Sub-Gluteus Maximus Fascial Plane and Perineural Hydrodissection as Novel Treatment for Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment.

ABSTRACT: Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN) entrapment due to overuse is rarely reported in the literature, and treatment is limited. Conventional treatment includes focused rehabilitation exercises, computed tomography-guided or magnetic resonance (MR)-guided nerve blocks, MR-guided cryoablation, and surgical decompression, but data for treatment validation and efficacy are lacking. Sub-gluteus maximus fascial plane and perineural hydrodissection may offer an effective alternative treatment for PFCN entrapment, especially given reports of successful cases with similar procedural techniques in other anatomical locations and structures.

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: Updates for Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

ABSTRACT: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome remains difficult to diagnose. Meanwhile, our limited knowledge and understanding make treatment decisions complex. The list of differential diagnoses for exertional leg pain is broad. Oftentimes, patients exhibit confounding and coexisting diagnoses. However, accurate and rapid diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is essential to reduce potential lasting damage to the popliteal artery. A combination of clinical history, physical examination, ankle-brachial index, along with dynamic and static imaging such as duplex ultrasound, computed tomography angiogram, and magnetic resonance angiography, aids diagnosis. Surgical treatment may be definitive depending on the type of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, but there have been recent advances in diagnostics with intravascular ultrasound and nonsurgical treatment with botulinum toxin type A. Further research is needed to standardize diagnostic criteria, uncover innovative diagnostic methods, and validate promising nonoperative treatment options.

Infectious Dermatoses in Sport: A Review of Diagnosis, Management, and Return-to-Play Recommendations.

ABSTRACT: Infectious dermatoses represent a significant source of morbidity and missed athletic participation among athletes. Close quarters and skin trauma from contact sports can lead to outbreaks among teams and athletic staff. The National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Federation of State High School Associations have published guidance with recommended management and return-to-play criteria for common fungal, bacterial, viral, and parasitic rashes. In addition to rapidly diagnosing and treating infectious dermatoses, team physicians should counsel athletes and athletic staff on proper equipment care and personal hygiene to reduce infection transmission. Clinicians should always consult sport and athlete governing bodies for sport-specific recommendations.

Deep Gluteal Syndrome: A Pain in the Buttock.

ABSTRACT: While buttock pain is a common complaint in sports medicine, deep gluteal syndrome (DGS) is a rare entity. DGS has been proposed as a unifying term referring to symptoms attributed to the various pain generators located in this region. While not all-inclusive, the diagnosis of DGS allows for focus on pathology of regionally associated muscles, tendons, and nerves in the clinical evaluation and management of posterior hip and buttock complaints. An understanding of the anatomic structures and their kinematic and topographic relationships in the deep gluteal space is pivotal in making accurate diagnoses and providing effective treatment. Because presenting clinical features may be unrevealing while imaging studies and diagnostic procedures lack supportive evidence, precise physical examination is essential in obtaining accurate diagnoses. Management of DGS involves focused rehabilitation with consideration of still clinically unproven adjunctive therapies, image-guided injections, and surgical intervention in refractory cases.

Consistency and applicability of return to function guidelines in tactical-athletes with exertional heat illness. A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the consistency of return to sport and occupation recommendations following EHI provided in published clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements, position statements, and practice alerts. The agreement between medical policies governing the return to duty following EHI between the branches of the United States Armed Forces and published recommendations was assessed. METHODS: Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases were searched for clinical practice guidelines and position statements published at any time that guided return to activity in individuals with EHI. Methodological quality was assessed, and the specific recommendations for clinical management were extracted. Consistency of recommendations was evaluated. Agreement between published guidelines and the policies governing return to activity in military tactical athletes with heat injury were also evaluated. RESULTS: Guidelines developed by two civilian sports medicine societies in the United States detailing recommendations for return to function following EHI were identified. There was consistency between guidelines regarding recommendations that addressed abstinence from activity; medical follow-up; graded resumption of activity; and return to function. Pertaining military policy, contemporary regulations published in recent years reflected the recommendations provided in the professional guidelines. The greatest incongruence was noted in older military policies. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review highlights the need for consistent recommendations across all branches of the military and medical specialties pertaining to returning servicemembers to duty after EHI .