Infiltrative Type I Collagen in the Treatment of Morton's Neuroma: A Mini-Series.

Morton's neuroma (MN) is a compressive neuropathy of the common plantar digital nerve, most commonly affecting the third inter-digital space. The conservative approach is the first recommended treatment option. However, other different approaches have been proposed, offering several options of treatments, where, several degrees of efficacy and safety have been reported. We treated five consecutive patients affected by MN through three indirect ultrasound-guided injections of type I porcine collagen at weekly intervals. All patients were assessed before the treatment, after the treatment and up to 6 months after the last injection via AOFAS and VNS scores for pain, in which the function and pain were evaluated, respectively. In all patients, both analyzed variables progressively ameliorated, with benefits lasting until the last follow-up. The trend of the scores during the follow-up showed significant statistical differences. No side effects occurred. To our knowledge, this is the first study on injections of type I porcine collagen for the treatment of Morton's neuroma. Future research is needed to confirm the positive trend achieved in this MN mini-series.

Would Moving Forward Mean Going Back? Comment on Maselli et al. Direct Access to Physical Therapy: Should Italy Move Forward? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 555.

In a recent communication, Maselli and colleagues [...].

Determinants of Functional Improvement After Cardiac Rehabilitation in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective tool for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). AIM: Aim of our study was to find the significant determinants of exercise capacity (evaluated with the six-minute walking test-6-MWT) and functional improvement in patients undergoing CR after an ACS. METHODS: The study group included 298 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 10.2 years; males 80.2%) who, after ACS, were enrolled in CR program at Niguarda Hospital in Milan from 2015 to 2018. For all patients, we collected anamnestic, clinical and instrumental cardiological data. All patients performed a 6-MWT at the beginning (6-MWT-1) and at the end (6-MWT-2) of CR program. Δ meters were used to represent functional improvement. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression models were carried out for 6-MWT-1, 6-MWT-2, Δ meters and % Δ meters. Standardized regression coefficients showed that age (ß = - 0.237; p < 0.001), BMI (ß = - 0.116; p = 0.006) and heart rate (ß = - 0.082; p = 0.040) were determinants of exercise capacity (6MWT-1 and 2), whereas age (ß = -.231; p = 0.004), sex (ß = - 0.187; p = 0.008) and BMI (ß = - 0.164; p = 0.022) were determinants of functional improvement (Δ meters). CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that functional improvement after CR in ACS patients is mainly related to non-cardiological variables. Instead it is related to intrinsic factors, both modifiable (BMI) and non-modifiable (age, sex).

Pain in Women: A Perspective Review on a Relevant Clinical Issue that Deserves Prioritization.

INTRODUCTION: Gender equity and gender medicine are opportunities not to be missed, and this Expert Group Opinion Paper on pain in women aims to review the treatment of pain conditions mainly affecting women, as well as the fundamental aspects of the different clinical response to drug treatment between the genders, and what can be done for gender-specific rehabilitation. METHODS: Perspective review. RESULTS: Genotypic and phenotypic differences in pain between the sexes are conditioned by anatomical, physiological, neural, hormonal, psychological, social, and cultural factors, such as the response to pharmacological treatment to control pain. The examination of these factors shows that women are affected by pain diseases more frequently and severely than men and that they report pain more frequently and with a lower pain threshold than men. Some forms of pain are inherently related to gender differences, such as pain related to the genitourinary system. However, other forms of chronic pain are seen more frequently in women than men, such as migraine, rheumatological, and musculoskeletal pain, in particular fibromyalgia. DISCUSSION: Research is needed into the pathophysiological basis for gender differences in the generation of acute pain and maintenance of chronic pain, including the factors that put women at higher risk for developing chronic pain. In addition, different specialties need to collaborate to develop gender-related diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines, and healthcare professionals need to upskill themselves in the appropriate management of pain using existing diagnostic tools and therapeutic options.

Neuropsychological assessment in acute stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The number of people suffering from stroke is strongly increasing, giving rise to multiple cognitive deficits which frequently prevent a full recovery. The identification of both spared and impaired cognitive domains has a key role to plan adequate interventions. However, the existing standard tests are either too expensive in terms of time and efforts for patients in acute stage or they derived from instruments addressing different pathologies such as dementia. METHODS: We developed a brief neuropsychological battery (mental performance in acute stroke, MEPS) to assess different cognitive domains (language, memory, praxis, visual perception) in acute stroke patients. MEPS was validated by enrolling a sample of 204 patients suffering from stroke in acute stage, and 263 healthy controls participants. RESULTS: The results indicated an adequate construct validity and a high ability in discriminating patients from healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: MEPS can be considered a simple and highly valuable bedside battery, easy to administer, with values of sensitivity and specificity suitable to be proposed as a screening tool for patients with acute stroke.

Case Report: Postacute Rehabilitation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Cerebral Vasculitis-Like Pattern Accompanied by SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Introduction: The main clinical manifestation of the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is respiratory issues. Neurological manifestations are being increasingly recognized, including febrile seizures, headache, dizziness, and myalgia, as well as encephalopathy, encephalitis, stroke, and acute peripheral nerve diseases. Cerebral vasculitis is rarely reported. We describe a case of SARS-CoV-2 interstitial pneumonia complicated by flaccid tetraplegia due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) associated with a cerebral vasculitis-like pattern. Case description: A 62-year-old man was hospitalized for cough, fever, and severe respiratory failure requiring tracheal intubation and invasive ventilation. The chest Computerized Tomography (CT) showed images related to interstitial pneumonia and the subsequent nasopharyngeal swab confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the hospitalization, there was a progressive deterioration of the senses associated with areflexic flaccid tetraplegia. The treatment with high doses of immunoglobulin G (IgG) led to the immediate improvement of the general conditions and a partial response in terms of recovery of the upper limb and of the distal lower limb movements. Subsequently the patient was admitted to our Rehabilitation Unit, where he received an intensive rehabilitation treatment consisting of physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Two months later the patient was discharged at home and able to walk independently even for long distances thanks to the use of Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFO). Conclusion: In this report, we present the case of a patient with peripheral and central neurological damage occurred later severe pneumonia induced by SARS-CoV-2. The Immunoglobulin G therapy allowed the patient to benefit considerably from early rehabilitation, reaching the walking, increasing the independence in daily living tasks, and enabling safe discharge from hospital to home. Related neurologic complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection suffer a lack of understanding and further investigations should be conducted.

Fall risk assessment in very old males and females living in nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: Several studies identified muscle weakness, history of falls, gait deficit and balance deficit as the most common risk factors for falls. AIMS: To determine risk factors of fall in older males and females living in nursing homes and to compare characteristics of fallers and non fallers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 40 nursing home elderly (13 males and 27 females), mean age 86.35, of which 17 (6 males and 11 females) fell at least once in the previous year and 23 (7 males and 16 females) had not fallen. Each participant filled a self-assessment questionnaire (general health questions and selected questions from the SF-36). An objective evaluation was performed with measurements of blood pressure and heartrate (supine and standing), lower extremity strength and power (dominate side only) by Biodex isokinetic dynamometry, dynamic postural stability by Biodex balance system (5 s trials at level 8) and gait assessment (6 min walk test at comfortable speed) by gait treadmill Biodex. RESULTS: The fallen males decreased significantly knee flexion peak torque (p=0.08), ankle plantarflexion peak torque and average power (p=0.05), compared with the not fallen group. The fallen females decreased significantly knee extension peak torque and average power (p<0.05), walking speed (p<0.005) and cadence (p<0.01), compared with the not fallen group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the fallen males had greater deficits of ankle plantar-flexion strength and power, while fallen females had greater deficits of knee extension strength and power and less walking speed.