The Effect of Diacutaneous Fibrolysis on Local and Widespread Hyperalgesia and Muscle Length in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Secondary Analysis of a Pretest-Posttest Clinical Trial.

CONTEXT: Localized and widespread hyperalgesia has been observed in patients with patellofemoral pain. Diacutaneous fibrolysis (DF) has shown to be effective in reducing pain in several musculoskeletal conditions including patellofemoral pain syndrome, but no studies have evaluated the effects of this technique in reducing localized and widespread hyperalgesia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of DF on the pressure pain threshold and muscle length tests in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. DESIGN: A single-group, pretest-posttest clinical trial. SETTING: University of Zaragoza. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six subjects with patellofemoral pain (20 males and 26 females: age 27.8 [6.9] y). INTERVENTION: Three sessions of DF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pressure pain threshold using a handheld pressure algometer (4 sites around the knee, on tibialis anterior muscle, and one remote site on the upper contralateral limb); muscle length test of the iliotibial band, rectus femoris, and hamstring muscles; and patient-perceived treatment effect score. RESULTS: The application of 3 sessions of DF significantly increased the pressure pain threshold in all sites at posttreatment evaluation (P < .001) and at a 1-week follow-up (P < .001). A significant increase in muscle length was also observed at the posttreatment evaluation (P < .001) and 1-week follow-up (P < .001). Ninety-seven percent of the patients reported subjective improvement at posttreatment and at 1-week follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study found that local and widespread hyperalgesia was significantly reduced after 3 sessions of diacutaneous fibrolysis and at the 1-week follow-up. A significant improvement on muscle length tests was also observed, with high clinical satisfaction among patients.

Dimensional changes of the carpal tunnel and the median nerve during manual mobilization of the carpal bones.

INTRODUCTION: The carpal tunnel is a clinically important fibro-osseous conduit for the median nerve and associated tendons. It is mechanically dynamic, such that the dimensions of the tunnel and median nerve change with position, movement and application of externally applied force with mechanical devices. Therapeutic manual techniques that appear to move and change tunnel shape are part of clinical practice. The aim of this study was therefore to measure changes in dimensions of the carpal tunnel and median nerve with manual mobilization of the carpal bones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analytical descriptive study with 18 volunteer subjects and a total of 33 records was designed. Ultrasound measurements of the cross-sectional area (CSA), anteroposterior diameter (APD), transverse diameter (TD), perimeter, flattening ratio and circularity of the carpal tunnel and of the median nerve, were measured, both in the anatomical position of the wrist and during mobilization techniques of the carpal bones. RESULTS: During the mobilization technique, the tunnel (p = 0.003) CSA significantly increased. APD also increased significantly for the tunnel (<0.001) while TD decreased. The median nerve showed similar and significant (p < 0.001) changes than the tunnel. However, because several of the obtained differences where smaller than the SDD obtained in a previous study, these differences were considered as irrelevant. CONCLUSIONS: Manual mobilization of the carpal bones produced significant changes in the dimensions of the carpal tunnel.

Reliability of measurement of the carpal tunnel and median nerve in asymptomatic subjects with ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Morphology of the carpal tunnel changes with varying wrist postures and compressive forces applied to the wrist. These changes may affect the morphology and pressure on the median nerve and could be used as part of the treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Reliability of the ultrasonographic measurements of the median nerve has been widely studied. However, there is a lack of investigation regarding reliability of ultrasonographic measurements of the carpal tunnel. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess intra-tester and inter-tester reliability of measurement of dimensions of the carpal tunnel and median nerve with ultrasound in asymptomatic volunteers. DESIGN: A cross-sectional methodological study. METHODS: Aspects measured were mediolateral and anteroposterior diameters, flattening ratio, circularity, perimeter and cross-section area of the carpal tunnel and median nerve. RESULTS: Intra-tester reliability was excellent for the carpal tunnel (ICCs from 0.91 to 0.97) and for the median nerve (ICCs from 0.79 to 0.94) measurements. The flattening ratio of the median nerve showed good agreement (ICC = 0.68). Inter-tester reliability was excellent for the carpal tunnel measurements (ICCs from 0.76 to 0.95) and, for the cross sectional area, the perimeter and mediolateral diameter of the median nerve, the ICC values were 0.89, 0.84 and 0.81, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the context of this study, ultrasound was a reliable instrument for measuring carpal tunnel and median nerve dimensions in asymptomatic subjects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b.

[Relationship between ultrasound measurements of the median nerve and electrophysiological severity in carpal tunnel syndrome]. / Relación entre las mediciones ecográfi cas del nervio mediano y la gravedad electrofi siológica en el syndrome del túnel carpiano.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasonography is a tool that has advanced a great deal in the diagnosis of neural compressive pathologies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In order to plan the treatment it is important to establish the severity of the pathology, which means that it would be important to know the capacity of ultrasonography to determine the extent to which the median nerve is compromised at this level. AIM: To investigate the correlation between ultrasound measurements and electrophysiological severity in patients with CTS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ultrasound measurements were performed with 59 subjects (97 wrists) who were referred to have an electroneurogram (ENG) due to suspected CTS. According to the ENG, the subjects were classified as healthy, mild, moderate or severe CTS. The relationship between the ultrasound measurements and the results of the ENG were later analysed in terms of their severity. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves were calculated for the optimal cut-off values in each group, taking into account their severity. RESULTS: Both ultrasound measurements showed a correlation with the severity of the CTS determined by ENG. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve in the wrist (CSA-W) showed the highest correlation (r = 0.613). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relation between the ultrasound measurements of the median nerve, especially in the CSA-W, and the severity of CTS in the clinical context. These measurements could be used as complementary data to diagnose CTS and to determine its severity.

TITLE: Relacion entre las mediciones ecograficas del nervio mediano y la gravedad electrofisiologica en el sindrome del tunel carpiano.Introduccion. La ecografia es una herramienta que ha experimentado un gran desarrollo en el diagnostico de patologias compresivas neurales, como el sindrome del tunel carpiano (STC). Para planificar el tratamiento es importante establecer la gravedad de la patologia, por lo que seria relevante conocer la capacidad de la ecografia para discriminar el grado de afectacion del nervio mediano a este nivel. Objetivo. Investigar la correlacion de las mediciones ecograficas con la gravedad electrofisiologica en pacientes con STC. Pacientes y metodos. Se realizaron mediciones ecograficas en 59 sujetos (97 muñecas) remitidos para recibir un electroneurograma (ENG) por sospecha de STC. Segun el ENG, los sujetos se clasificaron como sanos, STC leve, moderado o grave. Posteriormente, se analizo la relacion entre las mediciones ecograficas y los resultados del ENG segun su gravedad. Tambien se calcularon las curvas ROC (receiver operaing characteristic) para los valores de corte optimos en cada grupo atendiendo a su gravedad. Resultados. Ambas mediciones ecograficas mostraron correlacion con la gravedad del STC determinada por el ENG. El area de seccion transversal del nervio mediano en la muñeca (AST-M) mostro la mayor correlacion (r = 0,613). Conclusiones. Existe relacion entre las mediciones ecograficas del nervio mediano, especialmente en el AST-M, y la gravedad del STC en un contexto clinico. Dichas mediciones podrian ser complementarias para diagnosticar el STC y determinar su gravedad.

Relación entre las mediciones ecográficas del nervio mediano y la gravedad electrofisiológica en el síndrome del túnel carpiano / Relationship between ultrasound measurements of the median nerve and electrophysiological severity in carpal tunnel syndrome

Introducción. La ecografía es una herramienta que ha experimentado un gran desarrollo en el diagnóstico de patologías compresivas neurales, como el síndrome del túnel carpiano (STC). Para planificar el tratamiento es importante establecer la gravedad de la patología, por lo que sería relevante conocer la capacidad de la ecografía para discriminar el grado de afectación del nervio mediano a este nivel. Objetivo. Investigar la correlación de las mediciones ecográficas con la gravedad electrofisiológica en pacientes con STC. Pacientes y métodos. Se realizaron mediciones ecográficas en 59 sujetos (97 muñecas) remitidos para recibir un electroneurograma (ENG) por sospecha de STC. Según el ENG, los sujetos se clasificaron como sanos, STC leve, moderado o grave. Posteriormente, se analizó la relación entre las mediciones ecográficas y los resultados del ENG según su gravedad. También se calcularon las curvas ROC (receiver operating characteristic) para los valores de corte óptimos en cada grupo atendiendo a su gravedad. Resultados. Ambas mediciones ecográficas mostraron correlación con la gravedad del STC determinada por el ENG. El área de sección transversal del nervio mediano en la muñeca (AST-M) mostró la mayor correlación (r = 0,613). Conclusiones. Existe relación entre las mediciones ecográficas del nervio mediano, especialmente en el AST-M, y la gravedad del STC en un contexto clínico. Dichas mediciones podrían ser complementarias para diagnosticar el STC y determinar su gravedad (AU)

Introduction. Ultrasonography is a tool that has advanced a great deal in the diagnosis of neural compressive pathologies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In order to plan the treatment it is important to establish the severity of the pathology, which means that it would be important to know the capacity of ultrasonography to determine the extent to which the median nerve is compromised at this level. Aim. To investigate the correlation between ultrasound measurements and electrophysiological severity in patients with CTS. Patients and methods. Ultrasound measurements were performed with 59 subjects (97 wrists) who were referred to have an electroneurogram (ENG) due to suspected CTS. According to the ENG, the subjects were classified as healthy, mild, moderate or severe CTS. The relationship between the ultrasound measurements and the results of the ENG were later analysed in terms of their severity. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves were calculated for the optimal cutoff values in each group, taking into account their severity. Results. Both ultrasound measurements showed a correlation with the severity of the CTS determined by ENG. The crosssectional area of the median nerve in the wrist (CSA-W) showed the highest correlation (r = 0.613). Conclusions. There is a relation between the ultrasound measurements of the median nerve, especially in the CSA-W, and the severity of CTS in the clinical context. These measurements could be used as complementary data to diagnose CTS and to determine its severity (AU)

Validez diagnóstica de la ecografía en el síndrome del túnel carpiano / Diagnostic validity of ultrasonography in carpal tunnel syndrome

Introducción. La ecografía ha emergido como una herramienta diagnóstica alternativa de las neuropatías periféricas, como el síndrome del túnel carpiano (STC). Sin embargo, faltan datos sobre la validez diagnóstica de las diferentes mediciones ecográficas para la detección del STC en entornos clínicos. Objetivo. Hallar la validez diagnóstica de las mediciones ecográficas del área de sección transversal del nervio mediano en la muñeca (AST-M) y de la ratio del área del nervio mediano entre la muñeca y el antebrazo (R-MA) en el diagnóstico del STC, utilizando como técnica de referencia el electroneurograma (ENG). Pacientes y métodos. Se realizaron mediciones ecográficas en 59 sujetos (97 muñecas) referidos para someterse a un ENG por sospecha de STC. Los examinadores que realizaron la ecografía desconocían los resultados del ENG. Posteriormente, se calcularon los puntos de corte mediante curvas ROC para cada una de las mediciones (AST-M y R-MA) y se analizó su validez diagnóstica. Resultados. Con un punto de corte de 9,15 mm2, la medición AST-M obtuvo una sensibilidad del 75,81%, una especificidad del 74,29%, una ratio de probabilidad positiva de 2,95 y una ratio de probabilidad negativa de 0,33. Para la medición R-MA y un punto de corte de 1,56, los valores de sensibilidad, especificidad y ratios de probabilidad positiva y negativa fueron 70,97%, 71,43%, 2,48 y 0,4, respectivamente. Conclusión. Tanto el AST-M como la R-MA parecen ser medidas útiles en el diagnóstico del STC tomando como prueba de referencia el ENG (AU)

Introduction. Ultrasonography has emerged as an alternative tool for diagnosing peripheral neuropathies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Yet, data are still lacking as regards the diagnostic validity of the different ultrasonography measurements for detecting CTS in clinical settings. Aims. To determine the diagnostic validity of ultrasound measurements of the cross-sectional area of the median nerve in the wrist (CSA-M) and of the ratio of the area of the median nerve between the wrist and the forearm (R-WF) in the diagnosis of CTS, using electroneuromyography (ENG) as the reference technique. Patients and methods. Ultrasound measurements were performed on 59 subjects (100 wrists) who were referred to have an ENG due to suspected CTS. The examiners that performed the ultrasonography scan did not know the results of the ENG. The cut-off points were later calculated by means of ROC curves for each of the measurements (CSA-M and R-WF) and their diagnostic validity was analysed. Results. With a cut-off point of 9.15 mm2, CSA-M measurement obtained a sensitivity of 75.81%, a specificity of 74.29%, a positive likelihood ratio of 2.95 and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.33. For the R-WF measurement and a cut-off point of 1.56, the values for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 70.97%, 71.43%, 2.48 and 0.4, respectively. Conclusions. Both the CSA-M and R-WF appear to be useful measures in the diagnosis of CTS, taking the ENG as a reference test (AU)

[Diagnostic validity of ultrasonography in carpal tunnel syndrome]. / Validez diagnostica de la ecografia en el sindrome del tunel carpiano.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasonography has emerged as an alternative tool for diagnosing peripheral neuropathies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Yet, data are still lacking as regards the diagnostic validity of the different ultrasonography measurements for detecting CTS in clinical settings. AIMS: To determine the diagnostic validity of ultrasound measurements of the cross-sectional area of the median nerve in the wrist (CSA-M) and of the ratio of the area of the median nerve between the wrist and the forearm (R-WF) in the diagnosis of CTS, using electroneuromyography (ENG) as the reference technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ultrasound measurements were performed on 59 subjects (100 wrists) who were referred to have an ENG due to suspected CTS. The examiners that performed the ultrasonography scan did not know the results of the ENG. The cut-off points were later calculated by means of ROC curves for each of the measurements (CSA-M and R-WF) and their diagnostic validity was analysed. RESULTS: With a cut-off point of 9.15 mm2, CSA-M measurement obtained a sensitivity of 75.81%, a specificity of 74.29%, a positive likelihood ratio of 2.95 and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.33. For the R-WF measurement and a cut-off point of 1.56, the values for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 70.97%, 71.43%, 2.48 and 0.4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both the CSA-M and R-WF appear to be useful measures in the diagnosis of CTS, taking the ENG as a reference test.

TITLE: Validez diagnostica de la ecografia en el sindrome del tunel carpiano.Introduccion. La ecografia ha emergido como una herramienta diagnostica alternativa de las neuropatias perifericas, como el sindrome del tunel carpiano (STC). Sin embargo, faltan datos sobre la validez diagnostica de las diferentes mediciones ecograficas para la deteccion del STC en entornos clinicos. Objetivo. Hallar la validez diagnostica de las mediciones ecograficas del area de seccion transversal del nervio mediano en la muñeca (AST-M) y de la ratio del area del nervio mediano entre la muñeca y el antebrazo (R-MA) en el diagnostico del STC, utilizando como tecnica de referencia el electroneurograma (ENG). Pacientes y metodos. Se realizaron mediciones ecograficas en 59 sujetos (97 muñecas) referidos para someterse a un ENG por sospecha de STC. Los examinadores que realizaron la ecografia desconocian los resultados del ENG. Posteriormente, se calcularon los puntos de corte mediante curvas ROC para cada una de las mediciones (AST-M y R-MA) y se analizo su validez diagnostica. Resultados. Con un punto de corte de 9,15 mm2, la medicion AST-M obtuvo una sensibilidad del 75,81%, una especificidad del 74,29%, una ratio de probabilidad positiva de 2,95 y una ratio de probabilidad negativa de 0,33. Para la medicion R-MA y un punto de corte de 1,56, los valores de sensibilidad, especificidad y ratios de probabilidad positiva y negativa fueron 70,97%, 71,43%, 2,48 y 0,4, respectivamente. Conclusion. Tanto el AST-M como la R-MA parecen ser medidas utiles en el diagnostico del STC tomando como prueba de referencia el ENG.