The fatal contribution of serine protease-related genetic variants to COVID-19 outcomes.

Introduction: Serine proteases play a critical role during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, polymorphisms of transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and serpine family E member 1 (SERPINE1) could help to elucidate the contribution of variability to COVID-19 outcomes. Methods: To evaluate the genetic variants of the genes previously associated with COVID-19 outcomes, we performed a cross-sectional study in which 1536 SARS-CoV-2-positive participants were enrolled. TMPRSS2 (rs2070788, rs75603675, rs12329760) and SERPINE1 (rs2227631, rs2227667, rs2070682, rs2227692) were genotyped using the Open Array Platform. The association of polymorphisms with disease outcomes was determined by logistic regression analysis adjusted for covariates (age, sex, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity). Results: According to our codominant model, the GA genotype of rs2227667 (OR=0.55; 95% CI = 0.36-0.84; p=0.006) and the AG genotype of rs2227667 (OR=0.59; 95% CI = 0.38-0.91; p=0.02) of SERPINE1 played a protective role against disease. However, the rs2227692 T allele and TT genotype SERPINE1 (OR=1.45; 95% CI = 1.11-1.91; p=0.006; OR=2.08; 95% CI = 1.22-3.57; p=0.007; respectively) were associated with a decreased risk of death. Similarly, the rs75603675 AA genotype TMPRSS2 had an OR of 1.97 (95% CI = 1.07-3.6; p=0.03) for deceased patients. Finally, the rs2227692 T allele SERPINE1 was associated with increased D-dimer levels (OR=1.24; 95% CI = 1.03-1.48; p=0.02). Discussion: Our data suggest that the rs75603675 TMPRSS2 and rs2227692 SERPINE1 polymorphisms are associated with a poor outcome. Additionally, rs2227692 SERPINE1 could participate in hypercoagulable conditions in critical COVID-19 patients, and this genetic variant could contribute to the identification of new pharmacological targets and treatment strategies to block the inhibition of TMPRSS2 entry into SARS-CoV-2.

A comprehensive review of hip arthroscopy techniques and outcomes.

Transforming the orthopedic landscape, hip arthroscopy pioneers a minimally invasive surgical approach for diagnosing and addressing hip pathologies. With its origins dating back to Burman's 1931 cadaveric study, this groundbreaking technique gained clinical relevance in 1939 through Takagi's report. However, the 1980s marked the actual emergence of hip arthroscopy for treating a wide range of hip disorders. Now, a staple in modern orthopedics, hip arthroscopy empowers patients with previously undiagnosed and untreated hip conditions, enabling them to obtain relief and reclaim their lives. By employing a compact camera and specialized tools, surgeons expertly navigate the hip joint, performing procedures from excising loose bodies and mending labral tears to addressing femoroacetabular impingement and tackling other intricate issues. This innovative approach has dramatically elevated patients' quality of life, allowing them to embrace targeted treatments and resume daily activities without resorting to lifestyle alterations.

Editorial Commentary: Younger Patients With Hip Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome and a Superolateral Cam Lesion Location May Require Aggressive Treatment to Prevent Post-Arthroscopy Total Hip Replacement.

Hip femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is observed in 47% to 74% of patients with hip pain. Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome may result in osteoarthritis. It is well known that cam lesion volume and hip alpha angle are critical parameters determining patient outcomes. Recent research shows that a superolateral cam lesion location increases risk of hip arthroplasty at 5 years, and that this is more common in younger patients. The clinical relevance is that we may need to more aggressively treat superolateral cam lesions in younger patients, pending additional research to determine whether location is destiny.

Effect of smoking on the redox status of knee osteoarthritis: A preliminary study.

Even though smoking has been scarcely studied in osteoarthritis (OA) etiology, it is considered a controversial risk factor for the disease. Exposure to tobacco smoke has been reported to promote oxidative stress (OS) as part of the damage mechanism. The aim of this study was to assess whether smoking increases cartilage damage through the generation of OS. Peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) samples from patients with OA were analyzed. The samples were stratified according to smoking habit, Kellgren-Lawrence score, pain, and cotinine concentrations in PB. Malondialdehyde (MDA), methylglyoxal (MGO), advanced protein oxidation products (APOPs), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were assessed; the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT), as well as the activity of arginase, which favors the destruction of cartilage, was determined. When stratified by age, for individuals <60 years, the levels of MDA and APOPs and the activity of MPO and GST were higher, as well as antioxidant system activity in the smoking group (OA-S). A greater degree of pain in the OA-S group increased the concentrations of APOPs and arginase activity (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Arginase activity increased significantly with a higher degree of pain (P < 0.01). Active smoking can be an important risk factor for the development of OA by inducing systemic OS in young adults, in addition to reducing antioxidant enzymes in older adults and enhancing the degree of pain and loss of cartilage.

Traction-related complications in hip arthroscopy for 26 years. A systematic review.

The primary aim of the study is to determine the rate of traction-related complications in hip arthroscopy (HA) including perineal compression and distraction injuries, and the secondary objective is to report the incidence of complications in HA found on the studies selected by a systematic review. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used for data extraction from the PubMed and Cochrane databases obtained in February 2022. Reviewers extracted the title, author, date of publication, number of hips treated and number of complications describing the affected area, nerve and soft tissue injury related to traction. Studies on postless HA and HA combined with other procedures were excluded. Twenty-six years of HA literature was found in the search that included 35 studies and 8126 hips (89% Level IV) that reported the complications found during the procedure and described complications related to traction. A total of 623 hips (7.7%) had some sort of complications during HA, and complications related to traction were in 227 hips (36%). Injuries caused specifically by the perineal compression were in 144 hips (23%) that included the pudendal nerve and soft tissue injury of the groin area. Complications caused by the distraction were in 83 hips (13%) that included sciatic and peroneal nerve injury, numbness or pain of ankle and foot. HA complications occurred in 7.7% of hips treated, which is found in this systematic review. One-third of the complications are related to traction, 23% are caused by perineal compression and 13% are caused by distraction.

Revolutionizing orthopedics: a comprehensive review of robot-assisted surgery, clinical outcomes, and the future of patient care.

Robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery (RAOS) is revolutionizing the field, offering the potential for increased accuracy and precision and improved patient outcomes. This comprehensive review explores the historical perspective, current robotic systems, advantages and limitations, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, future developments, and innovation in RAOS. Based on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and recent studies, this article highlights the most significant findings and compares RAOS to conventional techniques. As robotic-assisted surgery continues to evolve, clinicians and researchers must stay informed and adapt their practices to provide optimal patient care. Evidence from published studies corroborates these claims, highlighting superior component positioning, decreased incidence of complications, and heightened patient satisfaction. However, challenges such as costs, learning curves, and technical issues must be resolved to fully capitalize on these advantages.

Implication of myddosome complex genetic variants in outcome severity of COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE(S): During a viral infection, the immune response is mediated by the toll-like receptors and myeloid differentiation Factor 88 (MyD88) that play an important role sensing infections such as SARS-CoV-2 which has claimed the lives of more than 6.8 million people around the world. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional with a population of 618 SARS-CoV-2-positive unvaccinated subjects and further classified based on severity: 22% were mild, 34% were severe, 26% were critical, and 18% were deceased. Toll Like Receptor 7 (TLR7) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3853839, rs179008, rs179009, and rs2302267) and MyD88 (rs7744) were genotyped using TaqMan OpenArray. The association of polymorphisms with disease outcomes was performed by logistic regression analysis adjusted by covariates. RESULTS: A significant association of rs3853839 and rs7744 of the TLR7 and MyD88 genes, respectively, was found with COVID-19 severity. The G/G genotype of the rs3853839 TLR7 was associated with the critical outcome showing an Odd Ratio = 1.98 (95% IC = 1.04-3.77). The results highlighted an association of the G allele of MyD88 gene with severe, critical and deceased outcomes. Furthermore, in the dominant model (AG + GG vs. AA), we observed an Odd Ratio = 1.70 (95% CI = 1.02-2.86) with severe, Odd Ratio = 1.82 (95% CI = 1.04-3.21) with critical, and Odd Ratio = 2.44 (95% CI = 1.21-4.9) with deceased outcomes. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge this work represents an innovative report that highlights the significant association of TLR7 and MyD88 gene polymorphisms with COVID-19 outcomes and the possible implication of the MyD88 variant with D-dimer and IFN-α concentrations.

Metabolic Reprogramming in SARS-CoV-2 Infection Impacts the Outcome of COVID-19 Patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection triggers inflammatory clinical stages that affect the outcome of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Disease severity may be associated with a metabolic imbalance related to amino acids, lipids, and energy-generating pathways. The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of amino acids and acylcarnitines in COVID-19 patients. A multicenter, cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 453 individuals were classified by disease severity. Levels of 11 amino acids, 31 acylcarnitines, and succinylacetone in serum samples were analyzed by electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Different clusters were observed in partial least squares discriminant analysis, with phenylalanine, alanine, citrulline, proline, and succinylacetone providing the major contribution to the variability in each cluster (variable importance in the projection >1.5). In logistic models adjusted by age, sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and nutritional status, phenylalanine was associated with critical outcomes (odds ratio=5.3 (95% CI 3.16-9.2) in the severe vs. critical model, with an area under the curve of 0.84 (95% CI 0.77-0.90). In conclusion the metabolic imbalance in COVID-19 patients might affect disease progression. This work shows an association of phenylalanine with critical outcomes in COVID-19 patients, highlighting phenylalanine as a potential metabolic biomarker of disease severity.

The Critical Role of Hypoxia in the Re-Differentiation of Human Articular Chondrocytes.

The preservation of the chondrogenic phenotype and hypoxia-related physiological microenvironment are major challenges in the 2D culture of primary human chondrocytes. To address this problem, we develop a 3D culture system generating scaffold-free spheroids from human chondrocytes. Our results highlight the chondrogenic potential of cultured human articular chondrocytes in a 3D system combined with hypoxia independently of the cartilage source. After 14 days of culture, we developed spheroids with homogenous diameter and shape from hyaline cartilage donors. Spheroids generated in hypoxia showed a significantly increased glycosaminoglycans synthesis and up-regulated the expression of SOX9, ACAN, COL2A1, COMP, and SNAI1 compared to those obtained under normoxic conditions. Therefore, we conclude that spheroids developed under hypoxic conditions modulate the expression of chondrogenesis-related genes and native tissue features better than 2D cultures. Thus, this scaffold-free 3D culture system represents a novel in vitro model that can be used for cartilage biology research.

ACE and ACE2 Gene Variants Are Associated With Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 in Men.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, affecting more than 219 countries and causing the death of more than 5 million people worldwide. The genetic background represents a factor that predisposes the way the host responds to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this sense, genetic variants of ACE and ACE2 could explain the observed interindividual variability to COVID-19 outcomes. In order to improve the understanding of how genetic variants of ACE and ACE2 are involved in the severity of COVID-19, we included a total of 481 individuals who showed clinical manifestations of COVID-19 and were diagnosed by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and saliva samples. ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism was evaluated by the high-resolution melting method; ACE single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs4344) and ACE2 SNPs (rs2285666 and rs2074192) were genotyped using TaqMan probes. We assessed the association of ACE and ACE2 polymorphisms with disease severity using logistic regression analysis adjusted by age, sex, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The severity of the illness in our study population was divided as 31% mild, 26% severe, and 43% critical illness; additionally, 18% of individuals died, of whom 54% were male. Our results showed in the codominant model a contribution of ACE2 gene rs2285666 T/T genotype to critical outcome [odds ratio (OR) = 1.83; 95%CI = 1.01-3.29; p = 0.04] and to require oxygen supplementation (OR = 1.76; 95%CI = 1.01-3.04; p = 0.04), in addition to a strong association of the T allele of this variant to develop critical illness in male individuals (OR = 1.81; 95%CI = 1.10-2.98; p = 0.02). We suggest that the T allele of rs2285666 represents a risk factor for severe and critical outcomes of COVID-19, especially for men, regardless of age, hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

Free Hand Drilling Technique to Enhance Central Position of Tunnels in Arthroscopic Acromioclavicular Joint Fixation Using TightRope System.

Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocations represent one of the most common lesions in the shoulder. Arthroscopic reduction and ACJ fixation with the button system is one of the most used techniques for displaced and unstable dislocations. Difficulties with placing the tunnels in the central and correct position of the clavicular and coracoid can occur with the use of a guide, which can result in fractures, eccentric tunnel position, cortical rupture, prolongation of surgical times with its complications as bleeding, tissue infiltration, difficult visualization, and increased risk of infection. Prior free hand central tunnel placement in the clavicle with a 3.2 mm drill helps to keep in place the pin guide over the superior cortical of coracoid with reduction of guide movement to enhance the correct position of tunnel in the coracoid process avoiding bone complications.

Anterior Tibial Tendon Side-to-Side Tenorrhaphy after Posterior Tibial Tendon Transfer: A Technique to Improve Reliability in Drop Foot after Common Peroneal Nerve Injury.

Common peroneal nerve injury is present in 40% of knee dislocations, and foot drop is the principal complication. Posterior tibial tendon transfer is a viable solution to replace the function of the anterior tibial tendon (ATT) in the mid-foot. Several techniques for posterior tibial tendon transfer exist today, with variable results reported. However, adding augmentation with side-to-side tenorrhaphy of ATT to the transferred posterior tibial tendon (PTT) enhances anterior tissue balance and load sharing stress between native ATT enthesis and PTT tenodesis, allowing early rehabilitation and improving functional outcomes. Side-to-side tenorrhaphy is performed after PTT tenodesis in the lateral cuneiform to improve reliability in foot drop. This technique allows shorter immobilization time (from 6 to 2 weeks), earlier rehabilitation, sooner weight-bearing, and decreased risk of arthrofibrosis, scar formation, and muscle atrophy.

Portal enlargement in hip arthroscopy preserving the iliofemoral ligament: a novel access technique protecting soft tissue restraints.

Capsulotomy in different modalities has been used to provide adequate exposure to access both the central and peripheral compartment in hip arthroscopy. Even though the hip joint has inherent bony stability, soft tissue restraints may be important in patients with ligaments hyperlaxity or in some cases with diminished bony stability. Biomechanical studies and clinical outcomes have shown the relevant role of the capsule in hip stability, mainly the role of the iliofemoral ligament. Although is not very common, iatrogenic post-arthroscopy subluxation and dislocation have been reported and many surgeons are concerned about the role aggressive capsulotomy or capsulectomy in this situation, thus capsule repair has become very popular. We present a novel technique to access the hip without cutting the iliofemoral ligament. With this technique we can obtain adequate arthroscopic access to the hip joint in order to treat adequately the central compartment pathologies reducing the risk of iatrogenic post-operative hip instability.

Anatomic Considerations in Hamstring Tendon Harvesting for Ligament Reconstruction.

Hamstring tendon autograft remains a popular graft choice for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Although the technique of hamstring autograft harvest is relatively straightforward, it is critical to pay attention to several technical steps to avoid iatrogenic anatomic or neurovascular damage as well as to reduce the risk of premature amputation of the graft when using a tendon stripper. We describe a technique of hamstring autograft harvesting using only 2 anatomic references that makes it a simple and reproducible technique for surgeons, especially those in training.

Impact of cadmium toxicity on cartilage loss in a 3D in vitro model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the gradual loss of articular cartilage and decrease in subchondral space. One of the risk factors Exposure to cadmium (Cd) through tobacco smoke has been identified as a major OA risk factor. There are no reports addressing the role of Cd in OA progression at the molecular level. Our findings revealed that Cd can promote the activation of metalloproteinases (MMP1, MMP3, MMP9 y MMP13), affecting the expression of COL2A1 and ACAN, and decreasing the presence of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans through an inflammatory response related to IL-1ß y a IL-6, as well as oxidative by producing ROS like O2-• and H2O2. In conclusion, our findings suggest a cytotoxic role of Cd in the articular cartilage, which could affect OA development.

Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy in Patients With Previous Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Matched-Pair Controlled Comparative Study With Minimum Two-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a matched-pair analysis to determine the effect of prior lumbar spine surgery (LSS) on clinical outcomes of hip arthroscopy. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected on all patients undergoing hip arthroscopy during the study period from April 2008 to December 2012. Patients were excluded if they had previous hip conditions or had undergone prior hip surgery. Patients in the LSS group (history of LSS) were matched in a 1:1 ratio to a control group (no history of LSS) according to age ±5 years, gender, body mass index categories, Tönnis grade, and labral treatment. The following outcomes were recorded in each group: modified Harris Hip Score, Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale, Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, patient satisfaction, and rates for revision hip arthroscopies and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). RESULTS: During the study period, 1,405 hip arthroscopies were performed with 1,017 eligible for matching. A total of 873 (85.8%) patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up. Fifty-seven patients were matched in each group. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in patient-reported outcome (PRO) and VAS scores. The LSS group had a lower mean for all preoperative PRO scores. There was no significant difference for the postoperative mean PRO score and change in the PRO score compared with the control group except for NAHS. The mean change in the NAHS demonstrated a greater magnitude of improvement in the LSS group. There was no significant difference between mean VAS scores, patient satisfaction, and rates for revision arthroscopy and conversion to THA between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prior LSS does not adversely affect outcomes of hip arthroscopy at a minimum 2-year follow-up. These patients have lower preoperative scores but similar magnitude of improvement and revision/THA rates compared with a matched comparative group of patients without prior LSS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Arthroscopic Reconstruction of the Irreparable Acetabular Labrum: A Match-controlled Study.

PURPOSE: To report clinical outcomes of arthroscopic labral reconstruction in the hip at minimum 2-year follow-up in comparison to a pair-matched labral repair group. METHODS: Patients were included in this study if they underwent labral reconstruction during hip arthroscopy and had minimum 2-year follow-up data available. Exclusion criteria were active workers' compensation claims or previous ipsilateral hip surgery or conditions. Reconstruction patients were matched 1:2 to patients that underwent arthroscopic labral repair but otherwise met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Matching criteria were age within 5 years, sex, body mass index within 5, same capsular treatment, and whether there was chondral damage of Outerbridge grade II or greater. Three patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were recorded preoperatively and at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. International Hip Outcome Tool and patient satisfaction were also collected at latest follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-four reconstruction patients were matched to 68 repair patients. There were no significant differences in age (P = .941), sex (P > .999), body mass index (P = .935), or any other demographics between groups. A statistically significant increase was seen in PROs for both the reconstruction group (Modified Harris Hip Score, P = .002; Hip Outcome Score - Sports Subscale, P<.001; Non-arthritic Hip Score, P<.001) and the repair group (Modified Harris Hip Score, P<.001; Hip Outcome Score - Sports Subscale, P < .001; Non-arthritic Hip Score, P<.001) at minimum 2-year follow-up. Significant decrease was shown for VAS for both groups (reconstruction VAS, P<.001; repair, P<.001) at minimum 2-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in rates of postoperative complications (P>.999), secondary arthroscopy (P>.999), or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (P = .728) between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic labral reconstruction is associated with significant improvement in PROs and a low incidence of secondary surgery within 2-year follow-up. Improvements in PROs, VAS, patient satisfaction, and incidence of secondary procedures were comparable to a match control treated with labral repair. Although there were no differences shown in the 2 groups with respect to complication rate, secondary arthroscopy, or conversion to total hip arthroplasty, the study was not powered to compare these outcome parameters. Based on this evidence, either labral repair or reconstruction may be selected depending upon the clinical scenario. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III; retrospective comparative study.

Uso y aplicación de la tecnología de impresión y bioimpresión 3D en medicina / Use and application of 3D printing and bioimpression technology in medicine

RESUMEN En el mundo actual, las llamadas "tecnologías de fabricación por adición" o impresión 3D también llamado prototipado rápido, han trascendido las fronteras de casi todos los campos de la ciencia, y su incursión en la medicina es cada vez mayor. Es justamente en el campo médico que esta tecnología de impresión por adición ha evolucionado a la bioimpresión, que incluye un proceso de cultivo celular en laboratorio haciendo posible la formación de órganos y/o tejidos personalizados. Para la impresión tridimensional de órganos en humanos se toman muestras de un tejido o células madre del paciente, para ser cultivadas y expandidas en laboratorio para su posterior diferenciación a una línea celular específica. Para este proceso se utiliza un material sólido como andamio a temperatura ambiente con un punto de fusión conocido. En la creación de un modelo para la fabricación de un órgano o tejido en impresión 3D, se utilizan los estudios de imágenes médicas de los pacientes intentando preservar al máximo la anatomía de las estructuras que se desean reproducir. En este artículo se abordan las bases y el potencial uso de esta tecnología en el área médica.

ABSTRACT In today's world, so-called "addition manufacturing technologies" or 3D printing also called rapid prototyping have transcended the borders of almost every field of science and medicine is no exception. It is not surprising that its exploration for practical uses is increasing. In medicine, this technology of printing by addition has evolved to bioprinting, which occurs by a special process, from cells grown in a laboratory, which makes possible its transformation into a type of organs tailored to the patient. The three-dimensional impression of human organs requires take samples of tissues or stem cells from the patient, which are grown in the laboratory waiting to multiply or differentiate to other cell lines; then, to create said object, a solid material at room temperature and with a known melting point is applied layer by layer. Currently the use of this technology uses the medical images of patients trying to preserve the anatomy of the structures that they want to reproduce. In this article the bases and the potential use of this technology in the medical area will be addressed.

Endoscopic release of the piriformis tendon and sciatic nerve exploration.

Robinson, in 1947 introduced for the first time the term 'piriformis syndrome'. More recently, many etiologies of sciatic nerve entrapment around the gluteal region or the non-discogenic area have been identified, resulting in the use of a new term 'The Deep Gluteal Syndrome'. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes following the endoscopic release of sciatic nerve entrapment. Type of study is a consecutive case series. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with sciatic nerve entrapment from January 2012 to December 2015, all of them were treated with endoscopic release of the piriformis tendon and sciatic nerve exploration on lateral decubitus position. Every patient had a minimum follow-up to 2 years. The patient-reported outcome scores used included the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), pain was estimated on a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Benson outcomes questionnaire. The patient's mean age was 40.2 years (range, 28-50 years). The score improvement from pre-operative to 24-month follow-up was 46.8-84.9 for mHHS (P <0.05). The VAS decreased from pre-operative to 24-month follow-up was 7.4-1.86 (P < 0.05). The Benson outcome ratings were excellent for 11 patients, good for 3 and fair for 1. The Endoscopic Release of the Piriformis Tendon and Sciatic Nerve Exploration showed an improvement of functions, diminishing pain and allowing patients to return to daily activities without symptoms (Level of Evidence: IV).