Comparison Between Multisite Injection and Single Rotator Interval Injection of Corticosteroid in Primary Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Steroid injection is a commonly used conservative treatment for primary frozen shoulder (PFS), but the optimal injection site remains undetermined. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial of multisite combined injection (MCI) vs single rotator interval injection (SRI). STUDY DESIGN: A randomized double-blinded controlled trial. SETTING: Center for Joint Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with PFS were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The experimental group received MCI in the rotator interval, intraarticular, and subacromial bursa; the control group received an SRI. Both groups were injected with one mL of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide and 4 mL of 2% lidocaine. The injection process was completed under ultrasound guidance. Follow-up points were 4, 8, and 12 weeks postinjection. The outcome measures included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Constant-Murley Shoulder (CMS) score, passive range of motion of the shoulder, and patient satisfaction rating. RESULTS: Thirty patients in the MCI group and 29 patients in the SRI group were included in the data analysis. All the outcomes in the 2 groups were significantly better postinjection than preinjection. The MCI group had a lower VAS score than the SRI group at 4 weeks (3.1 ± 1.2 vs 4.3 ± 1.6) and 8 weeks (2.2 ± 1.2 vs. 3.4 ± 1.2) (P < 0.05). Compared with the SRI group, the MCI group had a significant improvement in flexion and abduction (P < 0.01). Additionally, the ASES and CMS scores in the MCI group were better than those in the SRI group at 4, 8 and 12 weeks (P < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the sample size of this study is small and a that it was conducted at a single-center. CONCLUSIONS: Both MCI and SRI effectively alleviated pain and restored range of motion in patients with PFS. However, the MCI group had obviously lower early pain scores, better flexion and abduction, and better function scores than the SRI group; no additional adverse events were observed.

Dynamic Tensile Stress Promotes Regeneration of Achilles Tendon in a Panda Rope Bridge Technique Mice Model.

Regeneration of ruptured Achilles tendon remains a clinical challenge owing to its limited regenerative capacity. Dynamic tensile stress plays a positive role in the regeneration of tendon, although the specific underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the Achilles tendon defect-regeneration model was created in male C57BL/6 mice aged 8 weeks. The animals were randomly assigned to four groups-repair, non-repair, repair with fixation, and non-repair with fixation. The repair group and repair with fixation group adopted the panda rope bridge technique (PRBT) repair method. Our results demonstrated the presence of more densely aligned and mature collagen fibers, as well as more tendon-related makers, in the repair group at both 2- and 4-week post-surgery. Furthermore, the biomechanical strength of the regenerated tendon in the repair group was highly improved. Most importantly, the expressions of integrin αv and its downstream and the phosphorylation levels of FAK and ERK were remarkably higher in the repair group than in the other groups. Furthermore, blocking FAK or ERK with selective inhibitors PF573228 and U0126 resulted in obvious adverse effects on the histological structure of the regenerated Achilles tendon. In summary, this study demonstrated that dynamic tensile stress based on the PRBT could effectively promote the regeneration of the Achilles tendon, suggesting that dynamic tensile stress enhances the cell proliferation and tenogenic differentiation via the activation of the integrin/FAK/ERK signaling pathway.

Comparison of Outcomes of Two Different Corticosteroid Injection Approaches for Primary Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: Corticosteroid injection is a common treatment for primary frozen shoulder, but controversy remains regarding whether different injection approaches to the glenohumeral joint have similar clinical benefits. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. PATIENTS: A total of 60 patients with primary frozen shoulder were divided randomly into either anterior or posterior approach groups. METHODS: Both groups received a 5-mL drug injection, including 1 mL 40 mg/mL triamcinolone acetonide and 4 mL 2% lidocaine. Follow-up time-points were 4, 8 and 12 weeks post-injection. Outcome measures included visual analogue scale score, Constant-Murley score, and passive range of motion of the shoulder joint. RESULTS: All outcome measures improved over the follow-up period compared with those of previous follow-up time-points within the groups. The primary finding was that the visual analogue scale score in the anterior group was better than that in the posterior group at each follow-up time-point (all p < 0.05). In addition, improvement in function score and external rotation was faster and significant in the anterior group in the early stages (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The anterior approach achieves more satisfactory results in pain control and offers better recovery of functional activity than posterior approach in the early period for primary frozen shoulder.

Outcomes of early versus late functional weight-bearing after the acute Achilles tendon rupture repair with minimally invasive surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Optimal postoperative rehabilitation regimen for acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) remains unclear. It is important to evaluate whether early functional weight-bearing rehabilitation program after minimally invasive repair results in an earlier return to pre-injury activity but increases the risk of re-rupture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial involving 68 AATR patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery. 34 patients were enrolled in early weight­bearing mobilization accelerated rehabilitation group (AR group); 34 patients were enrolled in the traditional rehabilitation (TR) group. Outcomes measures included American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS) score and Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) score before surgery and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, incidence rate of Achilles tendon re-rupture and total complications, length of hospital stay, time return to work and sports. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative basic data between the two groups. However, AOFAS score and ATRS score were better in AR group than TR group at 3 months postoperatively (92.4 ± 3.5 vs 88.3 ± 4.5, P < 0.01; 91.1 ± 4.4 vs 88.9 ± 3.4, P = 0.03, respectively), the mean length of hospital stay (4.7 ± 1.5 vs 7.6 ± 2.0 days, P < 0.01) and time return to work (4.5 ± 1.0 vs 7.5 ± 1.6 weeks, P < 0.01) were shorter in AR group than in TR group. No statistical significance was calculated in patient-reported outcomes during the rest of the follow-up time and complications. CONCLUSION: Early accelerated rehabilitation with weight-bearing in patients with AATR after minimally invasive surgery results in better early functional outcomes and shows similar security and feasibility. REGISTRATION NO: ChiCTR2100043398.

Panda rope bridge technique versus open repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture: A comparative clinical study.

PURPOSE: The treatment options of acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) remain controversial. This article aims to compare the efficacy of a new surgical procedure, the panda rope bridge technique (PRBT) with open surgery of AATR. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with AATR were recruited, 53 underwent the PBRT, and 45 underwent open surgery. The operation time, postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score, Achilles Tendon Rupture Score, complications and time to return to work and restore exercise were documented. RESULTS: The average operation time, intraoperative blood loss and complication rate were 35.1 min, 18.2 ml and 3.8%, respectively, in the PRBT group, which were significantly lower than those of the open surgery group (P<0.001). The post-operative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score of 99.6 and the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score of 97.5 in the PRBT group were significantly higher than that of the open surgery group (P<0.001). The time to return to work and return to exercise were shorter in the PRBT group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Compared to open surgery, PRBT is a better approach to the management of AATR. PRBT offers accelerated recovery, lower occurrence of post-operative complications and improved recovery of ankle joint function.

In adults, early mobilization may be beneficial for distal radius fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: It remains debatable if early mobilization (EM) yields a better clinical outcome than the late mobilization (LM) in adults with an acute and displaced distal radial fracture (DRF) of open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparing clinical results with the safety of EM with LM following ORIF. METHODS: Databases such as Medline, Cochrane Central Register, and Embase were searched from Jan 1, 2000, to July 31, 2021, and RCTs comparing EM with LM for DRF with ORIF were included in the analysis. The primary outcome of study included disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score at different follow-up times. Wherever the secondary outcomes included patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE), grip strength (GS), visual analog scale (VAS), wrist range of motion (WROM), and associated complications, the two independent reviewers did data extraction for the analysis. Effect sizes of outcome for each group were pooled using random-effects models; thereafter, the results were represented in the forest plots. RESULTS: Nine RCTs with 293 EM and 303 LM participants were identified and included in the study. Our analysis showed that the DASH score of the EM group was significantly better than LM group at the six weeks postoperatively (- 10.15; 95% CI - 15.74 to - 4.57, P < 0.01). Besides, the EM group also had better outcomes in PRWE, GS and WROM at 6 weeks. However, EM showed potential higher rate for implant loosening and/or fracture re-displacement complication (3.00; 95% CI 1.02-8.83, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Functionally, at earlier stages, EM for patients with DRF of ORIF may have a beneficial effect than LM. The mean differences in the DASH score at 6 weeks surpassed the minimal clinically important difference; however, the potentially higher risk of implant loosening and/or fracture re-displacement cannot be ignored. Due to the lack of definitive evidence, multicenter and large sample RCTs are required for determining the optimal rehabilitation protocol for DRF with ORIF. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021240214 2021/2/28.

Efficacy Analysis of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy Combined with PEEK Rods for Giant Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: This study describes a randomized controlled trial that assesses percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) combined with a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rod in patients with GLDH (herniation affecting 50% of the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal) and reports the 2-year follow-up outcome. Methods: In all, 243 patients were randomly assigned to undergo PELD or PELD combined with a PEEK rod by generating random numbers with a random number generator. Clinical outcome data, including the numerical rating scale (NRS), were used to assess the patients' back and leg pain, while the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to quantify pain and disability. Imaging data included intervertebral disc height (IDH), range of motion (ROM), and modified Pfirrmann grades. Results: At the final follow-up, the NRS for back and leg pain and the ODI scores were significantly decreased in both groups. The NRS for back pain and the ODI scores in the PELD + PEEK group (1.32 ± 0.70, 14.10 ± 4.74) were better than those in the PELD group (1.91 ± 0.69, 16.93 ± 4.33) (P < 0.05). The IDH of the PELD + PEEK group (10.54 ± 1.62) was significantly higher than that in the PELD group (9.98 ± 1.90) (P < 0.05). The IDH of the PELD + PEEK group (10.54 ± 1.62) was significantly higher than that in the PELD group (9.98 ± 1.90) (P < 0.05). The IDH of the PELD + PEEK group (10.54 ± 1.62) was significantly higher than that in the PELD group (9.98 ± 1.90) (. Conclusion: For symptomatic patients with GLDH, both PELD and PELD combined with a PEEK rod showed good efficacy. However, the long-term effect of PELD combined with a PEEK rod is better than that of PELD alone. Moreover, PELD combined with a PEEK rod can effectively reduce the recurrence rate. Maximum benefit can be gained if we adhere to strict selection criteria for PELD combined with a PEEK rod.

An evidence-based etiology study of synovial cyst of knee cruciate ligament: a real or pseudo-cyst.

PURPOSE: Synovial cyst of knee cruciate ligament (SCKCL) is a rare condition but can cause severe knee pain. The understanding of its etiology is relatively poor. This current study aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of SCKCL based on a series of histo- and cytopathological examination. METHODS: Ten SCKCL patients who underwent arthroscopy were enrolled, among five patients claimed past knee injury. Hematoxylin & eosin staining was conducted to the cyst wall tissue sections and Papanicolaou staining to the cyst fluid smear. Prussian blue staining was employed to both the wall section and fluid smear. Immumohistochemical staining for mesothelial cells (MC), epithelial cells (CK), vascular endothelial cells (CD31), monocytes (CD68), and hematogenous stem cells (CD117) were taken to elucidate the possible involvement of various cell types in the development of SCKCL. RESULTS: No erythrocyte was discovered in the fluid; however, Prussian blue stained hemosiderin particles were found in the cyst wall and fluid, suggesting past hemorrhage in all patients. Abundant lymphocytes and plasmocytes were observed in the cyst wall and fluid. In addition, the cyst lining was infiltrated with abundant CD68(+) monocytes while only few MC(+) mesothelial cells were sporadically observed in four samples. The cyst submucosa was also diffused with abundant CD68(+) monocytes and proliferated capillaries stained with CD31. CD117-positve hematogenous stem cells were sporadically observed in eight specimens. CONCLUSION: Our findings provided evidence that SCKCL is not a mature synovial cyst but rather an inflammatory pseudo-cyst. It may have resulted from past minor hemorrhage and intra-ligament chronic inflammation.