups occurring after spinal injections/procedures. We report a case of a man who developed persistent hiccups after a transforaminal epidural steroid injection that was treated successfully with oral baclofen. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

Managing hip pain in the athlete.

Hip and groin pain is commonly experienced by athletes. The differential diagnosis should include both intra-articular and extra-articular sources for pain and dysfunction. A comprehensive history and physical examination can guide the evaluation of hip pain and the potential need for further diagnostics. Treatment of athletes with hip disorders includes education, addressing activities of daily living, pain-modulating medications or modalities, exercise and sports modification, and therapeutic exercise. Surgical techniques for prearthritic hip disorders are expanding and can offer appropriate patients a successful return to athletic endeavors when conservative measures are not effective.

Impact of contact isolation on FIM score change, FIM efficiency score, and length of stay in patients in acute inpatient rehabilitation facility.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of contact isolation on the change in functional independence measure (FIM) score, FIM efficiency score, and length of stay. DESIGN: Retrospective matched case control study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital (academic medical center). PARTICIPANTS: Persons admitted to an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility at a tertiary care hospital from July 2009 through December 2010. METHODS: Retrospective chart review by obtaining patient data regarding contact isolation status, patient demographics, and rehabilitation diagnosis. Two hundred charts were reviewed, which resulted in identification of 20 patients in contact isolation. These patients subsequently were matched to patients not in contact isolation based on age, rehabilitation diagnosis, and type of insurance. Admission and discharge FIM scores were obtained for these 40 study subjects (20 cases and 20 matched controls). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The primary study outcome measurements were change in FIM score (discharge FIM score minus admission FIM score), FIM efficiency score (change in FIM score divided by length of stay), and length of stay. RESULTS: Compared with patients not in contact isolation, patients in contact isolation showed no statistically significant difference in FIM score change, a lower FIM efficiency score (P = .010), and a 39% longer length of stay (P = .017) when adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies contact isolation as a likely variable that is associated with increased length of stay and decreased FIM efficiency score in patients in an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility. Further study is needed to identify the role or mechanisms by which contact isolation is involved in these adverse effects so that interventions may be developed to counteract them.