Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Current Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a severe complication of extremity fracture or other injury. Patients who develop this show marked hyperalgesia and allodynia, altered vasomotor, sudomotor and trophic changes. The condition affects women more than men and is most common in those between the ages of 50 and 70 years but can be seen in younger athletes. The diagnosis is made clinically, and treatment is directed at functional recovery using medications, occupational and physical therapy, and psychological interventions. Prognosis for complete recovery is variable and unpredictable.

Sideline Management of Joint Dislocations.

Athletes can sustain a large variety of injuries from simple soft tissue sprains to complex fractures and joint dislocations. This article reviews and provides the most recent information for sports medicine professionals on the management of simple and complex joint dislocations, i.e., irreducible and/or associated with a fracture, from the sidelines without the benefit of imaging. For each joint, the relevant anatomy, common mechanisms, sideline assessment, reduction techniques, initial treatment, and potential complications will be discussed, which allow for the safe and prompt return of athletes to the field of play.

Occult retinal detachment after mild traumatic brain injury: case report and literature review.

Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), are on the forefront of sports medicine. There is a spectrum of symptoms associated with mTBI, some of which include blurriness, double vision, and light sensitivity. Further evaluation for nonconcussion-related causes is warranted if vision changes do not improve concurrently with other symptoms. Keeping in mind other less obvious injuries, including retinal detachment, is important when performing an initial evaluation or follow-up of an mTBI.

The physical therapy prescription.

Numerous guidelines recommend physical therapy for the management of musculoskeletal conditions. However, specific recommendations are lacking concerning which exercises and adjunct modalities to use. Physical therapists use various techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility and flexibility. There is some evidence that specific exercises performed with the instruction of physical therapists improve outcomes in patients with low back pain. For most modalities, evidence of effectiveness is variable and controlled trials are lacking. Multiple modalities may be used to treat one clinical condition; decisions for the treatment of an individual patient depend on the expertise of the therapist, the equipment available, and the desire of the attending physician. A physical therapy prescription should include the diagnosis; type, frequency, and duration of the prescribed therapy; goals of therapy; and safety precautions.