Radiofrequency ablation for shoulder pain: an updated systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment modality that has been increasingly used for the management of chronic shoulder pain. Serious conditions that can identified as the cause of chronic shoulder pain include rotator cuff disorders, adhesive capsulitis, osteoarthritis, glenohumeral instability, and acromioclavicular joint disorders. Treatment of chronic shoulder pain typically consists of physical therapy, oral and topical medications, intra-articular corticosteroid injections, and even surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the most recent primary and secondary outcomes of RFA for chronic shoulder pain. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using three different databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Database. The key concepts of "radiofrequency ablation" and "shoulder pain" were used. The search took place in June 2023, and it included articles from the past 20 years. RESULTS: Of the 396 articles found, 29 were included in the review. Most studies focused on reduction in pain scores, duration of relief, function, and patient satisfaction. In several studies, RFA was compared to conservative options such as physical therapy or corticosteroid injections. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, RFA shows positive outcomes in terms of the management of chronic shoulder pain. Therefore, RFA can serve as another treatment option for patients who fail conservative management or are not strong surgical candidates. Understanding the outcomes of RFA for chronic shoulder pain can provide patients and clinicians with evidence for the most appropriate treatment.

Giant periosteal aggressive epithelioid osteoblastoma: 21-year-old male presents case in the midshaft of his femur.

We report a rare case of giant periosteal osteoblastoma in the femur of a 21-year-old male. The patient presented with a painful, firm, non-tender mass in his left thigh. The pain was worse at night and was temporarily relieved with NSAIDS. He had no fevers, night sweats, or weight loss. The patient underwent preoperative radiological studies including plain radiographs, MRI, bone scan, and CT scan. An open biopsy was subsequently performed that was consistent with an aggressive, epithelioid osteoblastoma. Pathology demonstrated a neoplasm characterized by cohesive sheets of epithelioid osteoblasts, mixed with areas of conventional osteoblastoma displaying prominent osteoblastic rimming of woven bone trabeculae in a fibrovascular stroma. The patient subsequently underwent resection, cryosurgery, fixation, and bone grafting with cortical strut allografts. At final follow-up, 32 months postoperatively, there was no evidence of local recurrence. The patient had resumed all his normal activities. He could run without pain and had no restrictions with activities. The goal of this case report is to aid professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of highly uncommon aggressive osteoblastomas.

Retrospective Analysis of 20 Patients With Schwannomas: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics, Pain, and Outcomes Following Excision.

A Tinel's sign, a percussion-induced, painful sensation, has been reported as the most useful sign for diagnosing a schwannoma. On magnetic resonance imaging, schwannomas often exhibit a split fat sign and a target sign. The typical treatment for schwannomas is surgical excision; however, excision often results in high rates of neurological deficit. The authors retrospectively reviewed 20 patients who underwent excision of a schwannoma from 2007 to 2015. Twenty patients presented with a split fat sign and 12 patients presented with a Tinel's sign on magnetic resonance imaging. Only 3 patients presented with a target sign on magnetic resonance imaging. The operative approach involved removing the schwannoma, preserving the nearby nerve fascicles, and leaving the epineurium open. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 91 months (average, 29 months). At final follow-up, all patients were pain free. Nineteen patients had normal sensation and full function of their affected limb. One patient developed postoperative posterior interosseous nerve palsy. A Tinel's sign, preoperative pain, and a split fat sign on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging are the clinical symptoms most useful for diagnosing a schwannoma. Schwannomas can be safely removed via intracapsular surgical excision with minimal complications, yielding eradication of preoperative pain, normal sensation, and full function. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(6):e1036-e1043.].

What Are the Functional Results and Complications With Long Stem Hemiarthroplasty in Patients With Metastases to the Proximal Femur?

BACKGROUND: Traditional treatments for pathological fractures of the proximal femur resulting from metastatic bone disease include fixation with intramedullary nailing supplemented with polymethylmethacrylate, osteosynthesis with a plate-screw construct and polymethylmethacrylate, or endoprosthetic reconstruction. Despite the frequent practice of these treatments, treatment outcomes have not been rigorously compared. In addition, very few studies examine specific approaches to endoprosthetic reconstruction such as long stem hemiarthroplasty. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: This study examines survival, functional outcomes, and complications associated with long stem hemiarthroplasty in a small group of patients treated for impending and actual pathologic fractures of the proximal femur resulting from metastatic bone disease. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2015, 21 patients were treated with long stem cemented hemiarthroplasty in 22 limbs. During that time, indications for this approach included lesions from metastases, myeloma, or lymphoma involving the proximal femur that resulted in an impending or actual pathological fracture. An impending fracture was classified as a painful lesion with at least 50% cortical erosion. During the study period, six patients with proximal femoral metastases not deemed to meet these indications were treated with other surgical approaches such as intramedullary nailing supplemented with polymethylmethacrylate and osteosynthesis with a plate-screw construct and polymethylmethacrylate. Mortality was tracked through medical records and phone calls to the patients and their families. Followup for the entire group of patients (n = 22) ranged from 1 to 27 months with a mean duration of 11 months. For patients with at least 1 year of followup (n = 11), the mean duration was 18 months (range, 12-27 months) and for patients with less than 1 year of followup (n = 11), the mean duration was 3 months (range, 1-11 months). Functional outcomes were evaluated according to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scoring system for lower extremities, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Scale of Performance Status, and the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) Index. Scores and complications were determined by direct patient examination, retrospective chart review, review of a longitudinally maintained institutional database, and followup phone calls. RESULTS: Ten patients died of disease within the followup period. Before surgery, the median total MSTS score for the entire group of patients (n = 22) was 4.5 (range, 0-23), the median ECOG score was 3.5 (range, 1-4), and the median KPS score was 40 (range, 30-70). Postoperatively, the median total MSTS score (measured at most recent followup) for the entire group of patients was 21 (range, 5-30), the median ECOG score was 2 (range, 0-3, 68% ≤ 2), and the median KPS score was 60 (range, 40-100). For the 11 patients with at least 1 year of followup, the median total MSTS score (measured at most recent followup) was 27 (range, 21-30), the median ECOG score was 1 (range, 0-2, 100% ≤ 2), and the median KPS score was 80 (range, 60-100). For the remaining 11 patients with less than 1 year of followup, the median total MSTS score (measured at most recent followup) was 11 (range, 5-25), the median ECOG score was 3 (range, 1-3, 36% ≤ 2), and the median KPS score was 40 (range, 40-80). Complications included one periprosthetic fracture resulting from a fall, three cases of radiation-induced edema, and two cases of sciatica that developed unrelated to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Long stem cemented hemiarthroplasty results in fair levels of function in a complex population of patients whose prognosis is sometimes measured only in months and who otherwise might be disabled by their metastatic lesions. Comparative trials applying consistent indications and inclusion criteria should be performed between this approach and fixation with intramedullary nailing supplemented with polymethylmethacrylate as well as osteosynthesis with a plate-screw construct and polymethylmethacrylate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.