Clinical properties and rehabilitation needs of earthquake survivors in a subacute rehabilitation setting.

BACKGROUND: This descriptive analysis examines the victims of the February 6, 2023, earthquakes in Kahramanmaras and Elbistan, Türkiye. It aims to detail the injury profiles related to neuro-musculoskeletal trauma, assess the rehabilitation needs of patients, and propose a comprehensive rehabilitation approach. METHODS: The study included patients injured in the Kahramanmaras-centered earthquake on February 6, 2023, who were transported to our hospital based on their rehabilitation needs. Data from patients treated at our hospital were recorded retrospectively. This included demographic information, accompanying pathologies, laboratory findings, rehabilitation programs, and treatments received during their hospital stay. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine the data. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients with musculoskeletal injuries were admitted due to injuries sustained from the earthquake. The mean age of the participants was 39.76 years, with a slight female predominance (56.7%). The majority of patients sustained injuries while trapped under debris (90.1%), with an average duration of 10 hours under rubble. Fractures were the most common form of injury (53.2%), predominantly affecting the lower extremities. Peripheral nerve injuries were present in 41.1% of patients, and amputations were observed in 30.5%. Complications included compartment syndrome (46.1%), crush syndrome (36.2%), and various infections. Pain was prevalent among patients, with somatic pain being the most reported type. Individualized rehabilitation programs were implemented, incorporating physical therapy, wound care, pain management, and psychosocial support. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the critical rehabilitation needs of earthquake survivors and emphasizes the importance of early and comprehensive rehabilitation interventions. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs were crucial in addressing medical issues, functional limitations, and psychological challenges faced by the survivors. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of earthquake-related injuries and underscore the significance of well-coordinated rehabilitation strategies in disaster responses.

The treatment challenge of heterotopic ossification in a patient with Parkinson's disease and stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Neurogenic heterotopic ossification (HO) is characterized by bone formation in a non-anatomical site. It is usually seen in patients with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. It occurs less frequently in other types of acquired brain injury. Neurogenic HO has only been recorded in a few cases of Parkinson's disease (PD). Its treatment is challenging and may need pain palliation methods. The course and treatment approach of a complicated case with PD and stroke who developed HO of the hip joints during rehabilitation was discussed in this article. CASE PRESENTATION: A 79-year-old male patient with stroke and PD experienced restriction and pain in both hip joints. Bilateral HO was discovered on a pelvic radiograph. He did not benefit from exercises, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or indomethacin. Radiotherapy has also been tried to treat HO. Following that, obturator and femoral nerve blocks were used to relieve pain, and pain was reduced and sitting balance improved. CONCLUSION: HO is a rare complication of PD and stroke that has an adverse effect on the rehabilitation process. Since treatment choices are limited, palliative pain management approaches such as peripheral nerve block may be considered.

Ultrasound imaging for sarcopenia, spasticity and painful muscle syndromes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: On the basis of its various advantages and the relevant awareness of physicians, ultrasound imaging has overwhelmingly taken its place in the scientific arena. This is true both from the side of daily clinical applications and also from the side of research. Yet, ultrasound provides real-time (diagnostic) imaging and (interventional) guidance for a wide spectrum of muscle disorders. In this regard, this review aims to discuss the potential/actual utility of ultrasound imaging in particular muscle disorders, that is, sarcopenia, spasticity and fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: Due to the aging population worldwide and the importance of functionality in the older population, mounting interest has been given to the diagnosis and management of sarcopenia in the recent literature. Likewise, several articles started to report that ultrasound imaging can be used conveniently and effectively in the early diagnosis and quantification of sarcopenia.For spasticity, aside from ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injections, intriguing attention has been paid to sonographic evaluation of muscle architecture, echogenicity and elasticity in the follow-up of these chronic conditions.As regards painful muscle syndromes, quantitative ultrasound techniques have been shown to detect statistically significant differences between healthy controls and patients with myofascial pain syndrome. SUMMARY: Ultrasound imaging seems to be a promising tool that indisputably deserves further research in the management of a wide range of muscle disorders. VIDEO ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/COSPC/A17.

Shall We Inject Superficial or Deep to the Plantar Fascia? An Ultrasound Study of the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis.

We compared the effectiveness of ultrasound (US)-guided corticosteroid, injected superficial or deep to the fascia, in patients with plantar fasciitis. Thirty patients (24 females [75%] and 6 males [25%]) with unilateral chronic plantar fasciitis were divided into 2 groups according to the corticosteroid injection site: superficial (n = 15) or deep (n = 15) to the plantar fascia. Patient heel pain was measured using a Likert pain scale and the Foot Ankle Outcome Scale (FAOS) for foot disability, evaluated at baseline and repeated in the first and sixth weeks. The plantar fascia and heel pad thicknesses were assessed on US scans at baseline and the sixth week. The groups were similar in age, gender, and body mass index (p > .05 for all). Compared with the baseline values, the Likert pain scale (p < .001 for all) and FAOS subscale (p < .01 for all) scores had improved at the first and sixth week follow-up visits in both groups. Although the plantar fascia thickness had decreased significantly in both groups at the sixth week (p < .001 for both), the heel pad thickness remained unchanged (p > .05 for both). The difference in the FAOS subscales (pain, p = .002; activities of daily living, p = .003; sports/recreational activities, p = .008; quality of life, p = .009) and plantar fascia thickness (p = .049) showed better improvement in the deep than in the superficial injection group. US-guided corticosteroid injections are safe and effective in the short-term therapeutic outcome of chronic plantar fasciitis. Additionally, injection of corticosteroid deep to the fascia might result in greater reduction in plantar fascia thickness, pain, and disability and improved foot-related quality of life.

Ultrasound-Guided Diagnosis and Treatment of Meralgia Paresthetica.

Meralgia paresthetica refers to the entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve at the level of the inguinal ligament. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve - a purely sensory nerve - arises from the L2 and L3 spinal nerve roots, travels downward lateral to the psoas muscle, and then crosses the iliacus muscle. Close to the anterior superior iliac spine, the nerve courses in contact with the lateral aspect of the inguinal ligament and eventually innervates the lateral thigh. The entrapment syndrome is usually idiopathic but can also ensue due to trauma/overuse, pelvic and retroperitoneal tumors, stretching of the nerve due to prolonged leg/trunk hyperextension, leg length discrepancies, prolonged standing, external compression by belts, weight gain, and tight clothing. The diagnosis of Meralgia paresthetica is usually clinical, i.e., based on the following symptoms: paresthesia, numbness, burning sensation, dysesthesia, and pain over the anterolateral aspects of the thigh. These complaints may be worsened by walking or prolonged standing and typically disappear after weight loss, abdominal muscle strengthening, or elimination of the underlying cause. Although there are several reports on the confirmatory role of electrodiagnostic studies in the diagnosis of Meralgia paresthetica, electromyographers would usually prefer/suggest not to perform nerve conduction studies in daily clinical practice. Herewith, due to its several advantages, ultrasound imaging has been proposed as an alternative diagnostic method in the recent literature. It not only confirms the entrapment morphologically, but also uncovers a likely underlying cause and provides immediate interventional guidance. The pertinent sonographic findings would be hypoechoic and swollen lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

Ultrasound-Guided Diagnosis and Treatment of Morton's Neuroma.

Morton's neuroma is the fibrous enlargement of the interdigital nerve branches, usually in the second and third interspace between the metatarsal heads where the lateral and medial plantar nerves often join. Specific symptoms are dull or sharp pain, numbness and/or tingling in the third and fourth digits, burning sensation, cramping, and a feeling of "walking on a stone" around the metatarsal heads. Numerous clinical tests for Morton's neuroma have been described, such as thumb index finger squeeze, and Mulder's click and foot squeeze tests. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging can be used for confirmation, especially for differential diagnosis, exact localization, and number of neuromas. Further, performing dynamic imaging during the aforementioned tests is paramount and can readily be carried out with ultrasound. The treatment mainly comprises footwear modifications, radiofrequency ablation, physical therapy, local (corticosteroid and anesthetic) injections into the affected webspace, and surgery. Again the use of real-time ultrasound guidance during such interventions is noteworthy.