[Validity and reliability of DASH questionnaire in women who suffer from lymphedema as a side effect of a breast cancer treatment]. / Validez y fiabilidad del cuestionario DASH en mujeres con linfedema secundario a tratamiento de cáncer de mama.

INTRODUCTION: DASH questionnaire was designed to assess upper limb function in musculoskeletal pathologies. The aim of this manuscript is to study the reliability and validity of this questionnaire, to determine if is adequate to use in women with lymphedema due to breast cancer treatment. METHODS: Prospective study in 65 women with lymphedema due to breast cancer treatment was done, in which the reliability of DASH score with internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reproducibility 15 days' interval (interclass correlation coefficient) and validity by correlation with SF-36v2 and FACT-B+4 (r or Kendall's τ b) scores was investigated. RESULTS: The internal consistency and the test-retest were Cronbach's alpha 0.969 and interclass correlation coefficient 0.861, respectively. There was correlation between the DASH score with the SF-36v2 score, mainly in the areas of physical function, body pain and physical role (r 0.800, 0.738, and 0.682, respectively; p<0.001), and lowest with the emotional and social wellbeing. The DASH score had correlation with FACT-B+4 (0.836; p<0.001) and the subscales the upper limb score (r=0.816; p<0.001), and there was no correlation with the social/familiar subscale (r=0.193; p=0.216). CONCLUSION: The DASH questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool to assess upper limb functionality in Spanish women with breast cancer related lymphedema.

[Involuntary movements of the stump after transtibial amputation: Jumping stump syndrome]. / Movimientos involuntarios del muñón tras una amputación transtibial: síndrome del muñón saltarín.

45-year-old woman with history of hallux valgus surgery and torpid evolution, which led to transtibial amputation. Six months after surgery, she began to experience involuntary movements of the stump such as myoclonus, that were triggered by touch or hip extension, associating worsening of the previous stump and phantom limb pain. During the following year, concurring with change of prosthesis, symptoms progressively worsened, which limited walking. The therapeutic approach to pain and myoclonus was initially pharmacological, without response. Given the clinical and ultrasound suspicion of neuroma in the external popliteal sciatic nerve, it was infiltrated with corticosteroid and anesthetic, and the gastrocnemius with botulinum toxin type A, without success. Finally, the myoclonus disappeared, and the pain decreased after surgical remodeling of the stump and resection of the neuroma. This clinical picture is known as jumping stump syndrome and is a rare complication that must be considered after amputation.

[Strength training education for physicians increases its prescription]. / La formación en entrenamiento de fuerza dirigida a médicos aumenta su prescripción.

INTRODUCTION: Medical prescriptions have traditionally been focused on aerobic exercise. However, an increasing number of authors are pointing towards strength training as the healthiest exercise modality. The purpose of this study is to assess whether physicians increase their knowledge as well as their confidence to prescribe strength training after attending a physical training course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 160 physicians was conducted, 80 physicians out of the 160 attended a physical training course, whereas the remaining 80 physicians did not. Personal and professional data was collected, as well as data regarding the type of exercise they were practising or prescribing and the confidence and knowledge for their prescription. Finally, differences between the two groups and the impact of attending the course where analysed. RESULTS: Both groups were homogeneous in gender, age, medical speciality and practice of physical exercise, with very low rates of strength training and prescription for both groups. It was established that the group attending the course acquired knowledge and confidence for prescribing strength training. Moreover, this group considered that strength training was the exercise modality which should be encouraged (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Education in strength training for physicians by means of a theoretical-practical course increases knowledge and confidence for its prescription.

[Syndrome of the trephined]. / Síndrome del trefinado.

Syndrome of the trephined (SoT) is the neurological deterioration that occurs after the performance of decompressive craniectomy in which bone is not replaced. The incidence of SoT varies, but this entity seems to be underdiagnosed. It is characterized by symptom reversal after bone replacement, which is the only definitive treatment. We report the case of a patient assessed by the Rehabilitation Service in the Critical Care Unit after a stroke, who had altered level of consciousness and abrupt motor impairment. The patient was diagnosed with SoT. Rehabilitation, with early postural changes, helped to ameliorate the symptoms until the provision of definitive treatment.

[Axillary web syndrome following breast cancer surgery. Rare variant with subcutaneous nodules]. / Síndrome axillary web tras cirugía de cáncer de mama. Variante rara con nódulos subcutáneos.

We describe the case of a 49-year-old woman who, after surgical treatment of breast cancer, developed axillary web syndrome (AWS) followed, 3 weeks later, by the appearance of soft and painless subcutaneous nodules along the cords and close to the flexure of the elbow. After tests (soft tissue and Doppler ultrasound), a dermal/subcutaneous or neoplastic cause was ruled out, although a cephalic and ulnar venous thrombosis was revealed. Anticoagulant medication was prescribed, with disappearance of the nodules 3-4 weeks later and improvement of AWS. The symptoms, clinical course, diagnostic tests, as well as the published evidence, helped to establish a diagnosis of AWS with subcutaneous nodules. AWS is an early complication after axillary surgery, which is well known among breast cancer professionals and whose diagnosis is based on clinical presentation. Its association with subcutaneous nodules is one of its rare variants and requires compulsory complementary studies to exclude other causes. Like AWS, nodules are believed to be due to lymphatic vessel thrombosis.

[Fighting against COVID-19: clinical activities of spanish rehabilitation physicians: A cross-sectional study]. / Luchando contra la COVID-19: labor asistencial de los médicos rehabilitadores españoles. Estudio transversal.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse both the impact of the pandemic and clinical and teaching organisation in Spanish Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A survey was conducted of the tutors of rehabilitation departments. The questionnaire contained 31 questions divided into 6 parts about the following: general information on the department, adaptation of rehabilitation departments to the COVID pandemic, clinical work of rehabilitation physicians, the approach to rehabilitation in COVID patients, and the effects of the pandemic on the health and teaching activity of rehabilitation physicians during this period. RESULTS: A total of 54 responses were obtained. Almost half of the departments cancelled face-to-face medical consultations (40%) and 48% of the treatment rooms were turned into COVID beds. In 30 hospitals (55.6%), the physicians worked in COVID units. Most of the rehabilitation departments developed both graphic and audiovisual material with exercises, referral protocols and guidelines for the rehabilitation management and treatment of COVID 19 patients. Half of the departments reported some anxiety symptoms in medical staff. Tutorial work has been cancelled (40.7%) or reduced (35.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The organisation of Spanish rehabilitation departments in response to the COVID pandemic has been very similar throughout the country. The response of these departments to the healthcare crisis has revealed the versatility of rehabilitation physicians.

[Idiopathic axillary web syndrome]. / Síndrome axillary web idiopático.

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman who developed a cord of subcutaneous tissue extending from the axilla into the medial arm, accompanied by axillary neuropathic pain, with no history of surgery or infection. The patient was instructed in home exercises, and the condition progressively improved. Four months later, a small cord was visible on abduction with mild axillary dysesthesia, which was less severe than at onset. Diagnosis of exclusion was idiopathic axillary web syndrome (AWS). This syndrome is widely recognized after surgical axillary lymph node removal to treat breast cancer, but the etiopathogenesis is still unknown. Published reports of AWS with no history of surgery are rare, but a few reports have described this entity after infection or intense exercise. There are currently no previous reports of idiopathic AWS. The anatomical and clinical presentation, and clinical course of AWS without prior surgery, are similar to those of postoperative AWS.

[Lipoedema: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. A literature review]. / Lipedema: clínica, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Revisión de la literatura.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoedema is a chronic disorder of adipose tissue, characterised by disproportionate fat deposits in the lower limbs and pain with preservation of the feet. The condition usually only affects women. Diagnosis is clinical and mainly by exclusion. This disorder is little known and underdiagnosed. The objective of this article was to perform a non-systematic review of the literature on lipoedema, its diagnostic criteria and proposed treatments. METHODOLOGY: A literature search was carried out from January 2012 to January 2018, in the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science and CINAHL. SELECTION OF STUDIES: A total of 12 articles were included, of which 10 were reviews, one was a cross-sectional study and another was a case series. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of lipoedema is mainly clinical and through exclusion of other disorders. There is no consensus on its treatment, but treatment focuses on attempting to minimise symptoms and prevent disease progression and the disability it may generate.

[Subcutaneous botulinum toxin in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain]. / Toxina botulínica subcutánea en el tratamiento del dolor neuropático periférico.

Neuropathic pain impairs quality of life in affected individuals and poses a challenge to clinicians due to the complexity of its treatment and frequent therapeutic failures. We present 4clinical cases of chronic neuropathic pain (LANSS ≥ 19), refractory to conservative treatment (meralgia paraesthetica, post-surgical pain and 2surgical scars). Subcutaneous botulinum toxin type A was infiltrated periodically over the painful area. All patients experienced subjective improvement in pain and improvement measured by the visual analogic scale. Pain relief started at 5-21 days and continued up to 1.5-3 months, and up to 9 months in one patient. Pain that reappeared was of lower intensity in 3patients and was reduced in area in 2patients.