Diagnostic value of ultrasonography in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most expected diagnosis for an arthropathy that causes discomfort and disability in older adults. Radiography is frequently used to assess patients with KOA and there have been few prior research evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasonography (US). The current study sought to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the US in identifying various characteristics of KOA in the scientific literature. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses statement. A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases was completed in March 2023. This study focused on the diagnostic value of US in KOA, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Results: Out of 552 records of database searches, finally, two studies met this systematic review's eligibility criteria and were included in the study. Both of the included studies were cross sectional studies. US demonstrated remarkable sensitivity with adequate specificity for the detection of radiographic knee OA; however, it was found not to be an appropriate method for the detection of early KOA. Conclusion: This study as the first systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of US in detecting KOA. These findings shed light on the importance of investigating the different US features in the evaluation of KOA to reach appropriate sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis.

The effect of Trolox on the rabbit anal sphincterotomy repair.

INTRODUCTION: Fecal incontinence (FI) is caused by external anal sphincter injury. Vitamin E is a potential strategy for anal sphincter muscle repair via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and protective properties against myocyte loss. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the water-soluble form of vitamin E efficacy in repairing anal sphincter muscle defects in rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-one male rabbits were equally assigned to the intact (without any intervention), control (sphincterotomy), and Trolox (sphincterotomy + Trolox administration) groups. Ninety days after sphincterotomy, the resting and squeeze pressures were evaluated by manometry, and the number of motor units in the sphincterotomy site was calculated by electromyography. Also, the amount of muscle and collagen in the injury site was investigated by Mallory's trichrome staining. RESULTS: Ninety days after the intervention, the resting and squeeze pressures in the intact and Trolox groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.001). Moreover, the total collagen percentage of the sphincterotomy site was significantly lower in the Trolox group than in the control group (P = 0.002), and the total muscle percentage was significantly higher in the Trolox group compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Also, the motor unit number was higher in the Trolox group than in the control group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Trolox administration in the rabbit sphincterotomy model can decrease the amount of collagen and increase muscle, leading to improved anal sphincter electromyography and manometry results. Therefore, Trolox is a potential treatment strategy for FI.

Efficacy of ultrasound guided caudal epidural steroid injection with or without ozone in patients with lumbosacral canal stenosis; a randomized clinical controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lumbosacral canal stenosis is known as the most common cause of back surgery with several complications. Selecting a minimally invasive treatment with high efficacy in such patients is necessary. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of ozone therapy in combination with caudal epidural steroid in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis allocated into two study groups. Under ultrasound guidance, the first group received 80 mg of triamcinolone hexavalent with 4 mL of Marcaine 0.5% and 6 mL of distilled water to the caudal epidural space. The second group received an injection similar to the first group, combined with 10 mL of ozone (O2-O3) gas at a concentration of 10 µg/cc. The patients were followed at baseline, one, and six months after injection with clinical outcomes measures using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Walking Distance (WD) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: The mean age of subjects, 30 males (60%) and 20 females (40%), was reported as 64.51 ± 7.19 years old. Reduction of pain intensity based on VAS score was statistically significant in both groups at follow-up periods (P < 0.001). The VAS changes in the first month and sixth months showed no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.28 and P = 0.33, respectively). The improvement in disability index (ODI) in both types of treatment during follow-up was significant (P < 0.0001), and there was no difference between the two treatment groups in one month and six months (P = 0.48 and P = 0.88, respectively). As for walking distance, the improvement process with both types of treatment during follow-up periods was significant (P < 0.001). However, after one and six months of treatment, the rate of improvement in patients' walking distance in the caudal epidural steroid injection plus ozone group was significantly higher than in the epidural steroid group (p = 0.026 and p = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the results of VAS and ODI outcomes showed that caudal epidural steroid injection combined with ozone has no advantage over caudal epidural steroid injection alone. Interestingly, our results demonstrated that the group receiving caudal epidural steroid injection plus ozone scored significantly higher on the walking distance index than the group receiving caudal epidural steroid alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT IRCT20090704002117N2 (registration date: 07/08/2019).

Combined application of chondroitinase ABC and photobiomodulation with low-intensity laser on the anal sphincter repair in rabbit.

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation with low-intensity laser (LIL) and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) can repair damaged muscle tissue, so the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of co-administration of these two factors on anal sphincter repair in rabbits. METHODS: Male rabbits were studied in 5 groups (n = 7): Control (intact), sphincterotomy, laser, ChABC and laser + ChABC. 90 days after intervention were evaluated resting and maximum squeeze pressures, number of motor units, collagen amount, markers of muscle regeneration and angiogenesis. RESULTS: Resting pressure in the Laser + ChABC group was higher than the sphincterotomy, laser and ChABC groups (p < 0.0001). Maximum squeeze pressure in the all study groups was higher than sphincterotomy group (p < 0.0001). In the laser + ChABC and ChABC groups, motor unit numbers were more than the sphincterotomy group (p < 0.0001). Collagen content was significantly decreased in the laser (p < 0.0001) and laser + ChABC groups. ACTA1 (p = 0.001) and MHC (p < 0.0001) gene expression in the Laser + ChABC group were more than the laser or ChABC alone. VEGFA (p = 0.009) and Ki67 mRNA expression (p = 0.01) in the Laser + ChABC group were more than the laser group, But vimentin mRNA expression (p < 0.0001) was less than the laser group. CONCLUSION: Co-administration of ChABCs and photobiomodulation with LIL appears to improve the tissue structure and function of the anal sphincter in rabbits more than when used alone.

Therapeutic ultrasound for chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: This is an update of a Cochrane Review published in 2014. Chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) has become one of the main causes of disability in the adult population around the world. Although therapeutic ultrasound is not recommended in recent clinical guidelines, it is frequently used by physiotherapists in the treatment of chronic LBP. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in the management of chronic non-specific LBP. A secondary objective was to determine the most effective dosage and intensity of therapeutic ultrasound for chronic LBP. SEARCH METHODS: We performed electronic searches in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, Index to Chiropractic Literature, and two trials registers to 7 January 2020. We checked the reference lists of eligible studies and relevant systematic reviews and performed forward citation searching. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on therapeutic ultrasound for chronic non-specific LBP. We compared ultrasound (either alone or in combination with another treatment) with placebo or other interventions for chronic LBP. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias of each trial and extracted the data. We performed a meta-analysis when sufficient clinical and statistical homogeneity existed. We determined the certainty of the evidence for each comparison using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included 10 RCTs involving a total of 1025 participants with chronic LBP. The included studies were carried out in secondary care settings in Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, the UK, and the USA, and most applied therapeutic ultrasound in addition to another treatment, for six to 18 treatment sessions. The risk of bias was unclear in most studies. Eight studies (80%) had unclear or high risk of selection bias; no studies blinded care providers to the intervention; and only five studies (50%) blinded participants. There was a risk of selective reporting in eight studies (80%), and no studies adequately assessed compliance with the intervention. There was very low-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision, inconsistency, and limitations in design) of little to no difference between therapeutic ultrasound and placebo for short-term pain improvement (mean difference (MD) -7.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) -17.99 to 3.75; n = 121, 3 RCTs; 0-to-100-point visual analogue scale (VAS)). There was also moderate-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision) of little to no difference in the number of participants achieving a 30% reduction in pain in the short term (risk ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.44; n = 225, 1 RCT). There was low-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision and limitations in design) that therapeutic ultrasound has a small effect on back-specific function compared with placebo in the short term (standardised mean difference -0.29, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.07 (MD -1.07, 95% CI -1.89 to -0.26; Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire); n = 325; 4 RCTs), but this effect does not appear to be clinically important. There was moderate-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision) of little to no difference between therapeutic ultrasound and placebo on well-being (MD -2.71, 95% CI -9.85 to 4.44; n = 267, 2 RCTs; general health subscale of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)). Two studies (n = 486) reported on overall improvement and satisfaction between groups, and both reported little to no difference between groups (low-certainty evidence, downgraded for serious imprecision). One study (n = 225) reported on adverse events and did not identify any adverse events related to the intervention (low-certainty evidence, downgraded for serious imprecision). No study reported on disability for this comparison. We do not know whether therapeutic ultrasound in addition to exercise results in better outcomes than exercise alone because the certainty of the evidence for all outcomes was very low (downgraded for imprecision and serious limitations in design). The estimate effect for pain was in favour of the ultrasound plus exercise group (MD -21.1, 95% CI -27.6 to -14.5; n = 70, 2 RCTs; 0-to-100-point VAS) at short term. Regarding back-specific function (MD - 0.41, 95% CI -3.14 to 2.32; n = 79, 2 RCTs; Oswestry Disability Questionnaire) and well-being (MD -2.50, 95% CI -9.53 to 4.53; n = 79, 2 RCTs; general health subscale of the SF-36), there was little to no difference between groups at short term. No studies reported on the number of participants achieving a 30% reduction in pain, patient satisfaction, disability, or adverse events for this comparison. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence from this systematic review is uncertain regarding the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on pain in individuals with chronic non-specific LBP. Whilst there is some evidence that therapeutic ultrasound may have a small effect on improving low back function in the short term compared to placebo, the certainty of evidence is very low. The true effect is likely to be substantially different. There are few high-quality randomised trials, and the available trials were very small. The current evidence does not support the use of therapeutic ultrasound in the management of chronic LBP.

Comparison of efficacy of corticosteroid injection versus extracorporeal shock wave therapy on inferior trigger points in the quadratus lumborum muscle: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of corticosteroid trigger point injection (TPI) versus extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on inferior trigger points in the quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle. METHODS: In this single-blind randomized clinical trial, 54 low back pain patients with myofascial trigger points on QL muscle were investigated. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups with A and B pockets. Patients in group A underwent radial ESWT and received 5 treatment sessions (1 per week) and actually were not followed-up. However, patients in group B received corticosteroid TPI and received one session of corticosteroid treatment and followed-up for 4 weeks after injection. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT) and short form (36) health survey (SF-36) were measured in both groups before, two weeks after and four weeks after intervention. RESULTS: The between group comparison indicated that corticosteroid TPI leaded to significant higher improvements of ODI (P-value< 0.01), VAS (P value< 0.001), and PPT (P-value = 0.001) scores compared to the ESWT group at two-week follow-up time-point. ESWT group recorded significant higher improvement of ODI (P-value< 0.01) and SF-36 (P-value< 0.001) compared to the corticosteroid TPI at 4th week post treatment evaluation. At four-week follow-up time-point, the patients in the ESWT group were 1.46 times more likely to achieve 30% reduction in VAS, 2.67 times more likely to achieve 30% reduction in ODI, and 2.30 times more likely to achieve 20% improvement in SF-36 compared to the participants in corticosteroid TPI group. These results refer to large effect size for all study outcomes in ESWT group (d = 4.72, d = 1.58, d = 5.48, and d = 7.47 for ODI, PPT, SF-36, and VAS, respectively). CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid TPI was more effective compared to ESWT in short-term controlling of pain and disability caused by myofascial pain syndrome of QL muscle. However, after 4 weeks treatment, ESWT further improved the quality of life and disability and was related with more probability of achievement the minimal clinically important difference concerning pain, disability and quality of life and large effect size for all study outcomes in treated patients compared to corticosteroid TPI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.irct.ir , IRCT20100827004641N14 , retrospectively registered 2019-01-19.

Beliefs, attitude, and knowledge of the Iranian physiatrists towards neuromusculoskeletal ultrasound and common barriers in its application.

BACKGROUND: Regarding the increasing application of neuromusculoskeletal sonography among medical specialties, specifically physiatrists, this study aims to assess the knowledge and skill level of these specialists in neuromusculoskeletal sonography in Iran. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in 2018. The utilized questionnaire developed based on previous studies in collaboration with 6 university lecturers of Shaheed Beheshti, Iran, and Tabriz medical universities and a physiatrist from Hacettepe University (Turkey); it included questions entailing demographic data, knowledge, and performance levels. Its validity and reliability were evaluated through face validation, pilot study, and the Cronbach α calculated via SPSS. Data extraction and analysis were also performed by SPSS-25. RESULTS: Of 364 questionnaires distributed, 300 were properly filled and entered into the study, of which, 38% were filled by clinical residents, 10% university lecturers, and 52% other categories (e.g. private sector). The average number of musculoskeletal patient visits was 140.6 ± 119 and the mean number of musculoskeletal sonographies requested was 8.2 ± 5.2 per month (the three most common indications reported as the shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendon injuries). 95% of the participants considered the importance of sonography for physiatrists to be "very high" or "high"; with the most valuable applications "as a guide for procedures (90%), its diagnostic utility (68%), and follow up/evaluating the response to treatment (45%). 86% of physiatrists reported they had participated in musculoskeletal sonography courses, 60% during residency, and the rest through workshops. Also, the participants mentioned safety (83%), the possibility of performing simultaneous diagnosis and intervention procedures (70%), repeatability (58%), and dynamic imagery (52%) as the major advantages of musculoskeletal ultrasound. CONCLUSION: a large number of doctors consider musculoskeletal sonography to be essential for physiatrists, though insufficient education on the subject and the low number of ultrasound devices are some of the obstacles in enhancing the use of this technology in PM&R setting. Presenting certified specific training courses during residency, provision of necessary rotations, using the capacities of the PM&R scientific committee, and the private sector for running workshops and professional training courses are suggested for enhancing the knowledge and skills of neuromusculoskeletal sonography.

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Local Ozone (O2-O3) Injection vs Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The affected area is often close to the attachment of plantar fascia to calcaneus bone. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ozone (O2-O3) injection to corticosteroid injection under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of chronic PF. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Academic University and Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center. SUBJECTS: Thirty patients with chronic PF. METHODS: The patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving methylprednisolone (15 subjects) vs ozone (O2-O3; 15 subjects). The following outcome measures were assessed before injection and then two weeks and 12 weeks after the injection in each group; morning and daily pain via visual analog scale, daily life and exercise activities via the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, and plantar fascia thickness at insertion and 1 cm distal to its insertion into the calcaneus via ultrasound imaging. RESULTS: Intragroup changes showed significant improvement in pain, functional parameters, and sonographic findings in both groups (P < 0.05). Pain reduction (both daily and morning) and daily activity improvement were better in the corticosteroid group two weeks after injection; however, at 12 weeks, the ozone (O2-O3) group had significantly more improvement (P = 0.003, P = 0.001, and P = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both methods were effective in the treatment of chronic PF. Steroid injection provided a more rapid and short-term therapeutic effect. However, ozone (O2-O3) injection led to a slow and longer-lasting treatment outcome. Ozone (O2-O3) injection can be an effective treatment, with slow onset and a longer durability in the treatment of chronic PF.

Ultrasound-Guided Versus Landmark-Guided Local Corticosteroid Injection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature and assess the comparative effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus landmark-guided local corticosteroid injections in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), and Web of Science (from inception to February 1, 2017). STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ultrasound-guided injection with landmark-guided injection in patients with CTS were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently screened abstracts and full texts. The outcomes of interest were Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and Functional Status Scale (FSS) scores of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and 4 electrodiagnostic parameters, including compound muscle action potential (CMAP), sensory nerve action potential (SNAP), distal motor latency (DML), and distal sensory latency (DSL). DATA SYNTHESIS: Overall, 569 abstracts were retrieved and checked for eligibility; finally, 3 RCTs were included (181 injected hands). Pooled analysis showed that ultrasound-guided injection was more effective in SSS improvement (mean difference [MD], -.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], -.59 to -.32; P<.00001), whereas no significant difference was observed between the 2 methods in terms of the FSS (MD, -.25; 95% CI, -.56 to .05; P=.10). There were also no statistically significant differences in improvements of CMAP (MD, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.01 to 3.07; P=.05), SNAP (MD, -0.02; 95% CI, -6.27 to 6.23; P>.99), DML (MD, .05; 95% CI, -.30 to .39; P=.80), or DSL (MD, .00; 95% CI, -.65 to .65; P>.99). CONCLUSIONS: This review suggested that ultrasound-guided injection was more effective than landmark-guided injection in symptom severity improvement in patients with CTS; however, no significant differences were observed in functional status or electrodiagnostic improvements between the 2 methods.

Effectiveness of Lavendula stoechas essential oil in treatment of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. INTRODUCTION: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity. To date, no previous study has evaluated the efficacy of topical Lavendula stoechas (Lavender) oil in CTS patients. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effectiveness of topical Lavender essential oil in pain intensity, isometric pinch strength, electrophysiological features, and functional status of patients with mild to moderate CTS. METHODS: Forty eight patients with mild to moderate CTS were enrolled in this randomized placebo-controlled trial. Group A was treated with night wrist orthotic and topical lavender oil ointment. Group B was treated with night wrist orthotic and a placebo ointment. Patients were evaluated at baseline, and after 40 days of intervention with Boston CTS questionnaire (BCTQ), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, pinch grip strength, power grip, median compound motor action potential latency, and median sensory nerve action potential latency. RESULTS: At the end of the study period, both groups improved significantly in terms of BCTQ, VAS, isometric pinch powers, and electrodiagnosis study parameters. However, group A showed significantly greater improvements in BCTQ (mean difference, 0.39 ± 0.31 vs 0.6 ± 0.35; P = .03), VAS (3.37 ± 1.86 vs 1.33 ± 2.07; P = .001), and pinch grip strength (0.73 ± 0.63 vs 0.27 ± 0.54; P = .01) than group B. No significant differences in power grip, median compound motor action potential latency, and median sensory nerve action potential latency were seen between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: This study was the first trial of topical lavender oil used in patients with CTS. Wrist orthotic combined with topical lavender oil was more effective than orthotic and placebo in treatment of mild to moderate CTS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b.

Ultrasonographic reference values for the median nerve at the level of pronator teres muscle.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrasonographic reference values for diameters and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle in healthy population as well as to correlate the findings with height, weight, sex and age. METHODS: Fifty-five healthy Caucasian volunteers (110 median nerves) were included in this study. The reference range (mean ± 2 standard deviations; 2.5th-97.5th quintiles) and the upper limit of side-to-side difference of the median nerve between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle were investigated using high-frequency ultrasound. The effects of age, sex, height, handedness, and body mass index (BMI) were examined. RESULTS: The mean age was 39.4 ± 10.6 years (range 18-75 years). The mean ± 2SD of the median CSA was 4.9-12.9 mm2. The upper limit of normal side-to-side difference was 3.0 mm2. The differences between genders and between the dominant and non-dominant hands were not significant. The mean antero-posterior and transverse diameters were 7.2 ± 1.5 and 10.7 ± 2.4 mm, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between the dominant-side CSA and BMI (r = 0.33; p = 0.01) and age (r = 0.31; p = 0.02). The correlation between the CSA and height (r = 0.19; p = 0.16) was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The measurements obtained in this study are of importance for examining median nerve entrapments in the forearm using high-frequency ultrasound. Age and BMI showed to be correlated with median nerve CSA; while gender and height were not.

Reliability and validity of the Persian translation of Berg Balance Scale in Parkinson disease.

PURPOSE: Parkinson disease (PD) is one of the common causes of imbalance, and the balance assessment is necessary for treatment and rehabilitation of these patients. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) has been the main instrument used to evaluate balance impairment. The purpose of this study is to investigate reliability and validity of the Persian translation of BBS in Parkinson disease. METHODS: One hundred PD patients (with mean age of 56.8 ± 15.13 years) were included. Interrater reliability was measured with the Kappa statistics and interclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The mean values of the BBS scored by the two evaluators were 47/85 ± 11/09 and 48/03 ± 10/90, respectively. The mean of Kappa coefficient between two examiners was 0.76, which was between 0.38 and 0.93 for various items. The total score recorded by both examiners, interclass correlation coefficient, was 0.99, which is excellent. Cronbach's alpha for Iranian version of BBS was 0.92, which shows the excellent reliability of the questionnaire (0.62-0.9 for all items). CONCLUSION: The Persian version of the BBS has excellent interrater reliability and internal consistency for the assessment of PD patients.

Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy Type IV (FINNISH) with Rapid Clinical Progression in an Iranian Woman: A Case Report.

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) type IV (FINNISH) is a rare clinical entity with challenging neuropathy and cosmetic deficits. Amyloidosis can affect peripheral sensory, motor, or autonomic nerves. Nerve lesions are induced by deposits of amyloid fibrils and treatment approaches for neuropathy are challenging. Involvement of cranial nerves and atrophy in facial muscles is a real concern in daily life of such patients. Currently, diagnosis of neuropathy can be made by electrodiagnostic studies and diagnosis of amyloidosis can be made by genetic testing or by detection of amyloid deposition in abdominal fat pad, rectal, or nerve biopsies. It is preferable to consider FAP as one of the differential diagnosis of a case presented with multiple cranial nerves symptoms. The authors present a case of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) type IV with severe involvement of multiple cranial nerves, peripheral limb neuropathy, and orthostatic hypotension.

Dry needling in patients with chronic heel pain due to plantar fasciitis: A single-blinded randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the effects of dry needling on chronic heel pain due to plantar fasciitis. METHODS: During this single-blinded clinical trial, 20 eligible patients were randomized into two groups: A case group treated with dry needling and a control group. Patients' plantar pain severity, (using modified visual analog scale [VAS] scoring system), range of motion of ankle joint in dorsiflexion [ROMDF] and plantar extension[ROMPE] and foot function index (using standard questionnaires of SEM5 and MDC7) were assessed at baseline, four weeks after intervention and four weeks after withdrawing treatment. Independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, and chi square test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean VAS scores in the case group was significantly lower than the control group after four weeks of intervention (p<0.001). Comparison of the ROMDF and ROMPE did not reveal any significant changes after four weeks of intervention in the case and control groups (p=0.7 and p=0.65, respectively). The mean of MDC7 and SEM5 scores in the case group were significantly lower than the control group following four weeks of intervention (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the insignificant effect on ROMDF and ROMPE, trigger point dry needling, by improving the severity of heel pain, can be used as a good alternative option before proceeding to more invasive therapies of plantar fasciitis.

One year after twin earthquakes in Northwest Iran.

Every year in most earthquakes more than thousands of lives are lost, mainly in middle- and low-income countries. Disability and rehabilitation in third world countries could cause disastrous negative effect in living expense of families. So many preventable disabilities are result of these earthquakes and we hope reminding it will make a difference.

Ultrasound-Guided Pes Anserine Bursitis Injection Choices: Prolotherapy or Oxygen-Ozone or Corticosteroid: A Randomized Multicenter Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Pes anserine bursitis is the most common cause of periarticular knee pain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of local injection-based therapies with different materials. DESIGN: The enrolled patients were randomly allocated to three groups to receive different interventions. Outcome measures included pain severity using the visual analog scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index that was evaluated before the intervention, 1 and 8 wks after that. RESULTS: This trial was performed on 72 participants, with male-to-female ratio of 0.14 and with a mean age of 61.49 ± 9.35 yrs. Corticosteroids in the first group, oxygen-ozone in the second group, and dextrose 20% in the third group, were injected into the pes anserine bursa under ultrasound guidance. Interaction between time and group showed a statistically significant improvement in visual analog scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index ( P ≤ 0.05) in favor of corticosteroids and oxygen-ozone groups after 1 wk and in favor of oxygen-ozone and prolotherapy groups after 8 wks. CONCLUSIONS: All three treatment options are effective for patients with pes anserine bursitis. This study showed that the effects of oxygen-ozone injection and prolotherapy last longer than those of corticosteroid injection.

Comparing radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy and corticosteroid injection in the treatment of piriformis syndrome: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the effects of shockwave therapy and corticosteroid injection in the treatment of piriformis syndrome. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this randomized clinical trial, thirty-five patients with piriformis syndrome were randomly divided into two groups of 18 in the shockwave group and 17 in the corticosteroid group. The Shockwave group underwent three sessions of shockwave therapy per week (2000 pulses per session with 5Hz frequency and pressure equal to 4 Bar) and the corticosteroid group underwent an injection of 40 mg methylprednisolone with 1 mL of 1% lidocaine under ultrasound guidance. All patients were assessed by SF-36 questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). The SF-36 questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life before and 4 weeks after the intervention. VAS scale was used to evaluate pain before the intervention, and 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different. At the end of the study, both groups had a significant improvement in pain and quality of life compared to before the intervention. However, according to the VAS, in the shockwave group improvement was seen in the first follow-up while not seen in the corticosteroid group (P-value <0.001 and P-value 1.00, respectively). According to the SF-36 questionnaire, the overall score in both groups had a significant improvement (P-value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that shockwave therapy and corticosteroid injection are both effective in the treatment of piriformis syndrome. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the quarterly follow-up. Because shockwave therapy is a relatively non-invasive treatment with fewer side effects, it can be useful to improve pain and the quality of life of patients with piriformis syndrome.

A small painful neuroma of the transverse cervical nerve treated with pulsed radiofrequency: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is a common complaint seen amongst patients from all ages. When common causes of neck pain have been ruled out, it is important to investigate further. A careful physical exam can help identify the painful structures. An ultrasound of the area can also be helpful to identify possible structures involved. Neuromas can be treated with oral medications as well as more invasive techniques, such as pulsed radiofrequency (PRF). CASE DESCRIPTION: In this case report, we discuss a 67-year-old female who presented with left anterior neck pain after developing a cervical mass who was later diagnosed as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A small neuroma of the left transverse cervical nerve was found on ultrasound and ultimately was treated with PRF with a complete resolution of her symptoms at two months follow-up. CONCLUSION: PRF seems to be a useful tool for controlling neuropathic pain caused by a neuroma.

Ultrasound-Guided Injection of Dextrose Versus Corticosteroid in Chronic Plantar Fasciitis Management: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

DESIGN: Chronic plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of chronic heel pain, with different conventional treatment options. In this randomized clinical trial, the effect of ultrasound-guided injection of dextrose versus corticosteroid in chronic PF was evaluated and compared. METHODS: A total of 44 patients suffering from chronic PF who visited the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic were enrolled in the study. Two table-randomized groups were formed. They received an ultrasonography-guided, single injection of either 40 mg methylprednisolone or 20% dextrose. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire with 2 subscales, Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-A) and Sports (FAAM-S), along with ultrasonographic parameters were evaluated before and at 2 and 12 weeks after the injection. Results. A total of 40 participants completed the study. Both interventions significantly improved pain and function at 2 and 12 weeks postinjection. After 2 weeks, compared with the dextrose prolotherapy, the corticosteroid group had significantly lower daytime and morning NRS scores (2.55 vs 4.1, P = .012, and 2.75 vs 4.65, P = .004), higher FAAM-S (66.84 vs 54.19; P = .047), and lower plantar fascia thickness at insertion and 1 cm distal to the insertion zone (3.89 vs 4.29 mm, P = .004, and 3.13 vs 3.48 mm, P = .002), whereas FAAM-A was similar in both groups (P = .219). After 12 weeks, all study variables were statistically similar between corticosteroid and dextrose prolotherapy groups. No injection-related side effects were recorded in either group. CONCLUSION: Both methods are effective. Compared with dextrose prolotherapy, our results show that corticosteroid injection may have superior therapeutic effects early after injection, accompanied by a similar outcome at 12 weeks postinjection. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level II.