The Effect of Kinesio Taping Versus Splint Techniques on Pain and Functional Scores in Children with Hand PIP Joint Sprain.

Introduction: Due to the continual increase in the number of children engaging in sports today, physicians encounter finger injuries at an increasing frequency. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of the method of Kinesio taping versus classic finger splint technique on pediatric patients with PIP (proximal interphalangeal) joint sprains of the fingers. Method: This is a retrospective cohort study. Forty-nine pediatric patients with PIP joint sprains were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, Group 1 being those treated with Kinesio taping and Group 2, those treated with splints. The area around the PIP joint was measured before and after treatment. Visual analog scale (VAS) evaluation: nighttime pain, numbness, pain at rest, and pain during activity were each separately evaluated before and after treatment. Also, flexion was measured at rest and in active motion before and after treatment. Results: The patients' periarticular measurements of the affected joint were statistically significant in both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). In the comparison between the groups, it was found that the group treated with Kinesio taping displayed a better outcome (p < 0.021). According to the VAS for PIP joint pain, it was observed that in both groups, pain at rest, pain during activity, nighttime pain, and numbness were statistically significant after treatment (p < 0.001). In the comparison of the groups, it was seen that the difference was statistically significant only in terms of nighttime pain (p < 0.013). Conclusions: The study conducted supported the literature that Kinesio taping method does not restrict the function of the extremity to which it is applied and also does not produce the complications reported in other treatment techniques. Kinesio taping was found to have a higher patient compliance and the outcomes were better in terms of edema and joint range of motion as well as night time pain when compared to the group treated with splint.

Evaluation of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair results in patients with anterior greater tubercle cysts.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical results of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients with anterior greater tubercle cyst in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: The cyst-present group comprised 38 patients with anterior greater tubercle cyst in MRI, and age- and sex-matched 30 patients without cyst in humeral head were included in the control group. The cystic group was divided into two groups, smaller than 5 mm (21 patients) and larger than 5 mm (17 patients), according to the cyst size. A total of three groups were created. In the evaluation of clinical outcomes, modified University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) were used. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare VAS, UCLA, and WORC scores among the groups. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the clinical results of VAS, UCLA, and WORC among the cystic and noncystic groups in the anterior greater tubercle ( p < 0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference in the clinical results of UCLA, WORC, and VAS scores according to the cyst sizes in the anterior greater tubercle cyst group ( p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Anterior greater tubercle cysts have negative effects on rotator cuff repair results. If the anterior greater tubercle cyst size is greater than 5 mm, the negative effects of rotator cuff repair results are more pronounced. An understanding of anterior greater tubercle cysts has a critical importance for rotator cuff surgery planning.