Platelet-Poor vs Platelet-Rich Plasma For The Treatment Of Acute Thigh Muscle Injuries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether patients treated with platelet-poor plasma (PPP) after an acute thigh muscle injury would have a faster return to activity compared to patients treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). DESIGN: This quasi-experimental study included 100 patients (ages 16-45) with an acute thigh muscle injury diagnosed by sports ultrasound and treated with either PRP or PPP followed by a course of structured rehabilitation. The primary outcome was the number of days until unrestricted participation in sport, while the secondary outcome was the rate of recurrent injury within 12 months. RESULT: The time until full, unrestricted participation in sport was significantly lower in the PPP group compared to the PRP group for all injury grades, with patients in the PPP group on average returning to unrestricted participation in sport 22.89 days more quickly than the PRP group (p < 0.001). Additionally, no significant difference in recurrent injury up to 12 months post-procedure was seen between groups (p = 0.967). CONCLUSIONS: PPP resulted in faster return to sport than PRP for acute thigh muscle injuries with a non-inferior injury recurrence rate. These findings suggest that future high level studies comparing PPP and PRP for the treatment of thigh muscle injuries should be considered.

Iliotibial Band Origin Tendinopathy Is an Underrecognized Cause of Anterolateral Hip Pain: A Narrative Review and Clinical Commentary.

ABSTRACT: Hip pain is a common concern among athletes. With gluteal tendinopathy, femoroacetabular impingement, and osteoarthritis predominating sports medicine and musculoskeletal practices, less common etiologies may be overlooked. Complex pelvic anatomy and variable pain referral patterns may make identifying an accurate diagnosis challenging. Employing a systematic approach to evaluation and having a thorough understanding of hip region anatomy are essential. A potentially overlooked cause of anterolateral hip pain is iliotibial band origin tendinopathy. Patients often present with pain around the anterolateral hip and tenderness to palpation at the anterolateral iliac crest. While patients with iliotibial band origin tendinopathy usually respond to nonsurgical intervention, there is little literature to guide evaluation and treatment, highlighting a gap in the recognition of this condition. The purpose of this narrative review is to describe the anatomy of the proximal iliotibial band origin, outline the clinical diagnosis and imaging findings of ITBOT, and summarize current treatment options.

Sonographic Appearance of the Ischiocondylar Origin of the Adductor Magnus.

The adductor magnus ischiocondylar origin (AM-IO) tendon has often been described as a third proximal hamstring tendon due to its common origin on the ischial tuberosity as well as similar function. Prior studies have described the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of the AM-IO; however, its appearance on ultrasound has not been well-detailed. The purpose of our study is to describe the sonographic appearance of the AM-IO and provide a structured scanning protocol for complete evaluation of the tendon.

The Role of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Meniscal Injuries.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review evaluates the current understanding of the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of meniscal disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Ultrasound (US) demonstrates similar sensitivity and specificity when compared to magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of meniscal injuries when compared to arthroscopy. Meniscal extrusion (ME) under US can be a reliable metric to evaluate for meniscal root tears in knees with and without osteoarthritis (OA). Sonographic ME is associated with development of OA in knees without OA. US following allograft meniscal transplant may be useful in predicting graft failure. US findings can be used to screen for discoid menisci and may demonstrate snapping of a type 3 discoid lateral meniscus. Shear wave elastography for meniscal injuries is in its infancy; however, increased meniscal stiffness may be seen with meniscal degeneration. Perimeniscal corticosteroid injections may provide short term relief from meniscal symptoms, and intrameniscal platelet-rich plasma injections appear to be safe and effective up to three years. Ultrasound-assisted meniscal surgery may increase the safety of all inside repairs near the lateral root and may assist in assessing meniscal reduction following root repair. Diagnostic US can demonstrate with high accuracy a variety of meniscal pathologies and can be considered a screening tool. Newer technologies such as shear wave elastography may allow us to evaluate characteristics of meniscal tissue that is not possible on conventional imaging. US-guided (USG) treatment of meniscal injuries is possible and may be preferable to surgery for the initial treatment of degenerative meniscal lesions. USG or US-assisted meniscal surgery is in its infancy.

Ultrasonic Fasciotomy for the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciopathy: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of an ultrasonic fasciotomy for plantar fasciopathy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary care academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with chronic plantar fasciopathy refractory to standard, conservative treatments were included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent ultrasonic fasciotomy of the plantar fascia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were change in visual analog scale at 12 and 52 weeks post-procedure compared with baseline as well as patients' self-reported satisfaction with the procedure. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included. There was a significant improvement in visual analog scale at all follow-up time points, with an average overall improvement of 5.87 ( P < 0.0001). 94% of patients reported satisfaction with the outcomes of their procedure at 12 and 52 weeks. No procedural complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that an ultrasonic fasciotomy is a safe and effective treatment option for chronic plantar fasciopathy, with continued symptom improvement and a high degree of patient satisfaction up to 52 weeks post-procedure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that an ultrasonic fasciotomy should be considered for patients with chronic plantar fasciopathy refractory to conservative treatments.

Asymptomatic sonographic abnormalities of the hindfoot region in Division I collegiate gymnasts.

BACKGROUND: The hindfoot region is commonly injured in gymnasts, and musculoskeletal ultrasound can be used to identify structural abnormalities in this region. Although prior studies have shown that sonographic abnormalities may not correlate with symptomatic pathology, the presence of asymptomatic sonographic abnormalities of the hindfoot in Division I collegiate gymnasts has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To identify and describe commonly seen asymptomatic sonographic abnormalities of the hindfoot region in Division I collegiate gymnasts. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary care academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: 39 Division I NCAA men's and women's collegiate gymnasts without current hindfoot pain or history of hindfoot injury. INTERVENTIONS: Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound of the hindfoot region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sonographic appearance of the hindfoot region, specifically the plantar fascia, plantar fad pad, and Achilles tendon. RESULTS: A total of 37 of 39 gymnasts included in the study were found to have at least one asymptomatic sonographic abnormality of the hindfoot region. A total of 28.2% of athletes were found to have sonographic abnormalities within the Achilles tendon, with Doppler flow being the most common finding, and 35.8% of athletes were found to have a Haglund's deformity. However, only 7% of athletes with a Haglund's deformity demonstrated abnormal sonographic findings within the tendon. Sonographic abnormalities of the plantar fascia and plantar fat pad were seen in 30.7% and 69.2% of athletes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic sonographic abnormalities of the hindfoot region are common in collegiate gymnasts. Clinicians should use clinical judgment when interpreting these findings as they may not represent symptomatic pathology.

Implementing a Sports Ultrasound Curriculum in Undergraduate Medical Education.

ABSTRACT: The utilization of sports ultrasound in the clinical practice of sports medicine physicians is growing rapidly. Simultaneously, ultrasound is being increasingly implemented as a teaching tool in undergraduate medical education. However, a sports ultrasound curriculum for medical students has not been previously described. In this article, we describe methods as well as barriers to implementing a sports ultrasound curriculum at the medical school level. Recommended content for the curriculum also is discussed. While educational goals and resources will vary among institutions, this article may serve as a general roadmap for the creation of a successful curriculum.

Image-Guided Foot and Ankle Injections.

Ultrasound is a high-resolution, real-time imaging modality that is frequently used for image-guided procedures. Due to the highly complex anatomy of the foot and ankle, ultrasound should be considered a first-line imaging modality for injections and procedures in this region.

The Future of Virtual Sports Ultrasound Education and Collaboration.

ABSTRACT: Sports ultrasound (US) is a rapidly advancing and expanding field, where "hands-on" education and real-time instructor feedback are paramount in developing this skill. In light of a global pandemic and limited access to instructors and educational conferences, sports US education must adapt to continue to teach future ultrasonographers. Virtual US education, conducted using various virtual meeting platforms not only allows for continued didactic education but also can virtually recreate the "hands-on" training sessions with live, immediate instructor feedback that is necessary for acquiring competence. Additionally, using these methods, sports US conferences can continue in a virtual manner, sports US education can expand remote areas, and collaboration among distant experts may increase, all without the cost of travel and extended time away from work. While immediately relevant because of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual US methods may continue to be beneficial as sports US education and collaboration continue to expand.

Local Anesthesia Prior to Ultrasound-Guided Hip Joint Injections: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Bacteriostatic Saline versus Buffered Lidocaine.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound (US)-guided hip joint injections are commonly performed for patients with suspected or known intra-articular hip pain. Lidocaine is a well-established local anesthetic used prior to hip joint injections, but it is often associated with discomfort during infiltration. Bacteriostatic saline is an alternative local anesthetic that has been shown to be less painful during infiltration for superficial injections. OBJECTIVE: To compare infiltrative pain and anesthetic efficacy of bacteriostatic saline (0.9% benzyl alcohol) with a standard local anesthetic (buffered 1% lidocaine) used for local anesthesia prior to US-guided intra-articular hip corticosteroid injections. DESIGN: Double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary care medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty eight patients age 18-80 (mean 54.8) years referred for US-guided intra-articular hip corticosteroid injections. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to receive a US-guided hip joint corticosteroid injection using either bacteriostatic saline or buffered 1% lidocaine for preinjection local anesthesia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain (0-100) during local anesthetic infiltration as well as during the intra-articular injection. Adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between bacteriostatic saline and buffered lidocaine with respect to pain during local anesthetic infiltration or during the subsequent intra-articular injection. Pain VAS during local anesthetic infiltration was 13.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.8, 18.5) in the bacteriostatic saline group and 14.0 (95% CI 9.4, 18.5) in the buffered 1% lidocaine group (P = .82). Furthermore, pain VAS during the intra-articular injection was 20.7 (95% CI 14.1, 27.3) in the bacteriostatic saline group and 15.7 (95% CI 10.9, 20.3) in the buffered 1% lidocaine group (P = .57). No adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteriostatic saline is a safe and comparably effective alternative to buffered 1% lidocaine for local anesthesia before US-guided hip joint injections and may be considered for subcutaneous/periarticular anesthesia during similar musculoskeletal procedures.

Sports Ultrasound Training During a Pandemic: Developing a "Hands-on" Skill Through Distance Learning.

"Hands-on" teaching is an important part of sports ultrasound (US) education in sports medicine fellowships. However, physical distancing requirements during a global pandemic have resulted in cancellation and/or postponement of "in-person" educational sessions, ultrasound conferences, and clinical diagnostic and interventional ultrasound cases that enhance ultrasound training. For "hands-on" sports ultrasound teaching to continue during these uncertain times, the educational model must be adapted. The use of virtual meeting platforms to display ultrasound images is possible, and this not only allows for instructor demonstration but also gives the instructor an opportunity to observe the learner scanning and provide direct feedback in real-time. Moving forward, virtual ultrasound teaching methods will likely continue to be of educational value, as they provide increased access to individualized instruction from skilled instructors and eliminate travel time and cost of conferences and instructional sessions.

Pharmacologic Treatment for Depression at Injury Is Associated With Fewer Clinician Visits for Persistent Symptoms After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Medical Record Review Study.

BACKGROUND: Depression and traumatic brain injury (TBI) substantially contribute to the U.S. health care burden. Depression is a known risk factor for prolonged recovery after TBI. However, the effect of depression treatment on health care utilization has yet to be studied. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether an association exists between pharmacologic treatment of depression at the time of mild or concussive TBI and the number of subsequent clinician visits for persistent injury-related symptoms. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. SETTING: Tertiary care medical center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 120 patients (mean age 45.6 years) with a history of depression who subsequently experienced a mild or concussive TBI were included. METHODS: Individuals were identified with co-occurring diagnoses of depression and mild or concussive TBI by retrospective electronic medical record review. The diagnosis of depression must have preceded the diagnosis of TBI. MAIN OUTCOME: The number of clinician visits for postinjury symptoms were counted at 3, 6, and 12 months postinjury. RESULTS: Clinician visits for persistent injury-related symptoms were significantly fewer at all 3 time points for the group treated for depression at time of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Depressed individuals who were pharmacologically treated for depression at the time of TBI had significantly fewer clinician visits for persistent postinjury symptoms than those not pharmacologically treated for depression at the time of injury. Routine depression screening in patients with a high risk for TBI may identify a mood disorder that could contribute to persistent symptoms if left untreated, with its effective management potentially reducing health-related costs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.