Novel Diagnosis and Treatment for Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

This article presents a unique diagnostic test for the neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS). nTOS is one of the most misdiagnosed and controversial medical problems; the diagnosis is clinical, and there are few specific diagnostic criteria for this condition. We would like to share this unique diagnostic modality, the Tafler test, with medical professionals. The Tafler test helps diagnose nTOS, differentiate it from cervical radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, and effectively tailor treatment for its symptoms. The following case series aims to describe several patients with nTOS who had failed previous treatment with surgery, physical therapy, and analgesics. The implementation of the Tafler test as a treatment modality in combination with osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and physical therapeutic modalities led to significant improvements in treatment efficiency.

Management of Post-Viral Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome With Craniosacral Therapy.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a rare disorder of the autonomic nervous system. The number of people afflicted with this dysautonomia has increased dramatically in recent years due to the long-term effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19); however, it is largely underdiagnosed. This case report is about a patient with post-viral neuropathic POTS. Neuropathic POTS is believed to be due to the damage of small nerve fibers that regulate the constriction of the blood vessels in the limb and abdomen, which leads to interference with vasoconstriction, and therefore causes tachycardia. Current literature emphasizes a treatment that is based on lifestyle modifications, such as increasing water and salt intake, and symptomatic pharmacological treatment. In this case, the 39-year-old male ptient was treated with osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), specifically the compression of the fourth ventricle (CV4), which has been associated with the production of hyperparasympathetic and anti-inflammatory effects and, hence, helps overcome the small-fiber neuropathy caused by the viral illness. We found that the CV4 technique led to the successful remission of the patient's symptoms. Therefore, we propose craniosacral therapy as a successful single management modality in patients with POTS.

A Novel Knee Traction Technique to Treat Chronic Knee Pain.

Chronic knee pain is one of the most common complaints in primary care offices. Osteopathic family physicians Leonid Tafler and Samira Ovshaev have worked tirelessly for over 10 years to develop a revolutionary and unique technique for treating chronic knee pain. This technique is easy to learn and can be performed at any outpatient practice. This unique technique involves knee traction, which can be performed under anesthesia with one or two consecutive days of treatment, or it can be performed with the assistance of a supportive device in more than two therapy sessions without anesthesia. This new technique has the potential to become a first-line noninvasive technique for chronic knee pain that can go a long way in reducing the burden of debilitating knee pain for patients and their loved ones. This case report aims to describe a few cases of chronic knee pain successfully treated in the office-based surgical center by osteopathic physicians using this innovative technique. Throughout the last 10 years, patients have reported remarkable improvement in their knee pain following treatment with this technique, which has, in turn, significantly increased their quality of life.

The Importance of Pelvic and Leg Length Assessment in the Setting of Postpartum Lower Back Pain.

One of the most common complaints during pregnancy is lower back pain. Women believe that this will disappear after they give birth, however, there are a significant number of women who suffer from persistent, unresolving pain that affects their daily lives. Very often, women will wrongfully blame the epidural anesthesia as the cause, however, there are physiologic and anatomic changes that occur. Patients often experience persistent pain when there is an absence of proper postpartum management. The lack of proper management can lead to unresolved pelvic rotation and dislocation, resulting in short leg syndrome. The common treatment for postpartum lower back pain includes various analgesics, physical therapy, and steroid injections. However, with a proper pelvic assessment, treatment with osteopathic manipulation alone, or reinforced with anesthesia, can be successful. Here, we present a case in which a patient presented with persistent lower back two years postpartum. She had been treated with common modalities prior to coming to our clinic and was subsequently found to have a short leg. We discuss the importance of a proper pelvic and leg length assessment in women who present with postpartum lower back pain, as well as how to both prevent and treat short leg syndrome in postpartum patients.

Successful Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment of Foot Drop.

This case report presents a 63-year-old male patient with chronic left foot drop. The etiology for his condition most likely involved lateral lumbar stenosis and/or sacroiliac joint dysfunction resulting in radiculopathy and subsequent symptoms. The patient was previously recommended a surgical approach for his condition. After an extensive osteopathic examination and application of a high-amplitude low-velocity technique, the patient reported a significant improvement in his pain and resolution of his foot drop. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of the use of osteopathic medicine in the successful treatment and management of left foot drop most likely secondary lumbar stenosis and/or sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The aim of this case report is to discuss the possible mechanisms by which the condition may have been resolved and the role that osteopathic treatment played in it.

The Function of Osteopathic Medicine in the Treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis.

Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) may result from any injury to the shoulder. The main signs and symptoms are pain, decreased range of motion, and stiffness of the joint. A patient could have additional causes that can include muscle spasm, rotator cuff tear, or weakness of the upper extremities, which could make treatment decisions more complicated. Multiple therapeutic and surgical approaches exist. Successful outcomes for adhesive capsulitis are due to timely diagnosis and effective treatment options. In our case report, a 58-year-old female developed acute sharp pain in her shoulders, decreased range of motion, as well as bilateral weakness in her upper extremities. The symptoms developed after doing repetitive overhead arm motion while swimming without proper conditioning. The pain was debilitating and prevented the patient from completing simple daily maneuvers. Significant weakness in the upper extremities made it impossible for her to independently dress herself. Initially, the patient's symptoms were attributed to the chronic effects of osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear. One orthopedic surgeon recommended replacement of the right shoulder. As a second opinion, another orthopedic surgeon recommended bilateral shoulder replacement. The orthopedic surgeons' decisions were based on physical examination and reading the MRI, which confirmed total rotator cuff tear and osteoarthritis. Before proceeding with surgical treatment, the patient was evaluated by an osteopathic specialist. The osteopathic specialist's decision was based on osteopathic principles that the body is a unit capable of self-regulation and that structure and function are reciprocally interrelated. Observation and palpation are particularly important means of uncovering information. After the first examination, the osteopathic physician diagnosed and successfully restored cervical spine mobility problems (cervical somatic dysfunctions) and relieved a trapezius muscle spasm. The patient's upper extremities gained strength after the first treatment and she was able to dress herself (which is a task she was unable to do in over a year with continuous physical therapy treatment). At this point, surgical treatment became an alternative option. The patient preferred to continue osteopathic manipulation and osteopathic manipulation under anesthesia. The patient experienced a resolution of her symptoms over time. A stepwise approach to management is necessary for patient assessment and diagnosis, especially when the alternative recommendation is surgery.

Craniosacral Therapy Use in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

Nearly 700,000 adults in the US have normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), but it is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. In fact, a small percentage of people with the disease are properly diagnosed. NPH presents classically with a triad of symptoms: ataxic gait, dementia, and urinary incontinence. Diagnosis and treatment are provided together through a lumbar puncture. However, the only effective treatment that exists is a shunt insertion, which is a highly invasive procedure with uncertain responsiveness. As NPH is primarily diagnosed in those in advanced ages (60s and 70s), adjunctive treatment modalities should be further studied. Here we present a case of a patient diagnosed by a neurosurgeon and neurologist with NPH and a candidate for a shunt insertion whose symptoms substantially improved with one month of osteopathic manipulative treatment. Osteopathic considerations and literature are also reviewed in the broader context of craniosacral treatment.

Azithromycin in the Successful Management of COVID-19: A Family Physician's Perspective.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), causing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), has been responsible for approximately 75 million cases and 1.6 million deaths globally as of December 22, 2020. Currently, no treatment modalities or management options have been recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) prior to patient hospitalization and supplemental oxygen requirement. This poses a unique challenge for outpatient primary care physicians, who are often tasked with initial care of patients early on in their disease course. During the pandemic, our family practice provided medical care to approximately 2,000 families located in the surrounding Brooklyn community. With only telemedicine at our disposal, our clinic was tasked with treating patients presenting remotely who may or may not have had COVID-19 - a large clinical diagnosis was made given the absence of in-person testing. Often co-administered, Azithromycin was considered a supportive agent that may or may not have increased the benefit of hydroxychloroquine. However, Azithromycin may perform well on its own for various reasons as it has been shown to have antiviral activity against other RNA viruses, anti-inflammatory properties, and antiviral effects within bronchial epithelial cells. Azithromycin has also shown efficacy as an add-on treatment for reducing asthma exacerbations - pertinent to the pro-inflammatory pulmonary conditions in COVID-19 progression - and may even prevent or treat bacterial co-infection in patients with SARS-COV-2. In order to investigate the association between Azithromycin and the COVID-19 disease process, our clinical study retrospectively identified patients who were prescribed Azithromycin (500 mg on day one + 250 mg on days two to five) during the peak months of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City from March 2020 through May 2020. All patients prescribed Azithromycin with suspicion of COVID-19 infection were interviewed via telephone regarding their constellation of symptoms, compliance with the prescribed antibiotic for the intended course, symptom duration prior to and following antibiotic course initiation, as well as any further complications of their illness, if present. Ultimately, the majority of the patients who were interviewed over the phone concluded that a full course of Azithromycin helped improve their symptoms during their infection with COVID-19. Outcomes and complications in patients treated with Azithromycin were noteworthy in that there were no reports of pulmonary complications or deterioration of pulmonary function after treatment (e.g., no shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea, etc.), although some patients did experience residual coughing and nasal discharge post-treatment. We believe further study of this treatment in the setting of experimental, randomized controlled trials may reveal the benefits of Azithromycin in terms of reducing infection severity, length, and limiting the incidence of complications in patients with COVID-19.

Use of Osteopathic Manipulation for Treatment of Chronic Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration.

Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) is an increasingly reported phenomenon that causes inflammation of surrounding structures, along with pain and decreased range of motion of the affected shoulder. Current literature emphasizes proper injection techniques and locations to decrease incidence; however, there is limited information available on successful treatments. The aim of this report is to describe a case of SIRVA and review treatment options, specifically the role of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) in the resolution of symptoms refractory to standard care. Here we present a case of chronic SIRVA in a 58-year-old female due to a poorly administered influenza vaccination with emphasis on a stepwise osteopathic therapy approach as a lasting treatment to decrease the effects of the inflammatory process and improve daily function of the shoulder. OMM, with the option of anesthesia, can be performed in outpatient family medicine practices as a noninvasive and safe adjunct treatment. Specifically, the Spencer technique has been shown to improve shoulder-related pathologies that include adhesions, capsulitis, and inflammation and was used in this case under anesthesia. The patient reported good improvement in her symptoms and increased range of motion. SIRVA is an underdiagnosed phenomenon that involves inflammation of surrounding structures after a vaccine administration. In chronic cases, such as in this patient, OMM may be enhanced with the use of anesthesia to optimize the treatment's effect on scar tissue and fibrosis.