Intradiscal vacuum phenomenon matches lumbar spine degeneration patterns in an ageing population.

PURPOSE: Intra-Discal Vacuum phenomenon (IDVP) is well-recognised, yet poorly visualised and poorly understood radiological finding in disc degeneration, particularly with regard to its role in spinal alignment. CT analysis of the lumbar spine in an aging population aims to identify patterns associated with IDVP including lumbopelvic morphology and associated spinal diagnoses. METHODS: An analysis was performed of an over-60s population sample of 2020 unrelated abdominal CT scans, without acute spinal presentations. Spinal analysis included sagittal lumbopelvic reconstructions to assess for IDVP and pelvic incidence (PI). Subjects with degenerative pathologies, including previous vertebral fractures, auto-fusion, transitional vertebrae, and listhesis, were also selected out and analysed separately. RESULTS: The prevalence of lumbar spine IDVP was 50.3% (955/1898) and increased with age (125 exclusions). This increased in severity towards the lumbosacral junction (L1L2 8.3%, L2L3 10.9%, L3L4 11.5%, L4L5 23.9%, and L5S1 46.3%). A lower PI yielded a higher incidence of IDVP, particularly at L5S1 (p < 0.01). A total of 292 patients had IDVP with additional degenerative pathologies, which were more likely to occur at the level of isthmic spondylolisthesis, adjacent to a previous fracture or suprajacent to a lumbosacral transitional vertebra (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the prevalence and severity of IDVP in an aging population. Sagittal patterns that influence the pattern of IVDP, such as pelvic incidence and degenerative pathologies, provide novel insights into the function of aging spines.

Natural History of IntraDiscal Vacuum Phenomenon and its role in Advanced Disc Degeneration.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational serial CT analysis of the lumbar spine in a normal-aging population. OBJECTIVE: Assess the natural history of IntraDiscal Vacuum Phenomenon and its role in disc degeneration. Summary of Background Data: The natural history of disc degeneration is well described but our understanding of the end stage of pathogenesis remains incomplete. MRI loses accuracy with advanced degeneration, becoming hyporesonant and indistinct. Cadaveric specimens display adaptive changes in the disc with loss of the hydrostatic capacity of the nucleus, increased intra-discal clefts and end-plate impermeability. IDVP is associated with advanced disc degeneration and CT is the optimal modality to visualise this, yet these insights remain unreported. METHODS: Subjects only included historic CT abdomen scans of those over 60 years of age without acute or relevant spinal pathology, with a diagnosis of at least one level with IDVP on the original CT scan and all of whom had a similar scan >7 years later. A history of clinically significant back pain was also recorded. RESULTS: CT scans included 360 levels in 29 males and 31 females (mean 68.9 years), displaying 82 levels of IDVP, with a second scan included after a mean of 10.3 years, Most levels displayed the same level of severity (persisted, 45) compared to where some progressed (26), regressed (8) and fused (3) (P<0.01). There was also an increased incidence, 37/60 (62%) of developing IDVP at another level. Disc heights were reduced with increased severity of IDVP. A record of back pain was evident in 31/60 subjects, which was not significantly worse in those with worsening severity or additional level involvement over the study period. CONCLUSION: As disc degeneration advances, the associated IDVP persists in most cases, displaying a plateauing of severity over long periods, but rarely with progression to autofusion.

A Quantum-Enhanced Precision Medicine Application to Support Data-Driven Clinical Decisions for the Personalized Treatment of Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis: The Development and Preliminary Validation of precisionKNEE_QNN.

Background Quantum computing and quantum machine learning (QML) are promising experimental technologies that can improve precision medicine applications by reducing the computational complexity of algorithms driven by big, unstructured, real-world data. The clinical problem of knee osteoarthritis is that, although some novel therapies are safe and effective, the response is variable, and defining the characteristics of an individual who will respond remains a challenge. In this study, we tested a quantum neural network (QNN) application to support precision data-driven clinical decisions to select personalized treatments for advanced knee osteoarthritis. Methodology After obtaining patients' consent and Research Ethics Committee approval, we collected the clinicodemographic data before and after the treatment from 170 patients eligible for knee arthroplasty (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥3, Oxford Knee Score (OKS) ≤27, age ≥64 years, and idiopathic aetiology of arthritis) treated over a two-year period with a single injection of microfragmented fat. Gender classes were balanced (76 males and 94 females) to mitigate gender bias. A patient with an improvement ≥7 OKS was considered a responder. We trained our QNN classifier on a randomly selected training subset of 113 patients to classify responders from non-responders (73 responders and 40 non-responders) in pain and function at one year. Outliers were hidden from the training dataset but not from the validation set. Results We tested our QNN classifier on a randomly selected test subset of 57 patients (34 responders, 23 non-responders) including outliers. The no information rate was 0.59. Our application correctly classified 28 responders out of 34 and 6 non-responders out of 23 (sensitivity = 0.82, specificity = 0.26, F1 Statistic = 0.71). The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.11 and 0.68, respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio was 2. Conclusions Preliminary results on a small validation dataset showed that QML applied to data-driven clinical decisions for the personalized treatment of advanced knee osteoarthritis is a promising technology to reduce computational complexity and improve prognostic performance. Our results need further research validation with larger, real-world unstructured datasets, as well as clinical validation with an artificial intelligence clinical trial to test model efficacy, safety, clinical significance, and relevance at a public health level.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Augmentation of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Lowers Retear Rates and Improves Short-Term Postoperative Functional Outcome Scores: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review of meta-analyses of rotator cuff repair using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to identify whether PRP improves clinical function and rate of tendon retears. We will (1) conduct a systematic review of the current meta-analyses of rotator cuff repair using platelet-rich plasma available in the literature, (2) evaluate the quality of these meta-analyses using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) methodology, (3) identify whether PRP improves clinical function and rate of tendon retears, and develop guidance to improve future studies in this area. Methods: We carried out a systematic review of previous meta-analyses published on the clinical outcomes of PRP used in the treatment of rotator cuff tears. We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and Embase databases, using various combinations of the commercial names of each PRP preparation and "rotator cuff" (with its associated terms), looking specifically at human meta-analysis studies involving the repair of the rotator cuff tendon surgically in the English language. Data validity was assessed and collected on clinical outcomes. Following this, a meta-analysis was undertaken. Results: Thirteen meta-analyses met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All were considered of similar quality with Oxman-Guyatt index of 9 and PRISMA score of more than 24. A total of 1,800 patients with an average follow up of 12 to 36 months. The use of PRP for arthroscopic rotator cuff tear, when compared with controls, leads to a lower number of retears, improved short-term postoperative scores, and functional outcome. The following postoperative scores were reported: Constant: 12, Simple Shoulder Test: 10, ASES (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons): 9, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) 11, SANE (Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation) 1, VAS (visual analog scale): 6, and Retears: 13. Subgroup analysis showed that leukocyte content and gel application make no difference in the effectiveness of PRP. VAS score subgroup analysis showed short-term pain relief. Conclusions: Our study shows that PRP is effective in reducing retears after rotator cuff repair and improving functional outcome scores and reducing short-term pain. Level of Evidence: Level III, systematic review of Level I-III studies.

Comparison of the Effect of MFAT and MFAT + PRP on Treatment of Hip Osteoarthritis: An Observational, Intention-to-Treat Study at One Year.

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a major contributor to reduced quality of life and concomitant disability associated with lost working life months. Intra-articular injection of various biological materials has shown promise in alleviating symptoms and potentially slowing down the degenerative process. Here, we compared the effects of treatment of a cohort of 147 patients suffering from grade 1-4 hip OA; with either micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT), or a combination of MFAT with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). We found significant improvements in both the visual analogue score for pain (VAS) and Oxford hip score (OHS) that were similar for both treatments with over 60% having an improvement in the VAS score of 20 points or more. These results suggest a positive role for intra-articular injection of MFAT + PRP as a treatment for hip osteoarthritis which may be important particularly in low body mass index (BMI) patients where the difficulty in obtaining sufficient MFAT for treatment could be offset by using this combination of biologicals.

Comparison of the Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser and Halita Mouthwash on Oral Malodor in Patients With Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Periodontal disease and tongue coatings are among the major factors associated with oral malodor. The present study, comparatively evaluated the effects of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser and Halita mouthwash as adjunctive treatments to nonsurgical periodontal debridement on oral malodor reduction in chronic periodontitis patients. Methods: Sixty patients with stage II and III chronic periodontitis and bad breath. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=30). After conventional scaling and root planing, patients in group 1 underwent Er,Cr:YSGG laser (Waterlase; Biolase, San Clemente, CA, USA) irradiation of the internal surface of the pockets (1.5 W, 30 Hz, 20% A, 40% W) and the dorsum of the tongue (1 W, 30 Hz, 20% A, 40% W) immediately after SRP and on the third and seventh days. Group 2 patients were asked to use Halita mouthwash twice daily for one week. Baseline, 1 and 3-month post-treatment measurements of plaque index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and organoleptic assessment of Halitosis severity were performed. Results: Significant improvement in all parameters was noted in both groups after 1 and 3 months, compared with baseline (P < 0.05). The two groups had significant reductions which occurred in PPD, CAL and BOP levels and the organoleptic score in 1 and 3 months after the intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation and Halita mouthwash as adjuncts to non-surgical periodontal therapy are both effective in the treatment of oral malodor and improvement of periodontal parameters.

Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Injection (MFAT) May Be a Solution to the Rationing of Total Knee Replacement: A Prospective, Gender-Bias Mitigated, Reproducible Analysis at Two Years.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a significant cause of disability in a globally ageing population. Knee replacement surgery has been shown to improve function and quality of life. Access to this intervention can be limited for a number of reasons including rationing of care, lack of healthcare provision in austere environments, and more recently, due to the cessation of elective orthopaedic care as a result of the COVID pandemic. Referral for knee replacement surgery is often guided by the patient's Oxford Knee Score (OKS). Recent therapies including treatment with microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) have emerged as alternatives to relieve pain and improve function in such patients. METHOD: We identified all patients with KOA Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 and 4 in our dataset of patients treated with a single injection of MFAT and applied published OKS thresholds for referral for TKR to separate them into 3 cohorts according to their functional impairment. 220 patients (95 females, 125 males) with KOA were given one MFAT injection. The function (OKS) and quality of life (EuroQol-5) prior to and 24 months after therapy were compared. RESULTS: MFAT injection provided a statistically significant improvement in the quality of life (EQ-5D) at 24 months in patients with a baseline OKS of 39 or less (p value: <0.001) as well as those with OKS of 27 or less who are deemed suitable for a knee replacement (p value: <0.001). CONCLUSION: MFAT injection improves quality of life in patients with KOA who are deemed suitable for the knee replacement. MFAT is a low-morbidity alternative biological treatment and can delay the need for total knee replacement in suitable patients.

Gender-Specific Response in Pain and Function to Biologic Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Gender-Bias-Mitigated, Observational, Intention-to-Treat Study at Two Years.

Knee osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability worldwide. Newer modalities of treatment with less morbidity, such as intra-articular injection of microfragmented fat (MFAT), are showing promise. We report on our novel observation that women show a greater improvement in pain and function to MFAT than men. Traditionally, women have been underrepresented in studies and studies with both sexes regularly fail to analyze the results by sex. To mitigate for this bias and quantify it, we describe a technique using reproducible statistical analysis and replicable results with Open Access statistical software R to calculate the magnitude of this difference. Genetic, hormonal, environmental, and age factors play a role in our observed difference between the sexes. There is a need for further studies to identify the molecular basis for this difference and be able to utilize it to improve outcome for both women and men.

Patient-Centered Outcomes of Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Treatments of Knee Osteoarthritis: An Observational, Intention-to-Treat Study at Twelve Months.

INTRODUCTION: Microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) has been shown to benefit osteoarthritic patients by reducing pain and supporting tissue regeneration through a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-related paracrine mechanism. This observational study of 110 knees assessed patient-centered outcomes of pain, functionality, and quality of life, analyzing their variation at twelve months following one ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of autologous MFAT for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHOD: Inclusion criteria were as follows: VAS >50, and the presence of KOA as diagnosed on X-ray and MRI. Exclusion criteria included the following: recent injury (<3 months) of the symptomatic knee, intra-articular steroid injections performed within the last three months, and hyaluronic acid injections prior to this treatment. Changes in VAS, OKS, and EQ-5D were scored at baseline and twelve months following a single intra-articular injection of autologous MFAT. Score variation was analyzed utilizing a nonparametric paired samples Wilcoxon test. The statistical analysis is reproducible with Open Access statistical software R (version 4.0.0 or higher). The study was carried out with full patient consent, in a private practice setting. RESULTS: Median VAS (pain) improved from 70 (IQR 20) to 30 (IQR 58) (p < 0.001); median OKS (function) improved from 25 (IQR 11) to 33.5 (IQR 16) (p < 0.001); and median EQ-5D (quality of life) improved from 0.62 (IQR 0.41) to 0.69 (IQR 0.28) (p < 0.001). No adverse events were reported during the intraoperative, recovery, or postoperative periods. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with all grades of knee osteoarthritis who were treated with intra-articular injections of MFAT, statistically significant improvements in pain, function, and quality of life were reported. Although further research is warranted, the results are encouraging and suggest a positive role for intra-articular injection of MFAT as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

Effect of Erbium, Chromium-Doped: Yttrium, Scandium, Gallium, and Garnet and Erbium: Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser Etching on Enamel Demineralization and Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two types of laser irradiation (erbium, chromium-doped: yttrium, scandium, gallium, and garnet [Er,Cr:YSGG] and erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet [Er:YAG]) and acid etching on enamel demineralization and shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic bracketsastry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety premolars were selected, scaled, and polished with no fluoridated pumice, and metal brackets were bonded to them. Then, they were randomly allocated to three groups based on the etching procedure: phosphoric acid etching, Er:YAG (100 mJ, 10 Hz) laser etching, and Er,Cr:YSGG (600 mJ, 20 Hz) laser etching. Teeth to be evaluated for demineralization and SBS were exposed to pH and thermal cycling, respectively. For SBS test, a universal testing machine was used, and adhesive remnant was index scored after debonding. Microhardness of enamel was evaluated with Vickers test. Data were analyzed statistically (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The acid-etched group exhibited significantly higher SBS values compared to the laser groups (P < 0.05); however, the difference between the Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG laser groups was not significant. Microhardness mean values in descending order were as follows: Er,Cr:YSGG, Er:YAG, and acid etched. There were significant differences between the laser and control groups (P < 0.001); however, the difference between the two laser groups was not significant (P = 0.320). There were no significant differences between the three groups in adhesive remnant index scores. CONCLUSION: Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG laser etching resulted in clinically acceptable SBS; therefore, apart from its other advantages over acid etching, it can be a good appropriate alternative for bonding of orthodontic brackets.

Subscapularis pyomyositis: a rare presentation of shoulder pain.

We present a rare case of a subscapularis pyomyositis in a 38-year-old woman and examine the diagnostic and surgical challenges posed. History and examination features were similar to that of septic shoulder arthritis without overlying features of warmth or erythema. Serological markers revealed a C-reactive protein of 221 mg/L and white cell count of 11.1×109/L. A dry shoulder aspirate was obtained. Contrast-enhanced MRI demonstrated a peripheral rim-enhancing lesion within the subscapularis muscle belly with lack of central enhancement. These features are consistently seen with an infective aetiology. A deltopectoral approach to surgical drainage was utilised and subsequent fluid cultures grew Panton-Valentine Leukocidin positive Staphylococcus aureus species. This rare bacterium is associated with an increased risk of osteomyelitis and despite making a full recovery, the patient was advised to reattend if any future shoulder pain was encountered.

Long contoured locking plate fixation of traumatic proximal humeral fractures with distal extension.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data available with respect to outcome on long contoured locking plate fixation for proximal humerus fractures with distal fracture extension. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with traumatic proximal humerus fractures with distal extension underwent fixation with long contoured locking plates. Twenty-five patients (74%) were included in the study: one patient died, two patients had unrelated illnesses resulting in them being unable to complete follow-up assessment and six were lost to follow-up. Patients' case notes and radiographs were retrospectively reviewed, and patients were contacted to assess functional outcome using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and Stanmore Percentage of Normal Shoulder Assessment (SPONSA). RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 27 months (range 11 months to 60 months). Mean pain at final follow-up was 3.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.5 to 4.8] with only four patients having residual pain greater than 5 on the VAS scale. Mean DASH score was 41.2 (95% CI = 32.0 to 50.4), mean OSS was 29.1 (95% CI = 24.3 to 33.9) and mean SPONSA was 63.9% (95% CI = 50.8 to 77.2). There was one wound infection. Three patients had non-unions that required bone grafting and revision internal fixation. CONCLUSIONS: We feel long contoured locking plates represent a useful treatment option for complex proximal humerus fractures.

Assessment and treatment strategies for rotator cuff tears.

Tears of the rotator cuff are common and becoming an increasingly frequent problem. There is a vast amount of literature on the merits and limitations of the various methods of clinical and radiological assessment of rotator cuff tears. This is also the case with regard to treatment strategies. Certain popular beliefs and principles practiced widely and the basis upon which they are derived may be prone to inaccuracy. We provide an overview of the historical management of rotator cuff tears, as well as an explanation for how and why rotator cuff tears should be managed, and propose a structured methodology for their assessment and treatment.

Review article: Regenerative techniques for repair of rotator cuff tears.

The failure rate of rotator cuff repair is high. Regenerative techniques using material scaffolds, stem cells, and growth factors help augment repair and regenerate tissue. We reviewed the literature of various regenerative techniques in terms of (1) enhancing the repair process, (2) tissue regeneration, (3) mechanical strength, and (4) clinical outcome.

Validation of the Stanmore percentage of normal shoulder assessment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Stanmore Percentage of Normal Shoulder Assessment (SPONSA) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). The score assesses pain, range of movement, strength, stability and function of the shoulder. The aim of this work was to formally validate the SPONSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Validation of this score was carried out by measuring reproducibility, construct validity and sensitivity to change. Time to completion was also recorded. The Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and Constant Score (CS) were used for comparison. These assessments were performed with 61 individuals undergoing shoulder interventions. RESULTS: There was excellent preoperative reproducibility in both intra- and inter-observer groups. The SPONSA had a 0.79 correlation with the OSS and 0.78 with the CS. The overall effect size of the SPONSA was 0.72, which was comparable to OSS (0.65) and greater than CS (0.34), implying equal or better sensitivity to change. CONCLUSIONS: The SPONSA is practical and quick to perform and also a reproducible and a sensitive instrument. This simple PROM is a commendable addition to the existing validated scoring methods for the shoulder. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I; testing of previously developed diagnostic criteria on consecutive patients (with universally applied reference "gold" standard).

Exploring the application of stem cells in tendon repair and regeneration.

PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review of the current evidence for the effects of stem cells on tendon healing in preclinical studies and human studies. METHODS: A systematic search of the PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane, and Embase databases was performed for stem cells and tendons with their associated terminology. Data validity was assessed, and data were collected on the outcomes of trials. RESULTS: A total of 27 preclinical studies and 5 clinical studies met the inclusion criteria. Preclinical studies have shown that stem cells are able to survive and differentiate into tendon cells when placed into a new tendon environment, leading to regeneration and biomechanical benefit to the tendon. Studies have been reported showing that stem cell therapy can be enhanced by molecular signaling adjunct, mechanical stimulation of cells, and the use of augmentation delivery devices. Studies have also shown alternatives to the standard method of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Of the 5 human studies, only 1 was a randomized controlled trial, which showed that skin-derived tendon cells had a greater clinical benefit than autologous plasma. One cohort study showed the benefit of stem cells in rotator cuff tears and another in lateral epicondylitis. Two of the human studies showed how stem cells were successfully extracted from the humerus and, when tagged with insulin, became tendon cells. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence shows that stem cells can have a positive effect on tendon healing. This is most likely because stem cells have regeneration potential, producing tissue that is similar to the preinjury state, but the results can be variable. The use of adjuncts such as molecular signaling, mechanical stimulation, and augmentation devices can potentially enhance stem cell therapy. Initial clinical trials are promising, with adjuncts for stem cell therapy in development.

Muscle activation patterns in patients with recurrent shoulder instability.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to present muscle patterns observed with the direction of instability in a series of patients presenting with recurrent shoulder instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out on shoulder instability cases referred for fine wire dynamic electromyography (DEMG) studies at a specialist upper limb centre between 1981 and 2003. An experienced consultant clinical neurophysiologist performed dual needle insertion into four muscles (pectoralis major (PM), latissimus dorsi (LD), anterior deltoid (AD) and infraspinatus (IS)) in shoulders that were suspected to have increased or suppressed activation of muscles that could be contributing to the instability. Raw EMG signals were obtained while subjects performed simple uniplanar movements of the shoulder. The presence or absence of muscle activation was noted and compared to clinical diagnosis and direction of instability. RESULTS: A total of 140 (26.6%) shoulders were referred for fine wire EMG, and 131 studies were completed. Of the shoulders tested, 122 shoulders (93%) were identified as having abnormal patterns and nine had normal patterns. PM was found to be more active in 60% of shoulders presenting with anterior instability. LD was found to be more active in 81% of shoulders with anterior instability and 80% with posterior instability. AD was found to be more active in 22% of shoulders with anterior instability and 18% with posterior instability. IS was found to be inappropriately inactive in only 3% of shoulders with anterior instability but in 25% with posterior instability. Clinical assessment identified 93% of cases suspected to have muscle patterning, but the specificity of the clinical assessment was only correct in 11% of cases. CONCLUSION: The DEMG results suggest that increased activation of LD may play a role in both anterior and posterior shoulder instability; increased activation of PM may play a role in anterior instability.

Latissimus dorsi tendon transfers for rotator cuff deficiency.

PURPOSE: Latissimus dorsi tendon transfers are increasingly being used around the shoulder. We aim to assess any improvement in pain and function following a latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for massive, irreparable postero-superior cuff deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At our institution, between 1996 and 2009, 38 latissimus dorsi tendon transfer procedures were performed. Sixteen of these were for massive irreparable rotator cuff deficiency associated with pain and impaired function. All patients were evaluated by means of interview or postal questionnaire and case note review. Pain and function were assessed using the Stanmore percentage of normal shoulder assessment (SPONSA) score, visual analogue scale and Oxford Shoulder Score. Forward elevation was also assessed and a significant improvement was thought to correlate with the success of the procedure at stabilizing the humeral head upon elevation. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 70 months. There was a significant reduction in pain on the visual analogue scale from 6.4 to 3.4 (P < 0.05), an improved SPONSA score from 32.5 to 57.5 (P < 0.05), and an improved Oxford Shoulder Score from 40.75 to 29.6 (P < 0.05). Forward elevation improved from 40° preoperatively to 75° postoperatively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results add to the body of evidence that latissimus dorsi tendon transfers for irreparable postero-superior cuff deficiency in selected patients reduce pain and improve shoulder function in the medium term. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

Image intensifier-guided injection of corticosteroid and local anesthetic agent for the treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of plantar heel pain. The condition is potentially self-limiting and can respond to conservative treatment, but patients may opt for surgery if the treatments fail. Surgical intervention is associated with potential complications. This study set out to explore the efficacy of the specific nonsurgical intervention offered to treatment-resistant cases in a local clinical setting. The technique involves image intensifier-guided injection of corticosteroid and local anesthetic agents under general anesthesia. Nineteen patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis of over 12 months' duration received injections. A simple follow-up questionnaire was given to patients after the procedure that focused on their subjective opinion of any change in their pain. They were also asked if the injection had solved their problems with heel pain. The improvements that the patients reported were found to be statistically significant (P = .012).