Search Results

Comparison of mobilization with movement and soft tissue mobilization on pain severity, hand grip strength and functional activity in tennis elbow patients. Shafique, S., Muneeb, H. N., Abbas, N. and Ghafoor, I. A. (2022) Level of Evidence: 2b Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 (2/4 Thumbs up) Type of study: Therapeutic Topic: Lateral epicondylalgia – Mobilisation with movement This is a randomised controlled trial asessing the effectiveness of mobilisation with movement (MWM) vs soft tissue mobilisation for treating tennis elbow. A total of 30 tennis players with lateral epicondylalgia took part in the study. Participants in both groups received 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks. One group received MWMs whilst the other group received soft tissue mobilisation. No further treatment details were provided. The results showed that MWMs (pain reduction: 5.3/10) had a greater statistically significant effect compared to soft tissue mobilisation (pain reduction: 3.7/10). The results did not however reach the 2 points clinically relevant change in pain. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, mobilisation with movement or manual therapy may be useful adjuncts in the treatment of tennis elbow. Given the overall positive outcomes associated with tennis elbow, this may be a temporary intervention to provide patients with some pain relief. Previous evidence suggests that the effectiveness of MWMs is modest in people with tennis elbow. URL: https://doi.org/10.36283/pjr.zu.11.1/010 Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIM: Lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow is a pain pattern most commonly seen in tennis player due to forceful repetitive movements in a wrong way. So, the Objective was to determine the comparison of mobilization with movement and soft tissue mobilization on pain, grip strength and functional activity in patients with tennis elbow. METHODOLOGY: In this Randomized Controlled Trial, Non probability sampling technique was used. Thirty tennis players having lateral epicondylitis pain were included in the study. Two interventions were used i.e. Mobilization with movement and soft tissue mobilization. Pain, Muscle power and function activity were 3 outcome measure in both groups. RESULTS: In both groups the mean age of the participants was 24.30 ± SD 3.01. There was a significant Mean difference in the pain scores for MWM (5.34) and Soft Tissue Mobilization (3.74) after treatment. P value is significant for both group but there was greater difference with group MWM CONCLUSIONS: The present study concluded that Mobilization with movement has greater effect than the Soft Tissue Mobilization in relieving pain and improving Hand grip strength and functional activity in patients with tennis elbow. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Defining tennis elbow characteristics – The assessment of magnetic resonance imaging defined tendon pathology in an asymptomatic population. Paluch, A. J., et al. (2023) Level of Evidence: 2b Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 👍 (3/4 thumbs up) Type of study: Diagnostic Topic: MRI findings CEO - Asymptomatic elbows This is a cross-sectional study assessing the prevalence of common extensor origin (CEO) tendon in an asymptomatic population using magnetic resonance (MRI). A total of 30 asymptomatic participants were included in the study. All participants declined present or past history of elbow pain/trauma/diagnosis of tennis elbow. The results showed that 37% of the asymptomatic people had evidence of tendon abnormality, which increased with age and body mass index. I have plotted these results in the graph below for easy visualisation. The changes were generally mild or moderate, with one volunteer showing severe pathology. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, pathological changes within the CEO are present in 1 person out of 3 people without a current or past history of tennis elbow. MRI changes at the CEO appear to increase in prevalence with greater age and BMI. Similar findings have been shown for "pathological" changes at the TFCC, which are more common in mature wrists. Interestingly, higher BMI is also associated with a greater risk of idiopathic elbow osteoarthritis, suggesting the potential for metabolic changes being associated with soft tissue and joint pathology. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/17585732221146731 Abstract Background: This radiological study aims to assess the prevalence of lateral elbow pathology in an asymptomatic population using 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Bilateral elbow MRI was undertaken in 30 asymptomatic volunteers. Exclusion criteria included elbow pain within 3 months, elbow trauma or previous diagnosis of lateral epicondylar tendinopathy. Baseline patient-reported outcome measures were recorded along with age and body mass index (BMI). Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently graded the degree of abnormality at the common extensor tendon. Results: Thirty volunteers were categorised according to age; 35–44 (n = 10), 45–54 (n = 11), and 55–65 (n = 9) with a 1:1 male-to-female ratio. Radiological evidence of tendon abnormality was found in 37% of volunteers. The proportion with abnormal findings increased with age; 35–44 (10%), 45–54 (36%), 55–65 (67%) and BMI; 18–24.9 (23%), 25–29.9 (43%), > 30 (67%). Changes were generally ‘mild’ or ‘moderate’, with a single volunteer showing ‘severe’ pathology. Kappa for the radiographic agreement was 0.91 (0.83–0.98). Discussion: This study has demonstrated MRI findings suggestive of pathology at the common extensor tendon to be prevalent in an asymptomatic population, increasing with age and BMI. This draws into question the diagnostic and prognostic value of MRI imaging in lateral epicondylar tendinopathy, especially in older patients. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

The epidemiology of radial tunnel syndrome and its overlap with lateral epicondylitis. Zhang, J. Y., Manirajan, A. and Wolf, J. M. (2023) Level of Evidence: 2b Follow recommendation: 👍👍 (2/4 Thumbs up) Type of study: Diagnostic Topic: Posterior interosseous nerve entrapment - Prevalence This study analysed a national insurance database to determine the prevalence of radial tunnel syndrome (RTS) in the US. Out of 91 million patients' data, 83,000 were identified as presenting with RTS, showing a prevalence of 0.1% (people with RTS at one point in time). The results also showed that the mean yearly incidence was 0.01% (new patients diagnosed with RTS within one year). Of these patients, 55% were female, and 2.4% underwent RT release within 1 year. Fewer than 3% of the patients received a corticosteroid injection within 30 days of RTS diagnosis, and of those who did, 2.0% went on to undergo surgical release within 1 year. A total of 5.7% of patients with RTS also had a diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis within six months. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, radial tunnel syndrome (RTS) is a relatively uncommon nerve compression disorder, with prevalence ranging from 6-79% in people who are also diagnosed with tennis elbow. Non-surgical management such as splinting or physical therapy may provide symptomatic relief. Corticosteroid injections could be utilised as a diagnostic tool and have been shown to provide lasting relief. Surgical decompression is an option for those who do not respond to non-surgical management, however, the rate of surgical intervention is low. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2023.03.007 Abstract Purpose: Radial tunnel syndrome (RTS) is characterized by nerve compression affecting the posterior interosseous nerve branch in the forearm, and its symptoms often overlap with those of lateral epicondylitis (LE). The purpose of this study was to examine the epidemiology of RTS, frequency of injections and surgical release, and overlap of RTS with LE. Methods: We queried the PearlDiver database to identify RTS in patients older than 18 years. Demographic data, diagnostic or therapeutic injection within 30 days of diagnosis, surgical release within 1 year of diagnosis, and 90-day postoperative complication rates were evaluated. Using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, laterality codes, we also determined the number of patients who had same-side RTS and LE and the proportion of patients who subsequently underwent simultaneous RT release and LE debridement. Results: The prevalence of RTS in a representative United States insurance database was 0.091%, and the annual incidence was 0.0091%. There were 75,459 patients identified with an active RTS diagnosis. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 52 years (range, 18–81 years), 55% were women, and 1,833 patients (2.4%) underwent RT release within 1 year. Fewer than 3% of the patients received an injection within 30 days of RTS diagnosis. The 90-day postoperative complication rates were low: 5% of the patients required hospital readmission and 2.1% underwent revision surgery. Approximately 5.7% of the patients with RTS also had a diagnosis of LE on the same side within 6 months of RTS diagnosis. In patients with ipsilateral RTS and LE who underwent surgery, 59.1% underwent simultaneous RT release and LE debridement, whereas 40.9% underwent isolated radial tunnel release. Conclusions: The analysis of a large insurance database showed that the diagnosis of RTS is rarely assigned, suggesting that the incidence of this nerve compression is low. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

The role of hand therapy in returning to safe driving following an orthopedic upper extremity injury or surgery. Algar, L. and Tejeda, B. (2023) Level of Evidence: 5 Follow recommendation: 👍 (1/4 thumbs up) Type of study: Therapeutic Topic: Return to driving - Upper limb recovery This is an expert opinion on the role of hand therapy in helping individuals return to safe driving after an orthopaedic upper extremity injury or surgery. It suggests that hand therapists can provide education and should help maximize the functional range of motion (ROM - see picture below) and strength in the upper extremity. It also proposes an Upper Extremity Driving Readiness Checklist as a tool to assess the individual's readiness to return to driving. These tests aim at determining whether the patient has enough ROM and can coordinate the upper limb to an extent that allows them to safely approach turns, curves, and avoid hazards. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, we could use the Upper Extremity Driving Readiness Checklist to assist clients in making a decision regarding whether they feel prepared to return to driving. This checklist can also be utilised to focus our rehab on the key impairments identified if the main goal of the patient is to return to driving as soon as possible. If you are interested in knowing more about return to driving post upper limb musculoskeletal injuries, have a look at this other synopsis. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2021.02.003 No abstract available publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Fencing wrist: A 10-year retrospective study of wrist injuries in fencers. de Villeneuve Bargemon, J.-B., Mathoulin, C. and Lupon, E. (2023) Level of Evidence: 5 Follow recommendation: 👍 (1/4 thumbs up) Type of study: Diagnostic Topic: Fencers - Wrist injuries This is a letter to the editor reporting on a non-peer reviewed clinical study that assessed wrist injuries in fencers over a 10-year period. A total of 31 patients aged between 20 and 60 years old were included if they attended at least two sessions of fencing per week. A total of 37 lesions were identified, with a predominance of ulnar-sided disorders and TFCC injuries. It was suggested that gripping the foil in ulnar deviation is responsible for the predominance of ulnar-sided wrist injuries, and that novice fencers should begin training with the 'Pistol grip' to reduce the risk of ulnar-sided wrist injury. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, fencers have an increased risk of ulnar-sided wrist injuries, particularly TFCC injuries. Novice fencers should be encouraged to use the 'Pistol grip' to reduce the risk of injury. If this is not possible during competition, a 'Pistol grip' may be appropriate during training sessions to reduce the biomechanical load through the ulnar wrist. Despite the higher level of ulnar-sided wrist injuries, advanced diagnostics may find little differences in terms of pathological changes between fencers and a control group at the TFCC. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934231162821 No Abstract available publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Factors associated with persistent opioid use after an upper extremity fracture. Shah, R. F., et al. (2021) Level of Evidence: 2b Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 👍 (3/4 thumbs up) Type of study: Prognostic Topic: Opioids - Is anxiety contributing to their use? This is a retrospective study assessing the relationship between opioid use and psychosocial factors in patients with upper limb fractures. A total of 734 participants with upper limb fractures were included in the present study. The results showed that anxiety, less social support, and worse general health were associated with continued opioid use two to four weeks after injury. In addition, clinics utilising programmes to reduce opioid use and prescriptions did not reduce patient satisfaction. Moreover, people utilising opioids did not appear to present with lower levels of pain compared to non-opioid users. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, emotional distress and lower levels of social health contribute to the risk of developing opioid addiction post upper limb fractures. In addition, other factors such as the use of gabapenting pre-surgery may increase the likelihood of people utilising opioids post-surgery. Despite these risk factors, it appears that predicting who will develop opioid addiction post-hand and upper limb surgery is still difficult. URL: https://doi.org/10.1302/2633-1462.22.BJO-2020-0167.R1 Abstract Aims: The increase in prescription opioid misuse and dependence is now a public health crisis in the UK. It is recognized as a whole-person problem that involves both the medical and the psychosocial needs of patients. Analyzing aspects of pathophysiology, emotional health, and social wellbeing associated with persistent opioid use after injury may inform safe and effective alleviation of pain while minimizing risk of misuse or dependence. Our objectives were to investigate patient factors associated with opioid use two to four weeks and six to nine months after an upper limb fracture. Methods: A total of 734 patients recovering from an isolated upper limb fracture were recruited in this study. Opioid prescription was documented retrospectively for the period preceding the injury, and prospectively at the two- to four-week post-injury visit and six- to nine-month post-injury visit. Bivariate and multivariate analysis sought factors associated with opioid prescription from demographics, injury-specific data, Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Instrumentation System (PROMIS), Depression computer adaptive test (CAT), PROMIS Anxiety CAT, PROMIS Instrumental Support CAT, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Pain Self-efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-2), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), and measures that investigate levels of social support. Results: A new prescription of opioids two to four weeks after injury was independently associated with less social support (odds ratio (OR) 0.26, p < 0.001), less instrumental support (OR 0.91, p < 0.001), and greater symptoms of anxiety (OR 1.1, p < 0.001). A new prescription of opioids six to nine months after injury was independently associated with less instrumental support (OR 0.9, p < 0.001) and greater symptoms of anxiety (OR 1.1, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that potentially modifiable psychosocial factors are associated with increased acute and chronic opioid prescriptions following upper limb fracture. Surgeons prescribing opioids for upper limb fractures should be made aware of the screening and management of emotional and social health. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Multiple compression syndromes of the same upper extremity: Prevalence, risk factors, and treatment outcomes of concomitant treatment. Mendelaar, N. H. A., et al. (2023) Level of Evidence: 2b Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 👍 (3/4 thumbs up) Type of study: Symptoms prevalence study Topic: Multiple entrapment neuropathies - Risk factors This study examined the prevalence, risk factors, and treatment outcomes of multiple nerve compression syndromes in a surgical cohort of 7,867 patients. It was found that 2.9% of patients underwent multiple decompressions for the same upper extremity within one year. Risk factors for this were severe symptoms, younger age, and smoking. Treatment outcomes of concomitant carpal tunnel release (CTR) and cubital tunnel release (CubTR) showed similar results to CTR alone and CubTR alone, with a shorter total return to work time. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, multiple nerve compression syndromes can co-occur. Patients who are younger, smokers, and those with severe symptoms are at a higher risk of having multiple compression syndromes surgically treated within one year. Furthermore, concomitant treatment of both compression syndromes (CTR and CubTR) can achieve similar treatment results to CubTR alone, with a shorter total return to work time. If you are interested in learning about unusual nerve compression presentations of the wrist, have a look at this synopsis. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2023.01.024 Abstract Purpose: Multiple nerve compression syndromes can co-occur. Little is known about this coexistence, especially about risk factors and surgical outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the prevalence of multiple nerve compression syndromes in the same arm in a surgical cohort and determine risk factors. Additionally, the surgical outcomes of concomitant treatment were studied. Methods: The prevalence of surgically treated multiple nerve compression syndromes within one year was assessed using a review of patients’ electronic records. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and baseline scores of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire were considered as risk factors. To determine the treatment outcomes of simultaneous treatment, patients who underwent concomitant carpal tunnel release (CTR) and cubital tunnel release (CubTR) were selected. The treatment outcomes were Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire scores at intake and at 3 and 6 months after the surgery, satisfaction 6 months after the surgery, and return to work within the first year. Results: A total of 7,867 patients underwent at least one nerve decompression between 2011 and 2021. Of these patients, 2.9% underwent multiple decompressions for the same upper extremity within one year. The risk factors for this were severe symptoms, younger age, and smoking. Furthermore, the treatment outcomes of concomitant CTR and CubTR did not differ from those of CubTR alone. The median time to return to work after concomitant treatment was 6 weeks. Patients who underwent CTR or CubTR alone returned to work after 4 weeks. Conclusions: Approximately 3% of the patients who underwent surgical treatment for nerve compression syndrome underwent decompression for another nerve within 1 year. Patients who report severe symptoms at intake, are younger, or smoke are at a greater risk. Patients with carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome may benefit from simultaneous decompression. The time to return to work may be less than if they underwent decompressions in separate procedures, whereas their surgical outcomes are comparable with those of CubTR alone. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Swelling, stiffness, and dysfunction following proximal interphalangeal joint sprains. Cheesman, Q. T., et al. (2023) Level of Evidence: 2c Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 (2/4 thumbs up) Type of study: Symptoms prevalence study Topic: PIPJ sprain recovery - Swelling This prospective, longitudinal survey study determined the duration of subjective finger swelling, stiffness, and dysfunction following a proximal interphalangeal joint (pipj) sprain. A total of 93 participants with pipj sprain were included. The results showed that 63% of participants reported full resolution of swelling within 1 year of injury, however, only 42% of this group reported no limitations in range of motion. Around 40% of the participants reported swelling of the involved finger after 12 months from pipj sprain. Risk factors such as age, sex, involved finger, days from injury to presentation, body mass index, smoking status, diabetes, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis were similar between the resolution cohort and the no-resolution cohort. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, pipj swelling resolves within 12 months from injury in the majority of patients. However, about 40% of people still present with swelling beyond 12 months post-injury. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict who will have a delayed recovery. After the initial stage of joint protection, it is advised to avoid immobilisation of the pipj as this may contribute to the development of stiffness. However, the combination of low-load prolonged stretching through a splint and stretching, has been shown to help regain pipj extension in those patients who develop pipj flexion contractures. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2023.01.025 Abstract Purpose: Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint sprains are common injuries that often result in prolonged swelling, stiffness, and dysfunction; however, the duration of these sequelae is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the duration of time that patients experience finger swelling, stiffness, and dysfunction following a PIP joint sprain. Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal, survey-based study. To identify patients with PIP joint sprains, the electronic medical record was queried monthly using International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision, codes for PIP joint sprain. A five-question survey was emailed monthly for 1 year or until their response indicated resolution of swelling, whichever occurred sooner. Two cohorts were established: patients with (resolution cohort) and patients without (no-resolution cohort) self-reported resolution of swelling of the involved finger within 1 year of a PIP joint sprain injury. The measured outcomes included self-reported resolution of swelling, self-reported limitations to range of motion, limitations to activities of daily living, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score, and return to normalcy. Results: Of 93 patients, 59 (63%) had complete resolution of swelling within 1 year of a PIP joint sprain. Of the patients in the resolution cohort, 42% reported return to subjective normalcy, with 47% having self-reported limitations in range of motion and 41% having limitations in activities of daily living. At the time of resolution of swelling, the average VAS pain score was 0.8 out of 10. In contrast, only 15% of patients in the no-resolution cohort reported return to subjective normalcy, with 82% having self-reported limitations in range of motion and 65% having limitations in activities of daily living. For this cohort, the average VAS pain score at 1 year was 2.6 out of 10. Conclusions: It is common for patients to experience a prolonged duration of swelling, stiffness, and dysfunction following PIP joint sprains. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Failure rates and analysis of risk factors for percutaneous A1 pulley release of trigger digits. Jeon, N., Yoo, S. G., Kim, S. K., Park, M. J. and Shim, J. W. (2023) Level of Evidence: 4 Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 (2/4 Thumbs up) Type of study: Therapeutic Topic: Trigger finger - A1 percutaneous release This study analysed the long-term success rate and risk factors for failure of percutaneous A1 pulley release in 406 patients with trigger digits. After excluding patients with severe osteoarthritis, history of surgery on the involved digit and rheumatoid arthritis, 251 patients for a total of 331 digits were enrolled in the study. Results showed that 87% of cases achieved complete resolution. This intervention failed in 13% of cases, with the index, middle or ring fingers presenting with the highest failure rates. In contrast, release of A1 pulley at the thumb presented with the lowest failure rate. No major complications were reported. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, percutaneous A1 pulley release is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of trigger digits, with a long-term success rate of 87%. The failure rate is highest when the index, middle or ring fingers are treated. The thumb presented with the lowest failure rate and this may be due to the more complex anatomy and adherences between FDS and FDP in the other digits. If you would like to know more about trigger fingers, have a look at the whole database. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934231161764 Abstract This study aimed to identify the rates and risk factors for failure of percutaneous A1 pulley release. We retrospectively analysed patients who underwent percutaneous A1 pulley release between 2015 and 2019. We defined failure as (1) pain or discomfort at the final follow-up, (2) when open release or revision percutaneous release was performed, or (3) when steroid injections were administered three or more times for symptom control. A total of 331 digits from 251 patients were included. The mean follow-up duration was 47 months (minimum 24 months). Complete resolution was achieved in 287 cases (87%), but 21% required steroid injection before symptoms settled. There was failure in 44 cases (13%). Involvement of the index, middle and ring fingers was significantly different between the successful and failure groups. Percutaneous A1 pulley release has a long-term success rate of 87%. The failure rate was higher when the procedure was performed on the index, middle or ring fingers. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Return to work after surgery for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis in relation to occupational hand force requirements. Kirkeby, L., Svendsen, S. W., Hansen, T. B. and Frost, P. (2023) Level of Evidence: 2b Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 👍 (3/4 Thumbs up) Type of study: Prognostic Topic: Thumb osteoarthritis - Return to work This is a retrospective study assessing return to work (RTW) of patients with first-time surgery for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis in public hospitals in Denmark from 2001-2017. A total of 2,090 participants were included in the study. The results showed that 50%, 87%, and 91% of patients had returned to work within 16, 52, and 104 weeks respectively. Medium and high occupational hand force requirements were associated with a slower return to work, with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.84 and 0.59 respectively compared to low hand force requirements. In particular, for patients who had high-demand gripping occupations, the median return to work was 8 weeks longer compared with jobs requiring low hand force. Female sex and frequent sickness leave were also associated with slower RTW. It was concluded that the overall prognosis regarding RTW after surgery for TMC joint OA was good, but patients with higher occupational hand force requirements could expect slower RTW. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, patients with higher occupational hand force requirements may take longer to return to work after surgery for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. Having this knowledge may help patients decide what is the best course of action for the management of their thumb OA. An alternative to surgery may include a trial of conservative treatment including education, exercise, and/or cortisone injections. If patients do decide to undergo surgery, early mobilisation appears to be a feasible option for their post-surgical recovery. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2022.12.008 Abstract Purpose: This study evaluated the hypothesis that higher occupational hand force requirements are related to slower return to work (RTW) after surgery for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients treated surgically for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis from 2001 to 2017 were identified in the Danish National Patient Register. Sustainable RTW (sRTW) was defined as the first period of 4 consecutive weeks without health-related public transfer payments, according to the Danish National Register on Public Transfer Payments. Occupational codes from the Danish Employment Classification Module were linked to a hand-arm job exposure matrix to obtain occupational hand force requirements for each patient. Cox regression models were used to analyze time until sRTW in relation to hand force requirements with adjustment for age, sex, type of surgery, preoperative sick leave, and calendar year of surgery. Results: The study included 2,090 patients. Within 104 weeks, 91% sustainably returned to work. The percentage of individuals in the subgroups that did not RTW was 8% of low-force− and medium-force−exposed patients and 14% of high-force-exposed patients. Medium and high occupational hand force requirements were associated with slower sRTW. The adjusted hazard ratio for sRTW was 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.95) for medium and 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.50–0.68) for high compared with low hand force requirements. Among patients who returned to work, patients with medium and high hand force requirements had median periods until sRTW of 16 and 18 weeks, respectively, compared with 10 weeks among patients with low hand force requirements. Conclusions: The prognosis regarding RTW after surgery for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis is generally good, but patients with higher occupational hand force requirements can expect slower RTW. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

The effectiveness of neuromobilization in patients with cervical radiculopathy: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Paraskevopoulos, E., Koumantakis, G. and Papandreou, M. (2022) Level of Evidence: 2a Follow recommendation: 👍 👍 👍 (3/4 Thumbs up) Type of study: Therapeutic Topic: Neural mobilisation - cervical radiculopathy This meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of neuromobilisation exercises in patients with cervical radiculopathy. A total of seven clinical trials were included in the analysis and they were assessed through the Risk of Bias criteria recommended by the Cochrane Review Group. The overall strength of evidence was assessed through the GRADE approach ("low", "very low", "moderate", "high"), which has also been suggested by the Cochrane group for systematic reviews. Moderate quality of evidence suggests that neuromobilisation is superior to no treatment for pain, function, and range of motion. However, it was not found to be superior to other interventions. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, neuromobilisation exercises may be an effective treatment for cervical radiculopathy, providing pain relief, improved function, and increased range of motion. Neuromobilisation also appear to be useful for people with isolated carpal tunnel syndrome. Despite evidence of some positive benefits of neurodynamic exercises, research suggests that their addition to a global exercises regime does not provide significant improvements in people with neck and arm pain. URL: https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2022-0259 Abstract CONTEXT: Neuromobilization exercises (NE) could be a useful therapeutic tool to induce analgesia and increase function and range of motion (ROM) in patients with musculoskeletal pathologies with neuropathic components; however, the effectiveness of this intervention in patients with cervical radiculopathy (CR) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of NE in CR on pain, function, and ROM. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: An electronic search was performed in the MEDLINE, Scopus, PEDro, and EBSCO databases from inception until June 2022. The authors included randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effectiveness of NE against control groups or other interventions that aimed to treat patients with CR. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Seven clinical trials met the eligibility criteria, and for the quantitative synthesis, 5 studies were included. For the studies that compared NE with a control group, the standardized mean difference for pain was -1.33/10 (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.80 to -0.86; P < .01; I2 = 0%), for function with the Neck Disability Index was -1.21/50 (95% CI, -1.67 to -0.75; P < .01; I2 = 0%), and for neck flexion and extensions was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.23 to 1.10; P < .01; I2 = 0%) and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.90; P < .01; I2 = 0%), respectively, with evidence of clinical effectiveness. These findings were based on moderate-quality evidence according to the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation rating. In studies that compared NE with other interventions, the meta-analysis failed to demonstrate the statistical or clinical superiority of NE. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate quality of evidence suggests that NE may be superior to no treatment for pain, function, and ROM in patients with CR. In contrast, NE are not superior to other interventions in the same outcomes, based on low- to very low-quality evidence. More high-quality research is needed to assess the consistency of these results. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings

Avascular necrosis of the scaphoid-preiser disease: Outcomes of 39 surgical cases. Amundsen, A., et al. (2023) Level of Evidence: 4 Follow recommendation: 👍 (1/4 Thumbs up) Type of study: Therapeutic Topic: Preiser disease - Scaphoid AVN This is a case series of patients treated surgically for Preiser Disease, a rare condition of the scaphoid bone. A total of 39 participants were included in the study. Treatment for the condition is still controversial, and the optimal surgical treatment remains unclear. The study found that vascular bone grafts and salvage procedures had similar functional and pain outcomes improvements without loss of grip strength. Complications included further surgery for 9 patients. The demographics of the patients showed that women were affected almost twice as frequently as men. Disclaimer: This publication was reviewed and assessed by one reviewer only and it reflects their interpretation. Readers should come to their own conclusions by reading the original article. Clinical Take Home Message: Based on what we know today, Preiser Disease is a rare condition of idiopathic avascular necrosis of the scaphoid bone. Vascular bone grafts appear to be able to preserve the scaphoid in 70% of the cases. A slender scaphoid is potentially more common in patients with Preiser disease. It is possible that, like for Kienböck disease, Preiser Disease may be more common in people with a family history of the disease. If you are interested in the topic, this synopsis covers avascular necrosis of other carpal bones whilst this other synopsis shows a mimicker of avascular necrosis, which is instead a rare vestigial carpal bone. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.10.023 Abstract PURPOSE: There is no established treatment standard for patients with idiopathic avascular necrosis of the scaphoid, also known as Preiser Disease. We evaluated outcomes of operative interventions performed for patients diagnosed with Preiser Disease and assessed scaphoid morphology in the contralateral wrists. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing surgery for Preiser disease between 1987 and 2019 at our institution. A total of 39 wrists in 38 patients were identified. The mean age was 37 years at the time of surgery, and the median follow-up time was 5.3 years. The patients were classified according to the Herbert and Kalainov classifications. Pre- and postoperative pain and functional outcomes were evaluated, and Mayo Wrist Scores were calculated. Reoperations for complications were recorded. Scaphoid shapes were assessed for wide/type 1 and slender/type 2 scaphoids in the contralateral unaffected wrist in patients with unilateral disease. RESULTS: Overall, pain and Mayo Wrist Scores improved, while flexion/extension decreased slightly and grip strength remained stable. In a comparison of the 2 main surgery groups, 17 wrists with a pedicled vascular bone graft and 12 wrists with salvage surgery (4-corner fusion/proximal row carpectomy) showed similar functional outcomes. Similar outcome scores were found regardless of preoperative Herbert or Kalainov classifications. Radiographic morphologic evaluation of the contralateral side determined that 4 of 8 patients had a slender scaphoid shape, which has been shown to have a more limited vascular network when compared to full scaphoids. CONCLUSIONS: A treatment algorithm of Preiser disease is lacking and the optimal surgical treatment remains controversial. Pedicled vascular bone grafts had similar functional outcomes as salvage procedures, but preserving the scaphoid was possible in 70% of the pedicled vascular bone graft cases. A slender scaphoid is potentially more common in patients with Preiser disease who undergo surgery. publications = Total number of papers citing this research supporting = Citation statements supporting the findings mentioning = Neutral citation statements contrasting = Citation statements not supporting the findings