Clinical Features Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Associated with Structural Alterations in Corticospinal Tract.

CONTEXT: Structural evidence for corticospinal tract (CST) abnormality between patients with ACLR and healthy controls, and the relationships between CST structure and clinical features of the patients (e.g., objective sensorimotor outcomes, postoperative duration) are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the structural features of CST 1) differ between patients with ACLR and healthy controls, and 2) were associated with clinical features in patients following ACLR. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Sports medicine laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six patients who had undergone ACLR and twenty-six healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional investigation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Using the CST as the region of interest, we performed diffusion tensor imaging to measure the microstructure of white matter tracts. Between-group comparisons and correlation analyses with clinical features in patients with ACLR were performed. RESULTS: The patients with ACLR showed significant, moderate lower fractional anisotropy (FA, Cohen's d = -0.666, 95% CIs -1.221 to -0.104), lower axial diffusivity (AD, Cohen's d = -0.526, 95% CIs -1.077 to 0.030), and higher radial diffusivity (RD, Cohen's d = 0.514, 95% CIs -0.042 to 1.064) when compared to that of healthy controls, with the RD values being significantly correlated with the postoperative duration (r = 0.623, p < 0.001) after controlling the age, sex, and BMI in patients with ACLR. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients with ACLR have impaired integrity (lower FA values and higher RD values) in the CST contralateral to the ACLR injured limb in comparison with healthy controls. Decreased integrity (higher RD) of the CST in patients was significantly associated with longer postoperative duration, which hinted that impaired structural integrity of the CST may be a maladaptive process of neuroplasticity in ACLR.

Postural Control Deficits During Static Single-leg Stance in Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

CONTEXT: Postural control deficits arising from injured ankles are central to chronic ankle instability (CAI) and its persistent symptoms. This is usually measured by recording the center of pressure (CoP) trajectory during static single-leg stance using a stable force plate. However, existing studies have produced conflicting results on whether this mode of measurement adequately reveals the postural deficits in CAI. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether postural control during static single-leg stance is impaired in CAI patients when compared with uninjured healthy controls. DATA SOURCES: Literature databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus, were searched from inception to April 1, 2022, using ankle-, injury-, and posture-related terms. STUDY SELECTION: Two authors independently performed the step-by-step screening of article titles, abstracts, and full texts to select peer-reviewed studies investigating CoP trajectory during static single-leg stance using a stable force plate in CAI patients and healthy controls. A total of 13,637 studies were reviewed, and 38 studies (0.003%) met the selection criteria. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analyses of descriptive epidemiological study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. DATA EXTRACTION: CoP parameters, sway directions, visual condition, and numerical data (means and standard deviations) were extracted. RESULTS: The injured ankles of CAI patients had higher standard deviations of sway amplitude in both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.36 and 0.31, respectively) under conditions of open eyes than controls. Higher mean sway velocity in anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and total directions (SMD = 0.41, 0.37, and 0.45, respectively) with closed eyes was also found. CONCLUSION: CAI patients had deficits of postural control during static single-leg stance, and these deficits were identified by the CoP trajectory. Further methodological explorations of CoP parameters and corresponding test conditions are required to enhance the sensitivity and reliability of postural deficit assessments in CAI using force plates.

In Vivo Characterization of Cerebellar Peduncles in Chronic Ankle Instability: A Single and Multishell Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Study.

BACKGROUND: Ankle sprain causes proprioceptor injuries and prolonged joint deafferentation, which might lead to maladaptive neuroplasticity in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI), especially in the cerebellum. Previous studies have indicated the impairment of superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP), but the inferior cerebellar peduncle (ICP) and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) have not been fully analyzed. HYPOTHESIS: The cerebellar peduncles of participants with CAI would have altered fractional anisotropy (FA) and orientation dispersion index (ODI) in comparison with healthy controls without ankle injury history. In addition, FA and ODI would be correlated with the duration or severity of the sensorimotor deficits in CAI. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: A group of 27 participants with CAI and 26 healthy controls underwent diffusion-weighted imaging scanning, with the cerebellar peduncles as the regions of interest. The measures obtained by single-shell diffusion tensor imaging and the multishell neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging were used. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the potential relationship between the FA/ODI and both the normalized Y-balance scores and the durations of ankle instability. RESULTS: The ipsilateral ICP of the injured ankle in participants with CAI showed significantly lower FA (Cohen d 95% CI, -1.33 to -0.21; P = 0.04) and marginally significant higher ODI (Cohen d 95% CI, 0.10 to 1.20, P = 0.08) when compared with the same measures in the control group, with the ODI being positively correlated with the duration of ankle instability (r = 0.42, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The ICP in participants with CAI exhibited impaired integrity and a trend of abnormally organized neurites in comparison with a healthy control group. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The impairments of ICP might be an ongoing part of the pathological process of CAI, having the potential to become a target for the diagnostic evaluation of this clinical entity.

Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy reduces pain and promotes proximal tendon healing after rotator cuff repair: Randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is widely used to treat soft tissue disorders, but evidence for its application after rotator cuff (RC) repair is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of ESWT on short-term functional and structural outcomes after RC repair. METHODS: Thirty-eight individuals were randomly assigned to the ESWT group (n = 19) or control group (n = 19) 3 months after RC repair. Both groups underwent 5 weeks of advanced rehabilitation and participants in the ESWT group additionally received 2000 pulses of shockwave therapy every week for 5 weeks. The primary outcome was pain measured on a visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes were range of motion (ROM), Constant score, University of California Los Angeles score (UCLA), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons form (ASES), and Fudan University shoulder score (FUSS). Changes in signal/noise quotient (SNQ), muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration were analyzed from MRI. All participants underwent clinical and MRI examinations 3 months (baseline) and 6 months (follow-up) post repair. RESULTS: A total of 32 participants completed all assessments. Pain and function improved in both groups. At 6 months post repair, pain intensity was lower and ASES scores higher in the ESWT than in the control group (all p-values < 0.01). SNQ near the suture anchor site decreased significantly from baseline to follow-up in the ESWT group (p = 0.008) and was significantly lower than that in the control group (p = 0.036). Muscle atrophy and the fatty infiltration index did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: ESWT and exercise more effectively reduced early shoulder pain than rehabilitation alone and accelerated proximal supraspinatus tendon healing at the suture anchor site after RC repair. However, ESWT may not be more effective than advanced rehabilitation in terms of functional outcomes at the short-term follow-up.

Do exercise therapies restore the deficits of joint position sense in patients with chronic ankle instability? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To determine whether existing exercise therapies can restore the joint position sense (JPS) deficits of patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) when compared with controlled non-training patients. Seven databases were searched using ankle, injury, proprioception, and exercise-therapy-related terms. Peer-reviewed human studies in English that used the absolute errors score of joint position reproduction (JPR) test to compare the JPS of injured ankles in CAI patients before and after exercise therapy and non-training controls were included and analyzed. Demographic information, sample size, description of exercise therapies, methodological details of the JPR test, and absolute error scores were extracted by two researchers independently. Meta-analysis of the differences in JPS changes (i.e., absolute errors after treatment minus the baseline) between the exercise therapies and non-training controls was performed with the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Seven studies were finally included. Meta-analyses revealed significantly higher improvements in passive JPS during inversion with, WMD â€‹= â€‹-1.54° and eversion, of, WMD â€‹= â€‹-1.80°, after exercise therapies when compared with non-training controls. However, no significant changes in the impaired side active JPS were observed with regard to inversion and eversion. Existing exercise therapies may have a positive effect on passive JPS during inversion and eversion, but do not restore the active JPS deficits of injured ankles in patients with CAI when compared with non-training controls. Updated exercise components with a longer duration that focus on active JPS with longer duration are needed to supplement the existing content of exercise therapies.

Force sense deficits in chronic ankle instability: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) may experience ankle force sense deficits due to mechanoreceptor injury and proprioceptive deafferentation in the affected ankles. This study aimed to systematically review the literature and investigate (1) whether patients with CAI have impaired force sense when compared with uninjured contralateral sides or healthy controls, and (2) which characteristics of CAI (e.g., any measurement of CAI symptoms, clinical questionnaires, or functional tests on the injured ankles) are correlated with force sense deficits. TYPE: Systematic review and meta-analysis. LITERATURE SURVEY: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus were searched for ankle-related, injury-related, and force sense-related terms from inception to February 2, 2022. METHODOLOGY: The following information was extracted from included articles: demographic data, sample size, selection criteria, methodology, force reproduction test outcomes, and correlations between force sense and other characteristics of CAI. Meta-analyses were conducted for the force sense outcomes, and a narrative review was undertaken for the correlation between force sense deficits and other characteristics of CAI. SYNTHESIS: Eight studies were included. The meta-analyses revealed eversion force sense deficits of the injured ankles in absolute error (magnitude of force reproduction error) at 20% maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-1.11) and variable error (consistency of force reproduction) at 30% MVIC (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI 0.07-0.85), as compared with healthy controls. None of the included studies reported a significant correlation between these two deficits and other characteristics of CAI. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CAI have eversion force sense deficits in the magnitude of force reproduction error at 20% MVIC and the consistency of force reproduction at 30% MVIC.

Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Enhances Graft Maturation at 2-Year Follow-up After ACL Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Graft maturation is an important prognostic factor for hamstring autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). It remains unclear whether extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can promote graft healing after ACLR. Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic and graft maturation effects of ESWT in hamstring autograft ACLR. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: Between May 18, 2019, and September 20, 2019, we randomly assigned 30 patients who met study inclusion criteria to 2 groups. Patients in the control group followed a 5-week advanced rehabilitation training program (30 minutes/session, 5 times/week) starting at 3 months postoperatively. In the ESWT group, together with the 5-week advanced rehabilitation training, radial ESWT was applied once a week for 5 weeks. Functional scores (Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Tegner scores), KT-1000 arthrometer knee laxity measurement, and magnetic resonance imaging scans were assessed at 3 months (baseline), 6 months, and 24 months postoperatively. To evaluate graft maturation, we assessed the graft signal-to-noise quotients (SNQs) of the tibial, intra-articular, and femoral sides on magnetic resonance imaging scans. Data were compared between the ESWT and control groups. Results: In total, 26 patients (13 with ESWT, 13 controls) were assessed. There were no significant between-group differences on any assessment at baseline, and no significant within-group or between-group differences were found in knee laxity at any point. At 24-month follow-up, the ESWT group had significantly higher Lysholm and Tegner scores compared with the controls (P = .012 and .017, respectively). Regarding graft maturation, at 6-month follow-up, the SNQ of the tibial intraosseous graft was significantly lower in the ESWT group versus controls (P = .006), but no differences were detected at the femoral intraosseous graft (P = .321) or the intra-articular graft (P = .314). At 24-month follow-up, the SNQs of the femoral intraosseous graft and intra-articular graft were significantly lower in the ESWT group versus controls (P = .020 and .044, respectively) but no difference was found at the tibial intraosseous graft (P = .579). Conclusion: Both enhanced graft maturation and improved functional scores at 24-month follow-up were seen in patients who received radial ESWT during rehabilitation after hamstring autograft ACLR. Registration: ChiCTR1900022853 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry).