The effect of medium-tension bandage and stump stocking on residual limb maturation in earthquake survivors.

BACKGROUND: Residual limb maturation is a crucial stage in postamputation care. OBJECTIVE: It was aimed to examine the effect of medium tension bandages and stump stockings on postamputation stump maturation in patients who underwent lower extremity amputations. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective observational study, patients who were earthquake survivors and had undergone emergency amputation of their lower extremities were included. METHODS: Medium-tension elastic bandage or personalized stump stockings were used for stump maturation. Residual limb volume was measured once a week for 3 weeks. RESULTS: The study included 23 patients and 29 amputated limbs. Because of the larger stump volume of transfemoral amputations and the higher number of these patients in the stocking group ( p < 0.001), the stump volume differed across groups before and during the follow-up ( p < 0.001). There was no difference in mean volumetric measurement between the bandage and stocking groups over time ( p = 0.272). Although the group interaction was significant (p < 0.001), the group × time interaction was not ( p = 0.306). CONCLUSION: Medium-tension bandages and stump stockings had a similar effect on postamputation stump maturation in patients with lower extremity amputations. So, depending on the patient's and physician's preferences, both procedures can be used for stump maturation.

Comparison of the efficacy of oxygen-ozone and lidocaine injections in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: A randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: This study aims to compare effectiveness of oxygen-ozone injection versus lidocaine injection on the trigger point in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Patients and methods: Between April 2021 and December 2021, a total of 46 patients with MPS (8 males, 38 females; mean age: 44.7±10.4 years; range, 25 to 65 years) were included. The patients were randomized to either ozone injection (n=23) or lidocaine injection (n=23) groups. All injections were administered once a week for three consecutive weeks. The primary outcome measure was the pain severity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures were cervical lateral flexion range of motion (ROM), pain score (PS), and Neck Disability Index (NDI). The measurements were performed before the treatment, and at four and 12 weeks after treatment. Results: There was a significant effect of time for VAS, PS, and NDI scores in both groups. Compared to baseline versus Weeks 4 and 12, the VAS, PS, and NDI scores significantly decreased over time in both groups (p<0.001 for all). A significant group X time interaction was identified regarding the VAS scores. The mean difference in the VAS scores over time was significantly higher in the lidocaine group compared to the oxygen-ozone group (p=0.028). Conclusion: Oxygen-ozone and lidocaine injections of the trigger point can effectively improve pain and functional status. However, lidocaine injection appears to be superior in reducing pain compared to oxygen-ozone injection, but is not superior in improving function and PS.

Comparison of ultrasound-guided subacromial corticosteroid and ozone (O2-O3) injections in the treatment of chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: : The authors aimed to compare the effects of a one-time ultrasound (US)-guided subacromial corticosteroid injection and three-time ozone (O2-O3) injection in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy. Methods: : Participants were randomly assigned to the corticosteroid group (n = 22) or ozone group (n = 22). Injections in both groups were administered into subacromial bursa with an US-guided in-plane posterolateral approach. Primary outcome measure was the change in the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) score between baseline and 12-weeks post-injection. Secondary outcome measures included visual analog scale and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores. Assessments were recorded at baseline, and 4-weeks and 12-weeks post-injection. Results: : Forty participants completed this study. Based on repeated measurement analysis of variance, a significant effect of time was found for all outcome measures in both groups. Both the groups showed clinically significant improvements in shoulder pain, quality of life, and function. Baseline, 4-week post-injection, and 12-week post-injection WORC scores (mean ± standard deviation) were 57.91 ± 18.97, 39.10 ± 20.50 and 37.22 ± 27.31 in the corticosteroid group, respectively and 69.03 ± 15.89, 39.11 ± 24.36, and 32.26 ± 24.58 in the ozone group, respectively. However, no significant group × time interaction was identified regarding all outcome measures. Conclusions: : Three-time ozone injection was not superior to a one-time corticosteroid injection in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy. It might be as effective as corticosteroid injection at 4-weeks and 12-weeks post-injection in terms of relieving pain and improving quality of life and function.

The effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy in the treatment of post-stroke patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain: a prospective randomized controlled study.

To evaluate clinical and ultrasonographic efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) in patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) accompanied by partial thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT). The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients with HSP accompanied by PTRCT (n = 44) were randomly assigned to HILT and control groups. Both groups were treated with a multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation and a therapeutic exercise program to the affected shoulder supervised by physiotherapists. In addition, HILT group received 3 sessions of the intervention per week for 3 weeks. Primary outcome measure was visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain. Secondary outcome measures were range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Brunnstrom Recovery Stage (BRS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and ultrasonographic PTRCT size. Participants were assessed at pre- and post-treatment. A total of 41 patients completed the study. A statistically significant improvement was observed in VAS, ROM, FIM, SPADI, NHP, and PTRCT parameters in HILT group at post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (all P < 0.05). However, control group indicated significant improvement only in VAS, ROM, and SPADI parameters (all P < 0.05). When differences in clinical parameters at pre- and post-treatment assessment were compared between two groups, change in VAS, FIM, BRS, SPADI, NHP, and PTRCT in HILT group was significantly better than control group (all P < 0.05). HILT combined with therapeutic exercise seems to be clinically and ultrasonographically more effective in the treatment of patients with HSP accompanied by PTRCT than therapeutic exercise alone in the short term. Further studies are needed with long-term follow-up. CinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04669405.

The effect of EMG biofeedback on lower extremity functions in hemiplegic patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of electromyography biofeedback (EMG BF) therapy in the treatment of ankle dorsiflexion which complicates ambulation in patients who developed hemiplegia after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). A total of 40 patients attending the inpatient rehabilitation programme who developed hemiplegia after CVA were included in this randomized controlled study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the 20 patients included in the EMG BF group, a visual and auditory EMG BF therapy was applied to tibialis anterior muscles, the extensor of the ankle, 5 days a week for 3 weeks in addition to conventional physiotherapy. The other 20 patients in the control group were only treated with conventional physiotherapy applications. All patients were evaluated for spasticity, ankle range of movement (ROM) scores, the Modified Motor Assessment Scale (MMAS) scores, Brunnstrom's neurophysiological assessment and EMG BF electrical muscle activity before and after treatment. There were significant improvements in the posttreatment ROM, Brunnstrom and MMAS values in both groups, whereas the levels of significance were mostly higher in the EMG BF group than in the control group. In addition, there were no significant changes in spasticity and electrical activity of tibialis anterior muscles in the control group while the EMG BF group demonstrated significant changes. This study showed that the clinical and functional parameters were improved by the use of EMG BF therapy for lower extremities, in addition to conventional rehabilitation programs, in hemiplegic patients with walking difficulty due to insufficient ankle dorsiflexion.

Sonographic Predictors in Patients with Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the sonographic findings of soft tissues more comprehensively, to investigate the relationship between sonographic pathologies and clinical features, and to determine the predicted factors that may interfere with the most common sonographic findings in patients with hemplegic shoulder pain (HSP) . METHODS: Sixty-four consecutive stroke patients with HSP admitted to inpatient clinic were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical, and sonographic findings were recorded. Patients were assigned to poor or good motor function groups according to the Brunnstrom motor recovery (BMR) stages. RESULTS: There were abnormal sonographic findings in 63 patients (98.4%). A significant reverse correlation was found between the sonographic grading and functional independence measure (p=0.005) and a positive correlation with energy level (p=0.044). The main risk factors were age for acromioclavicular joint degeneration, BMR stage for glenohumeral joint subluxation, subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis for partial-thickness rotator cuff tear, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for long head of the biceps tenosynovitis. CONCLUSION: Age, motor recovery, subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis, and sleep quality were the strongest predictors of different sonographic findings in HSP patients. Functional capacity and energy level are negatively affected by an increased number of abnormal sonographic findings. Therefore, sonographic evaluation of shoulder soft tissue lesions eventually might provide a more constructive rehabilitation approach to achieve optimal outcomes, particularly in elderly patients with poor motor function and sleep quality.