Effect of the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy on healing of Achilles tendinopathy in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE:  This study aimed to investigate the effect of the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the healing of Achilles tendinopathy in a rat model induced by type 1 collagenase. METHODS:  The study was conducted on 144 Achilles tendons of 72 Wistar albino female rats with typical activity and weighing 300-350 g. The model of Achilles tendinopathy was created by injecting type 1 collagenase. According to the sampling time, 4 groups served as the control group, while 8 groups received treatment at varying periods. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy was initiated in 8 groups at 1, 7, and 15 days. Treatment was extended for 1 and 2 weeks. Achilles tendons were removed from the treatment and control groups on the 15th, 21st, 30th, and 45th days for biomechanical and pathologic examination. RESULTS:  Compared to the control groups, LIPUS treatment administered in the first days of the proliferation phase increased tensile strength by approximately 30%, modulus of elasticity by approximately 53%, fibrillar appearance by 53%, and inflammation by 53%-33% in a shorter time. It was also demonstrated that starting treatment in the first days of the proliferation phase resulted in comparable success even with 1-week treatment compared to 2-week treatment. CONCLUSION:  Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy can provide positive results in managing Achilles tendinopathy in the rat model. Its capacity to shorten recuperation time has piqued the interest of conservative treatment approaches. As a result, more clinical research is required. Cite this article as: Kurtulmus T, Çelebi ME, Bektas E, Arican ÇD, Kucukyildirim BO, Demirkol M. Effect of the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy on healing of Achilles tendinopathy in a rat model. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc., 2024;58(2):102-109.

Early clinical outcomes of ınferior turbinate radiofrequency and lateralization combined with septoplasty / Resultados clínicos iniciais da utilização de radiofrequência e lateralização das conchas nasais inferiores combinadas à septoplastia

Abstract Introduction: Mechanical obstruction is the most common form of nasal obstruction. Among the types of mechanical obstructions, septum deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy are the most prevalent. Objective: This study evaluated the early clinical outcomes of inferior turbinate radiofrequency and inferior turbinate lateralization combined with septoplasty in the treatment of nasal obstruction symptoms. Methods: The research retrospectively evaluated data from 33 patients (24 male, nine female) undergoing septoplasty and inferior turbinate radiofrequency (RF group) and 32 patients (24 male, eight female) treated with septoplasty and inferior turbinate lateralization (LAT group), who were admitted, with complaints of nasal obstruction, to the University of Health Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018. The patients' preoperative and 6-month postoperative symptoms were evaluated via the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, the NOSE scale. Results: The mean preoperative NOSE scores were 10.3 ± 4.2 in the RF group and 10.9 ± 4.9 in the LAT group, and the mean six-month postoperative scores were 1.09 ± 1.3 in the RF group and 1.2 ± 1.3 in the LAT group. There was no significant difference in NOSE scores between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The data obtained in this study show that both methods result in similar outcomes in terms of relieving nasal obstruction symptoms in patients requiring inferior turbinate intervention. Therefore, the researchers believe that, in each case, the intervention method should be selected at the discretion of the patient and surgeon(s).

Resumo Introdução: A obstrução mecânica é a forma mais comum de obstrução nasal. Entre os tipos de obstruções mecânicas, o desvio do septo e a hipertrofia de conchas inferiores são os mais prevalentes. Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados clínicos iniciais da aplicação de radiofrequência nas conchas inferiores e a lateralização delas combinada com septoplastia no tratamento dos sintomas de obstrução nasal. Método: O estudo avaliou retrospectivamente dados de 33 pacientes (24 homens, nove mulheres) que foram submetidos a septoplastia e aplicação de radiofrequência no concha inferior (grupo RF) e 32 pacientes (24 homens, oito mulheres) submetidos a septoplastia e lateralização de concha inferior (grupo LAT), que foram admitidos com queixas de obstrução nasal na University of Health Sciences, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, entre 1° de janeiro de 2017 e 1° de janeiro de 2018. Os sintomas pré-operatórios e pós-operatórios de 6 meses dos pacientes foram avaliados pela escala NOSE, do inglês Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation. Resultados: Os escores médios pré-operatórios da escala NOSE foram 10,3 ± 4,2 no grupo RF e 10,9 ± 4,9 no grupo LAT e os escores médios pós-operatórios de seis meses foram 1,09 ± 1,3 no grupo RF e 1,2 ± 1,3 no grupo LAT. Não houve diferença significante nos escores da escala NOSE entre os dois grupos (p > 0,05). Conclusão: Os dados obtidos neste estudo mostram que ambos os métodos têm resultados semelhantes em termos de alívio dos sintomas de obstrução nasal em pacientes que necessitam de intervenção nas conchas inferiores. Portanto, os pesquisadores acreditam que, em cada caso, o método de intervenção deve ser selecionado a critério do paciente e do cirurgião.