Effects of a Conventional Treatment Plus Scapular Exercises Program in Patients With Chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: A Pre-Post Single-Group Study.

BACKGROUND: Weakness of the shoulder girdle muscles has been reported in patients with chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy. The aim of this study was to assess the short- and long-term effects of a conventional treatment plus scapular exercises program in patients with chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy. METHODS: A single-group prestudy and poststudy were conducted. The primary outcome was the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation questionnaire score. Secondary outcomes were grip strength; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score; Visual Analogue Scale score at rest and at grip, and presence of scapular dyskinesis. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients (72.3% females), with a mean age of 41.8 years, were analyzed. At the end of 6 weeks, the results showed clinically and statistically significant differences (P < .05). At 1-year follow-up, the differences were: Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation -31 points (P < .001); grip strength +33.6% (P < .001); Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand -34.2 points (P < .001); Visual Analogue Scale at rest -2.5 cm (P < .001); and Visual Analogue Scale at grip -2.3 cm (P < .001). CONCLUSION: At the end of 6 weeks and at 1-year follow-up, conventional treatment plus scapular exercises program showed statistically and clinically significant differences in all functional outcomes assessed in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy.

Headless Compression Screw for Metacarpal Nonunion: Description of a New Technique and Report of 4 Cases.

Nonunion is a rare complication of metacarpal fractures and is usually associated with compound, open fractures with tissue loss and infection, or after failed surgical treatment. Repair by rigid osteosynthesis with plate and screws combined with autologous bone grafting has always been the treatment of choice for most patients. Such method allows early motion, although it has been proven that the presence of hardware may cause local soft tissue irritation. Often, hardware removal and tendon releases are necessary. We describe an original technique with a fixation method for the treatment of metacarpal nonunions, considering the excellent results attained with an intramedullary, headless screw for metacarpal fracture fixation. We report a series of three cases that evolved to bone healing with excellent clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes.

Effectiveness of manual therapy in patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of Manual Therapy (MT) in thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of MT for functional outcomes in patients with thumb carpometacarpal OA. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. METHODS: An electronic search was performed in the Medline, Central, Embase, PEDro, Lilacs, Cinahl, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases. The eligibility criteria for selecting studies included randomized clinical trials that compared MT versus other interventions in functional outcomes, such as thumb and/or hand function questionnaires, pinch and/or grip strength, thumb and/or hand range of motion, and pain intensity or pressure pain threshold in patients with thumb carpometacarpal OA. RESULTS: Five clinical trials met the eligibility criteria; for the quantitative synthesis, four studies were included. The mean difference (MD) for grip strength was 0.87kg (95% CI = 0.29-1.44, p = .003), for pinch strength was 0.10kg (95% CI = -0.01-0.20, p = .06), and for the pressure pain threshold was 0.64kg/cm2 (95% CI = 0.07-1.20, p = .03). All differences were in favor of the MT group. CONCLUSIONS: In the short-term, there was moderate to high evidence, with statistically significant differences in the functional outcomes, in favor of MT versus sham interventions in patients with thumb carpometacarpal OA. However, these differences are not clinically important.

Síndromes compresivos del nervio mediano. Revisión y actualización de la bibliografía / Median nerve compression syndromes. Literature review and update

El nervio mediano desciende por el brazo y, en el codo, comienza a atravesar estructuras que pueden generar compresión, como el ligamento de Struthers, el lacertus fibrosus, el pronador redondo, el flexor superficial de los dedos. Finalmente, en la muñeca, se encuentra otro sitio de compresión producido por el ligamento transverso del carpo. Todas estas estructuras pueden provocar signos y síntomas de atrapamiento nervioso y favorecer el deterioro funcional del nervio. Nuestro objetivo es dar a conocer una actualización sobre estos sitios de atrapamiento del nervio mediano, y cómo realizar un diagnóstico preciso e indicar un trata-miento adecuado. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

The median nerve is a nervous structure that begins to cross structures at the level of the elbow that might cause compression. The Struthers ligament, lacertus fibrosus, pronator teres, and flexor digitorum superficialis are among them. Finally, the transverse carpal ligament creates another compression site in the wrist. All these structures can develop pathological signs and symptoms of nerve entrapment, which favors nerve functional degradation. Our objective is to provide an update on these median nerve entrap-ment sites, as well as information on how to establish an accurate diagnosis and provide adequate treatment. Level of Evidence: IV