Osteoporosis in psoriatic arthritis: Risk factors, insufficiency fractures and its association with the disease activity / Osteoporosis en la artritis psoriásica: factores de riesgo, fracturas por insuficiencia y su asociación con la actividad de la enfermedad

Objective: The prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) and insufficiency fractures in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of OP and insufficiency fractures in a representative cohort of patients with PsA, and to analyse its association with general risk factors and characteristics of the psoriatic disease in our geographical area. Methods: Multi-centric, descriptive study of patients with PsA. We recorded clinical characteristics, as well as protective and risk factors for OP and insufficiency fractures. Hip and lumbar densitometry and lateral X-ray of the spine were evaluated. Descriptive statistics for OP and risk factors were calculated. The patients with OP were compared to those without by univariate analyses, and results were adjusted by age and sex. The association of OP and fractures with clinical characteristics was analysed by logistic regression. Results: 166 patients (50 men; 116 women) were included. OP was present in 26.5%, and it was more frequent in women and patients above 50 years old. Insufficiency fractures occurred in 5.4% of the total sample. In the logistic regression, OP was associated with age over 50 [OR 3.7; 95% CI (1.2–11.6); p=.02]. No association with clinical parameters was found. The most frequent risk factors among patients with OP were vitamin D insufficiency, sedentary behaviour, low calcium intake, and active smoking. In the logistic regression, OP was associated with early menopause [OR 11.7; 95% CI (1.29–106.0); p=.029] and sedentary behaviour [OR 2.3; 95% CI (1.0–5.2); p=.049]. Conclusions: In patients with PsA, OP is more frequent in women and patients over 50 years old. A sedentary lifestyle and early menopause may add extra risk for OP. Type, duration disease, and treatments are not associated with OP or insufficiency fractures.(AU)

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la prevalencia de osteoporosis (OP) y fracturas por insuficiencia en una cohorte representativa de pacientes con artritis psoriásica (APs) y analizar su asociación con factores de riesgo generales y características de la enfermedad psoriásica en nuestra área geográfica. Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico y descriptivo de pacientes con APs. Se registraron las características clínicas, así como los factores protectores y de riesgo de OP y fracturas por insuficiencia. Se evaluó la densitometría de cadera y lumbar y la radiografía lateral de columna. Se calcularon las estadísticas descriptivas de la OP y los factores de riesgo. Los pacientes con OP se compararon con los que no la tenían mediante análisis univariantes, y los resultados se ajustaron por edad y sexo. La asociación de la OP y las fracturas con las características clínicas se analizó mediante regresión logística. Resultados: Se incluyeron 166 pacientes (50 hombres; 116 mujeres). La OP estaba presente en el 26,5% y era más frecuente en mujeres y pacientes mayores de 50 años. Se produjeron fracturas por insuficiencia en el 5,4% de la muestra total. En la regresión logística la OP se asoció con la edad superior a 50 años (OR: 3,7; IC 95%: 1,2-11,6; p=0,02), con la menopausia precoz (OR: 11,7; IC 95%: 1,29-106,0; p=0,029) y el comportamiento sedentario (OR: 2,3; IC 95%: 1,0-5,2; p=0,049). Conclusiones: En pacientes con APs la OP es más frecuente en mujeres y en aquellos mayores de 50 años. Un estilo de vida sedentario y una menopausia precoz pueden añadir un riesgo adicional de OP. El tipo, la duración de la enfermedad y los tratamientos no se asocian a las fracturas OP ni a las fracturas por insuficiencia.(AU)

Infrared Thermography-A Novel Tool for Monitoring Fracture Healing: A Critically Appraised Topic With Evidence-Based Recommendations for Clinical Practice.

CLINICAL SCENARIO: Stress fractures are one of the most common injuries in athletes. Unfortunately, they are hard to diagnose, require multiple radiology exams and follow-up which leads to more exposure to radiation and an increase in cost. Stress fractures that are mismanaged can lead to serious complications and poorer outcomes for the athlete. During the rehabilitation process, it would be beneficial to be able to monitor the healing of fractures to know when it is safe to gradually allow a patient to a return to sport because the return to activity is not usually objective and based on pain level. CLINICAL QUESTION: Can infrared thermography (IRT) be a useful tool to measure the pathophysiological state of the fracture healing? The aim of this critically appraised topic is to analyze the current evidence of IRT for measuring the temperature change in fractures to provide recommendations for medical practitioners. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS: For this critically appraised topic, we examined 3 articles that compared medical imaging and IRT over multiple time points during the follow-up. The 3 articles concluded that a 1 °C asymmetry in temperature followed by a return to normal (less than 0.3 °C) temperature during the healing process of fractures can be monitored using IRT. CLINICAL BOTTOM LINE: Once the patient has been diagnosed with a fracture, IRT can safely be used to monitor the evolution of a fracture. When the thermogram progresses from a hot thermogram to a cold thermogram, the healing is considered good enough to return to sport. STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATION: Grade 2 evidence exists to support IRT being used by clinicians to monitor fracture healing. Due to the limited research and novelty of the technology, the current recommendations are for following the treatment of the fracture once the initial diagnosis is made.

Surgical management of stress fracture of the contralateral pedicle in a baseball player with unilateral lumbar spondylolysis†:†A case report.

We describe successful surgical treatment in a case of L5 unilateral spondylolysis with contralateral pedicle stress fracture that was not resolved by conservative treatment in a high-performing college baseball player. The 20-year-old man presented with left low back pain that stopped his sports activities. Over the previous year, he had experienced a couple of episodes of pain that subsided with cessation of sports but reappeared after a return to sports. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right terminal stage pars fracture and a left pedicle stress fracture at L5. The pain originated from the left pedicle fracture, with no pain from the right unilateral spondylolysis. Given that conservative treatment for 1 year had not been effective, we decided on surgical treatment. Bilateral pedicle screws and the smiley face rod method were applied, and both fractures subsequently healed. In the 2 years since the surgery, the patient has returned to sports and has the potential to become a professional player. J. Med. Invest. 67 : 382-385, August, 2020.

Fractura de húmero por estrés en lanzador de beisbol. Presentación de un caso / Humerus fracture by stress in baseball pitcher. Case presentation

RESUMEN Se presentó el caso de un adolescente que sufrió fractura por estrés del húmero izquierdo, mientras lanzaba en un partido de béisbol. Las fracturas de húmero por estrés son infrecuentes. Generalmente ocurre en los atletas que practican deportes de lanzamiento, es más frecuente en los lanzadores de béisbol amateurs de poca experiencia. Esta lesión es debida a la tracción muscular incoordinada y fuerza de torsión cuando la pelota es lanzada, asociada a la fatiga física. Puede ocurrir a nivel de los tercios medio y superior del húmero, entre las inserciones del deltoides y el pectoral mayor, así como en el tercio distal. Es común la presencia de dolor poco antes de producirse la fractura. Se enfatizó en la importancia de tener presente la posibilidad de presentación de este tipo de fractura en los atletas que practican deportes de lanzamientos, así como tener presente además las complicaciones que puedan presentarse a partir de este tipo de lesión. Se analizaron los datos recogidos en la historia clínica del paciente. Es importante pensar en este tipo de lesión, pues en ocasiones el cuadro clínico no es evidente. Se señaló además la necesidad de realizar un estricto seguimiento del paciente ante la posibilidad de lesión del nervio radial (AU).

ABSTRACT The authors present the case of a teenager who suffered left humerus fracture due to stress while he was pitching a baseball game. Humerus fractures caused by stress are infrequent. They commonly occur in athletes practicing throwing sports, being more frequent in amateur baseball pitchers with little experience. This lesion is due to uncoordinated muscular traction and torsion strength when the ball is thrown, all associated to physical fatigue. It can happen at the level of the medial and upper third of the humerus, between the insertions of deltoids and pectoral major muscles, and also in the distal third. The presence of pain is common a little before the fracture happens. The authors emphasize in the importance of taking into account the possibility of this kind of fracture occurring in athletes practicing throwing sports, and also the complications appearing after this kind of lesion. Data collected from the patient?s clinical record were analyzed. It is important to think in this kind of lesion because sometimes clinical characteristics are not evident. It was also pointed out the necessity of performing a strict follow-up of the patient given the possibility of radial nerve lesion (AU).

Two-Year Follow-Up and Remodeling Kinetics of ChonDux Hydrogel for Full-Thickness Cartilage Defect Repair in the Knee.

OBJECTIVE: To determine performance and repair kinetics of the ChonDux hydrogel scaffold for treating focal articular cartilage defects in the knee over 24 months. DESIGN: This assessor-blinded trial evaluates ChonDux hydrogel scaffold implantation in combination with microfracture in 18 patients across 6 sites. Male and female patients 18 to 65 years of age with full-thickness femoral condyle defects 2 to 4 cm2 in area were enrolled. Eligible patients received ChonDux treatment followed by rehabilitation. Defect volume fill was evaluated after 3, 6 (primary outcome), 12, 18, and 24 months by assessor blinded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis. Secondary outcomes were T2-weighted MRI relaxation time and patient surveys via visual analogue scale (VAS) pain and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) knee function scoring. RESULTS: ChonDux maintained durable tissue restoration over 24 months with final defect percent fill of 94.2% ± 16.3% and no significant loss of fill volume at any time points. Tissues treated with ChonDux maintained T2 relaxation times similar to uninjured cartilage between 12 and 24 months. VAS pain scoring decreased between 1 and 6 weeks, and IKDC knee function scores improved by approximately 30.1 with ChonDux over 24 months. CONCLUSION: ChonDux treatment is a safe adjunct to microfracture therapy and promotes stable restoration of full thickness articular cartilage defects for at least 24 months.

Tarsal Navicular Stress Fracture in a Young Athlete: A Case Report.

Approximately 30% of tarsal navicular stress fractures are missed by physicians because plain radiographs often show no diagnostic clues. If early diagnosis and treatment are not obtained, such fractures will become refractory and the patient will no longer be able to actively participate as an athlete. We herein describe our experience treating a 14-year-old female track sprinter with persistent foot pain. Magnetic resonance imaging 6 months after the onset of pain showed a stress fracture of the tarsal navicular bone. Computed tomography showed the tarsal navicular stress fracture as well as sclerosis at the fracture edges. We diagnosed a refractory tarsal navicular stress fracture. Conservative management in the form of non-weight-bearing cast immobilization is the standard treatment for both partial and complete stress fractures of the tarsal navicular bone. However, surgical treatment is required in refractory cases. We treated the herein-described refractory case with 6 weeks of non-weight-bearing cast immobilization. We instructed the patient to perform quad muscle training at the same time as casting. Six weeks later, follow-up computed tomography showed callus formation and disappearance of the fracture line. The patient thus began full weight bearing with daily use of arch support equipment, and we allowed her to gradually return to sports. We gradually increased her activity intensity from jogging to running. She completely and successfully returned to sports after 3 months of treatment.

Effects of Early Weightbearing on Microfracture Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of Talus with Subchondral Bone Defects.

When subchondral bone defects are present in osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCLT), it is inconclusive whether to allow early weightbearing after microfracture treatment because of the lack of effective support of the newly-formed fibrocartilage. After performing arthroscopic debridement and microfracture treatment on OCLT patients with subchondral bone defects, we allowed patients to have an early postoperative weightbearing exercise to observe their clinical outcome. Forty-two OCLT patients with subchondral bone defects were analyzed. Patients were randomly divided into two groups with 21 patients in each group. After arthroscopic debridement and microfracture treatment, group A was allowed to have early partial weightbearing while weightbearing was delayed in group B. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate joint pain before and after surgery. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score was used to evaluate joint function. Tegner activity scale was used to assess patient's exercise level. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score in group A increased from 54.4 to 87.6, and that in group B increased from 54.9 to 87.3. The VAS score in group A decreased from 6.5 to 2.2, and that in group B decreased from 6.4 to 2.3. The Tegner activity scale increased from 2.6 to 4.4 in group A, and that in group B increased from 2.6 to 3.9. There was significant difference in the Tegner activity scale between group A and group B (P<0.05). It was suggested that when performing microfracture treatment on OCLT patients with subchondral bone defects, early postoperative weightbearing may achieve similar clinical outcomes as delayed weightbearing, and patients may be better able to return to sports.

Femoral Neck Stress Fracture in a Female Runner.

A 23-year-old woman was referred to physical therapy by her primary care physician for a 4-week history of right groin pain that had progressively worsened while training for a half-marathon. Before the physical therapy referral, the primary care physician ordered radiography of the right hip, which was unremarkable for fracture. Following examination, the physical therapist suspected osseous or soft tissue abnormality and requested that the primary care physician order magnetic resonance imaging without contrast, which revealed a femoral neck stress fracture. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(4):343. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7479.

Retrospective analysis of four-year injury data from the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick.

INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) represents a considerable threat to the effectiveness and productivity of military organisations globally. The impact on the medical chain, occupational disposal with associated loss of working days and associated financial burden have far-reaching consequence. The moral and legal responsibility to reduce avoidable injuries through risk assessment and prevention strategies is fundamental to governance and a key component of best practice. METHODS: A retrospective observational analysis was performed of 4101 MSKIs presenting from a total inflow of 10 498 British Army Infantry recruits recorded over four consecutive training years between 2012 and 2016. Injury incidence, site, type and week of training were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: The total incidence of all MSKI was observed as 39.1%. Overuse injuries were the most common subclassification of injury type (24.5%), followed by trauma (8.8%) and then stress fractures (5.7%). Causes of medical discharge over a four-year cumulative incidence were from overuse injuries (59.3%), stress fractures (21.5%) and trauma (19.2%). 45.5% of all MSKIs presented within the first eight weeks of training. CONCLUSIONS: MSKI data highlighted the requirement for a comprehensive service evaluation of the Combat Infantryman's Course and subsequent justification for the introduction of an injury prevention intervention - Project OMEGA.

Unique Issues in the Rehabilitation of the Pediatric and Adolescent Athlete After Musculoskeletal Injury.

Youth sports participation is on the rise, resulting in an increase in sports-related injuries in the pediatric and adolescent population. The presentation of injury, pathology, and disease in this younger population is often unique and may require customize and novel medical and rehabilitation interventions to optimize the outcome. The purpose of this review is to highlight unique considerations in the rehabilitation management of the pediatric and adolescent athlete. General guidelines for progression of this population through a criteria-based rehabilitation program with a focus on a systematic return to sport algorithm will be reviewed.

Fatigue Fracture of the Calcaneus: From Early Diagnosis to Treatment: A Case Report of a Triathlon Athlete.

Stress fractures are frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated despite being common in sports. Early diagnosis is crucial; therefore, a high index of clinical suspicion is required. Complementary examinations are essential for diagnosis and follow-up. The authors report a clinical case of a young adult triathlon athlete referring mechanical pain in the rear left foot, with 2 weeks' progression. An earlier increase in daily training intensity was recorded. Complementary examinations confirmed a calcaneal fatigue fracture. Immobilization and no weight bearing were introduced for an initial period of 4 weeks, and the rehabilitation process was started. Progressive weight bearing was introduced between fourth and eighth weeks. Sports activity started at the 12th week. Boundaries to sports activity were eliminated by the 24th week, without pain or functional limitation. Repetitive overload to the heel and intense axial weight bearing in association to repetitive concentric/eccentric gastrocnemius contraction are related to calcaneal stress fracture, the second most common stress fracture in the foot. Calcaneal stress fractures can be adequately treated with activity modification, without casting or surgical intervention. When in the presence of bilateral stress fractures, metabolic and nutritional issues must be considered. The case report highlights the importance of sports medicine examination for detecting intrinsic and extrinsic fatigue fracture risk factors.

Musculoskeletal injuries in British Army recruits: a prospective study of diagnosis-specific incidence and rehabilitation times.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries during initial military training are a significant medical problem facing military organisations globally. In order to develop an injury management programme, this study aims to quantify the incidence and rehabilitation times for injury specific diagnoses. METHODS: This was a prospective follow-up study of musculoskeletal injuries in 6608 British Army recruits during a 26-week initial military training programme over a 2-year period. Incidence and rehabilitation times for injury specific diagnoses were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: During the study period the overall incidence of musculoskeletal injuries was 48.6%, and the most common diagnosis was iliotibial band syndrome (6.2%). A significant proportion of the injuries occurred during the first 11 weeks of the programme. The longest rehabilitation times were for stress fractures of the femur, calcaneus and tibia (116 ± 17 days, 92 ± 12 days, and 85 ± 11 days, respectively). The combination of high incidence and lengthy rehabilitation indicates that medial tibial stress syndrome had the greatest impact on training, accounting for almost 20% of all days spent in rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: When setting prevention priorities consideration should be given to both the incidence of specific injury diagnoses and their associated time to recovery.

Overuse lower extremity injuries in sports.

When athletes train harder the risk of injury increases, and there are several common overuse injuries to the lower extremity. Three of the most common lower extremity overuse injuries in sports are discussed including the diagnosis and treatments: medial tibal stress syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, and stress fractures. The charge of sports medicine professionals is to identify and treat the cause of the injuries and not just treat the symptoms. Symptomatology is an excellent guide to healing and often the patient leads the physician to the proper diagnosis through an investigation of the athlete's training program, past injury history, dietary habits, choice of footwear, and training surface.

Return to sports after stress fractures of the tibial diaphysis: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: This review aims to provide information on the time taken to resume sport following tibial diaphyseal stress fractures (TDSFs). SOURCES OF DATA: A systematic search of Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL, Cochrane, Web of Science, PEDro, Sports Discus, Scopus and Google Scholar was performed using the keywords 'tibial', 'tibia', 'stress', 'fractures', 'athletes', 'sports', 'non-operative', 'conservative', 'operative' and 'return to sport'. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Twenty-seven studies were included: 16 reported specifically on anterior TDSFs and 5 on posterior TDSFs. The general principles were to primarily attempt non-operative management for all TDSFs and to consider operative intervention for anterior TDSFs that remained symptomatic after 3-6 months. Anterior TDSFs showed a prolonged return to sport. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: The best time to return to sport and the optimal management modalities for TDSFs remain undefined. GROWING POINTS: Management of TDSFs should include a full assessment of training methods, equipment and diet to modify pre-disposing factors. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: Future prospective studies should aim to establish the optimal treatment modalities for TDSFs.

Plantar loading during cutting while wearing a rigid carbon fiber insert.

CONTEXT: Stress fractures are one of the most common injuries in sports, accounting for approximately 10% of all overuse injuries. Treatment of fifth metatarsal stress fractures involves both surgical and nonsurgical interventions. Fifth metatarsal stress fractures are difficult to treat because of the risks of delayed union, nonunion, and recurrent injuries. Most of these injuries occur during agility tasks, such as those performed in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of a rigid carbon graphite footplate on plantar loading during 2 agility tasks. DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 19 recreational male athletes with no history of lower extremity injury in the past 6 months and no previous metatarsal stress fractures were tested. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Seven 45° side-cut and crossover-cut tasks were completed in a shoe with or without a full-length rigid carbon plate. Testing order between the shoe conditions and the 2 cutting tasks was randomized. Plantar-loading data were recorded using instrumented insoles. Peak pressure, maximum force, force-time integral, and contact area beneath the total foot, the medial and lateral midfoot, and the medial, middle, and lateral forefoot were analyzed. A series of paired t tests was used to examine differences between the footwear conditions (carbon graphite footplate, shod) for both cutting tasks independently (α = .05). RESULTS: During the side-cut task, the footplate increased total foot and lateral midfoot peak pressures while decreasing contact area and lateral midfoot force-time integral. During the crossover-cut task, the footplate increased total foot and lateral midfoot peak pressure and lateral forefoot force-time integral while decreasing total and lateral forefoot contact area. CONCLUSIONS: Although a rigid carbon graphite footplate altered some aspects of the plantar-pressure profile during cutting in uninjured participants, it was ineffective in reducing plantar loading beneath the fifth metatarsal.

Plantar loading during jumping while wearing a rigid carbon graphite footplate.

Fifth metatarsal stress fractures are common in sports and often result in delayed and non-union. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a rigid carbon graphite footplate (CGF) on plantar loading during take-off and landing from a jump. Nineteen recreational male athletes with no history of lower extremity injury in the past 6 months and no foot or ankle surgery in the past 3 years participated in this study. Subjects completed 7 jumping tasks while wearing a standard running shoe and then the shoe plus the CGF while plantar loading data was recorded. A series of paired t-tests were used to examine differences between the two footwear conditions independently for both takeoff and landing (a = 0.05). The contact area in the medial midfoot (p < .001) and forefoot (p = .010) statistically decreased when wearing the CGFP. The force­time integral was significantly greater when wearing the CGFP in the middle (p < .001) and lateral forefoot (p = .019). Maximum force was significantly greater beneath the middle (p < .001) and lateral forefoot (p < .001) when wearing the CGFP, while it was decreased beneath the medial midfoot (p < .001). During landing, the contact area beneath the medial (p = .017) and lateral midfoot (p = .004) were significantly decreased when wearing the CGFP. The force­ time integral was significantly decrease beneath the medial midfoot (p < .001) when wearing the CGFP. The maximum force was significantly greater beneath the medial (p = .047) and middle forefoot (p = .001) when the subject was wearing the CGFP. The maximum force beneath the medial midfoot (p < .001) was significantly reduced when wearing the carbon graphite footplate. The results of the study indicate that the CGF is ineffective at reducing plantar loading during jumping and landing.

Medial supracondylar stress fracture in an adolescent pitcher/.

We report the occurrence of a medial supracondylar stress fracture in an adolescent pitcher. To our knowledge, this fracture has not been described in the literature, and awareness of this entity allows initiation of therapy and precludes further unnecessary work-up. The radiographic, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging appearances are reviewed and the mechanism of injury is discussed.