Musculoskeletal pain among Finnish orchestra musicians versus core workforce.

BACKGROUND: Professional musicians show a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, but information is limited about prevalence of pain compared to the general populations. AIMS: Our cross-sectional epidemiological study compared the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain between professional orchestra musicians and the working population in Finland. METHODS: Musicians with a permanent contract with all domestic professional symphony and philharmonic orchestras and a population sample of the workforce in Finland completed questionnaires including the same questions on musculoskeletal pain and on various other issues. Cross-sectional data from two population-based and two orchestra-musician studies were analysed by logistic regression model adjusting for confounding factors. RESULTS: In 2002, 345 musicians completed questionnaires (40% response rate), and in 2010, 195 (23%). The Health 2000 study sample comprised 5956 employed participants and in 2011, 5942. Musicians reported, in 2002 and in 2010, back pain during the past 30 days more often than did controls, 39% versus 27%, adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval, CI) 1.5 (1.2-1.9); shoulder pain, 21% versus 9%, 2.6 (1.9-2.5); elbow pain, 14% versus 5%, 2.9 (2.0-4.2); wrist pain 14% versus 7%, 2.2 (1.5-3.1); and finger pain 13% versus 9%, 2.8 (2.0-3.9). Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain increased with age in controls but not in musicians. CONCLUSIONS: Professional orchestra musicians reported more pain in the back and upper extremity than other working people. Future research should focus on explaining differences in the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders between musicians and the general population.

Initial Electromyography Fails to Predict Long-Term Outcome of Isolated Serratus Palsy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:: The course of isolated serratus palsy is difficult to predict, especially if, in initial electromyographic examination, long thoracic nerve function is totally absent. How initial electromyography correlates with long-term outcome of isolated serratus palsy is unknown. We evaluated initial electromyographic examinations of isolated serratus palsy patients and compared these to their long-term outcome. We hypothesized that long-term outcome after electromyographic examination-verified partial nerve injuries is better than that seen in cases of total nerve injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: We retrospectively reviewed 90 patients with isolated serratus palsy and with initial electromyographic examination treated by brace or observation only, by determining pain, range of motion, and degree of scapular winging after a mean follow-up of 17.8 years. RESULTS:: Initial electromyographic examination showed total denervation in 21 cases (22%), partial severe denervation in 30 (33%), and partial moderate or slight denervation in 39 (44%). Recovery of serratus muscle function occurred in 17/21 cases (81%) of total denervation and in 47/69 cases (68%) of partial denervation, p = 0.247. Mean flexion in total denervation recovered to 152° and in partial to 157°, p = 0.301, and abduction to 173° and 174°, p = 0.970. In total denervation, 60% of patients were pain-free, in partial, 48%, p = 0.338. The duration of scapular winging among those 42 who subjectively recovered averaged 15.1 months, in 13 patients with total denervation 15.9 months, and in 29 patients with partial denervation 14.7 months (p = 0.599). CONCLUSION:: Initial electromyographic examination does not predict clinical outcomes: ROM, pain, scapular winging and strength, but partial denervation may negatively predict subjective outcome.

Long-Term Natural Outcome (7-26 Years) of Lichtman Stage III Kienböck's Lunatomalacia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The natural history of Kienböck's disease is controversial. Only three papers report a pure natural history without treatment. We hypothesized that the natural course of Kienböck's disease may be better than reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined eight patients with Lichtman stage III Kienböck's disease without any treatment, evaluating clinical and radiological results (9 wrists; 7 men, mean age at onset of symptoms 34 years) over a period of 10-38 years (mean, 27.3 years) after symptom onset. RESULTS: Lichtman stage remained the same in five of nine wrists. The inner structure of the lunate improved in three, remained the same in three, and deteriorated in three wrists, and its shape improved in two, remained the same in four, and deteriorated in three wrists. Pain averaged visual analog scale 3.1 at rest, 3.4 during motion, 3.6 with slight, and 5.2 with heavy exertion. The range of motion improved at extension 19% and at flexion 14%, reaching 81% and 72% of that of the contralateral wrist, and grip strength reaching 93%. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand averaged 11.3, Optional Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand 18.0, and Mayo Clinic score 70.0. The radiographic course did not correlate with clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term natural history of Lichtman stage III Kienböck's disease is insufficiently good to suggest thoughtful observation alone as an option to treat it.

Optimal time for manipulation of frozen shoulder may be between 6 and 9 months.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Idiopathic frozen shoulder can be successfully treated conservatively. Manipulation under anesthesia, in randomized controlled studies, has proven to bring no additional benefit to other treatments. However, manipulation under anesthesia still is a used method mainly among patients with unbearable pain or too longstanding restriction of shoulder motion. Manipulation under anesthesia may lead to significant improvement in shoulder motion and function. However, the best timing for manipulation under anesthesia is still unclear. We therefore investigated whether timing of manipulation under anesthesia has influence on the results of manipulation under anesthesia, concerning range of motion, pain, and function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We followed 57 patients (65 shoulders; 31 in women) at 2-14 years after manipulation under anesthesia evaluating range of motion, pain, and function. Their mean age at manipulation under anesthesia was 54.0 years. A total of 10 patients had diabetes. The time between the onset of symptoms and manipulation averaged 8.8 months. We formed two groups, those mobilized between 6 and 9 months after the onset of symptoms (Group A, 25 shoulders), and the others (Group B, 40 shoulders). We recorded visual analog scale pain, range of motion, Simple Shoulder Test, and Constant-Murley scores. RESULTS: Patients manipulated between 6 and 9 months after the onset of symptoms had significantly better abduction and external rotation, less pain at rest and at night, and better Simple Shoulder Test than the others. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that timing has statistically significant influence on results of manipulation of the idiopathic frozen shoulder. The best time for manipulation under anesthesia, if non-operative treatment has failed to alleviate pain or limitation of shoulder motion is too cumbersome, might be between 6 and 9 months from the onset of the symptoms. However, the clinical importance of results can be questioned.

Postoperative stiff shoulder after open rotator cuff repair: a 3- to 20-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Stiffness after a rotator cuff tear is common. So is stiffness after an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. In the literature, however, postoperative restriction of passive range of motion after open rotator cuff repair in shoulders with free passive range of motion at surgery has seldom been recognized. We hypothesize that this postoperative stiffness is more frequent than recognized and slows the primary postoperative healing after a rotator cuff reconstruction. We wondered how common is postoperative restriction of both active and passive range of motion after open rotator cuff repair in shoulders with free passive preoperative range of motion, how it recovers, and whether this condition influences short- and long-term results of surgery. We also explored factors predicting postoperative shoulder stiffness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 103 postoperative stiff shoulders among 416 consecutive open rotator cuff repairs, evaluating incidence and duration of stiffness, short-term clinical results and long-term range of motion, pain relief, shoulder strength, and functional results 3-20 (mean 8.7) years after surgery in 56 patients. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative shoulder stiffness was 20%. It delayed primary postoperative healing by 3-6 months and resolved during a mean 6.3 months postoperatively. External rotation resolved first, corresponding to that of the controls at 3 months; flexion and abduction took less than 1 year after surgery. The mean summarized range of motion (flexion + abduction + external rotation) increased as high as 93% of the controls' range of motion by 6 months and 100% by 1 year. Flexion, abduction, and internal rotation improved to the level of the contralateral shoulders as did pain, strength, and function. Age at surgery and condition of the biceps tendon were related to postoperative stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative stiff shoulder after open rotator cuff repair is a common complication resolving in 6-12 months with good long-term results.

Long-term outcome (22-36 years) of silicone lunate arthroplasty for Kienbock's disease.

Silicone lunate arthroplasty for Kienböck's disease was abandoned several years ago due to severe silicone cyst formation. We identified 53 patients and retrospectively evaluated short-term radiological and clinical results, as well as long-term radiological outcome, pain relief, range of motion, strength, and functional results, a mean 27 years after surgery. The incidence of silicone cysts was 78%. Twelve implants were removed - three due to implant dislocation and nine due to silicone synovitis - and six wrist joints were fused. Pain on the visual analogue scale averaged 2.2 at rest and 5.4 during heavy exertion. Range of motion of those wrists not fused reached 65% of that of the contralateral wrist, and strength of all wrists reached 72%. Those few patients who developed no silicone cysts by 10 years post-operatively will not form cysts and will retain their satisfactory clinical, functional, and radiological result. These very long-term results confirm that silicone lunate arthroplasty should not be used for Kienböck's disease.

Long-term outcome (20 to 33 years) of radial shortening osteotomy for Kienböck's lunatomalacia.

Radial shortening osteotomy (RSO) as treatment for Kienböck's disease usually improves patient symptoms for several years. Four small series have also shown that the effect may last for decades, but only two studies have used a patient-based assessment. We examined 16 patients, with a mean age at operation of 32 years, evaluating clinical and radiological results at a mean 25 (range 20 to 33) years after surgery. Three patients had progressive lunate collapse, of whom one patient needed a silicone implant arthroplasty 2 years after RSO and one patient a wrist fusion 16 years after RSO. The time between onset of symptoms and osteotomy in the remaining 14 patients averaged 20 months. The mean VAS for pain was 0.9 at rest, 0.9 with unloaded motion, 1.7 with slight, and 3.0 with heavy exertion. Two patients had marked wrist pain. Compared with the contralateral wrist the mean range of motion was 88%, grip strength was 95%, and key pinch 107%. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score averaged 6.1, and the Mayo wrist score, 79.3. The Lichtman stage remained unchanged in 56% of patients. The inner structure of the lunate improved in all patients, and its shape remained unchanged in half of the cases. Radial shortening osteotomy provides decade-long improvement in 75% of patients and seems to be a reasonable treatment for symptomatic Kienböck's disease.

Elastofibroma scapulae.

The cases of five patients with subscapular elastofibroma are reported. The age of the patients ranged from 53 to 74 years (mean, 61.8 years). All patients had periscapular pain and discomfort. There were two men and three women. The symptoms had lasted from 2 to 5 years. The diagnosis was clinical in every case, based on a subscapular firm mass. Four patients were operated on; one woman had bilateral surgery. On gross examination, the lesions were firm, rubbery, and approximately 2 x 8 x 10 cm. All patients were symptom-free after surgical removal of the tumor. An elastofibroma cannot be detected clinically when the patient is standing in a normal position. When the patient stands with the arms slightly elevated forward and adducted so the tumor protrudes, a palpable and visible mass appears.

Iatrogenic serratus anterior paralysis. Long-term outcome in 26 patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment, extent of recovery, and residual disability in 26 iatrogenic cases of serratus paralysis. PATIENTS AND STUDY DESIGN: Seventeen cases of serratus anterior paralysis had occurred following a local invasive procedure along the course of the long thoracic nerve, including seven first-rib resections, four mastectomies with axillary dissection, two scalenotomies, two surgical treatments of spontaneous pneumothorax, and two infraclavicular plexus anesthesia. Eight cases of paralysis had occurred after general anesthesia for patients who had undergone surgery for diverse clinical reasons. One case of paralysis occurred after spinal anesthesia. The length of sick leave, treatment with a shoulder brace, amount of physical therapy, long-term symptoms, and residual disability were evaluated from the medical records and from the questionnaire sent to the patients on average 6 years (range, 2 to 11 years) after the onset of the paralysis. RESULTS: Despite comprehensive and lengthy treatment, all but one had residual symptoms, as well as limitations in the use of the affected limb. Twenty-one (81%) of the patients could not lift or pull heavy objects, 15 (58%) could not play sports, such as tennis or golf, and 14 (54%) found it impossible to work with hands above shoulder level. CONCLUSION: Serratus anterior paralysis, following anesthesia or local invasive procedures on the anterolateral aspect of the thorax, may cause considerable and long-term dysfunction of the shoulder girdle and affect the function of the whole upper limb.

Cardiovascular functional disorder and distress among patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

Cardiovascular functional stability of 11 women with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS; mean age 34.5) and nine female controls (mean age 35.1) was studied using an orthostatic test, a deep breathing test, Valsalva manoeuvre and hand-grip test. The heart rate at rest was significantly higher in TOS patients. The TOS group showed significant accentuation in T wave vacillation in the orthostatic test. The rise in diastolic blood pressure of the TOS group during a hand-grip test was significantly less than that of the control group. TOS patients experienced significantly more distress according to the modified somatic perception questionnaire (MSPQ) than the control group. Pain was correlated with the score of MSPQ, the resting heart rate and increase in diastolic blood pressure in a hand-grip test. The results suggest that TOS patients' symptoms often reflect a wider disturbance than merely anatomical compression in the thoracic outlet. It seems possible that sympathetic tone is higher in TOS patients than in controls. In addition to possible operative treatment, it may be necessary to provide psychological help, relaxation and endurance training.

Long-term results of primary scalenotomy in the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome.

A total of 107 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome were reviewed an average of 4.1 years (range 2-11 years) after primary scalenotomy. The sample included 86 women and 21 men, and the mean age at surgery was 41.9 years (range 16-59 years). The three most disturbing pre-operative symptoms were pain at rest (87%), numbness (66%) and lack of power (55%). The post-operative success rate diminished from 71% 1 month after operation to 63% at follow-up. The retirement frequency increased from 6% up to 33% during the follow-up time. It was highest among factory workers at 60%. Of the patients older than 45 years at surgery, 68% were retired at follow-up. The importance of careful selection for operation is emphasized, and also the need to consider vocational rehabilitation before resorting to surgical treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome. We recommend surgical treatment for this disabling disorder, especially for younger patients with clear evidence of thoracic outlet syndrome who are engaged in occupations demanding little repetitive work. The best results have occurred in this group.

Suprascapular nerve entrapment.

Fifty-four patients with suprascapular nerve entrapment were evaluated on an average of 5.6 years (range, 2-9 years) after surgical release. There were 32 males and 22 females. Supposed causative factor was exertion at work or vacation in 36 cases. Sixteen patients had an atrophy of the supraspinatus and 26 of the infraspinatus muscle. Conduction time to the supraspinatus muscle was 4.5 ms (range, 2.2-14.4 ms), and to the infraspinatus, 8.6 ms (range, 2.5-43.6 ms). The mean time from the onset of the symptoms to surgery was 2.8 years (range, three months to 14 years). The mean age at operation was 38.4 years (range, ten to 61 years). Two patients were operated on bilaterally within two and four years. All but two patients were operated on at the suprascapular notch. A new cranial approach is advocated. The most dramatic effect of the operation was prompt disappearance of the pain in 24 cases and marked diminishing in 15 cases (72%). At the follow-up evaluation, a moderate atrophy of the supraspinatus muscle was found only in one patient but that of the infraspinatus in 11 patients. There were ten poor long-term results, some of them presumably operated on after wrong diagnoses and some at a wrong region.