To investigate the comparative treatment effects of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment (UG-PRF) in the gastrocnemius interfascial space and ultrasound-guided interfascial injection (UG-INJ) on myofascial pain syndrome.
Forty consecutive patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the gastrocnemius were enrolled and were allocated to one of the two groups. Twenty patients were treated by UG-PRF delivered to the gastrocnemius interfascial space (UG-PRF group) and the other 20 patients were treated by interfascial injection (UG-INJ group). The primary outcome measure was the numeric rating score (NRS) for pain on pressing the tender point in the gastrocnemius, and the secondary outcome measure was health-related quality of life as determined by the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36). NRSs were obtained at the first visit, immediately after treatment, and at 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment, and physical component summary scores (PCS) and mental component summary scores (MCS) of the SF-36 questionnaire were measured at the first visit and at 4 weeks post-treatment.
Immediately after treatments, mean NRS in the UG-PRF group was significantly higher than that in the UG-INJ group (p<0.0001). However, at 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment, the mean NRS was significantly lower in the UG-PRF group (both p<0.0001). Similarly, at 4 weeks post-treatment, mean PCS and MCS were significantly higher in the UG-PRF group (p<0.0001 and p=0.002, respectively).
Based on these results, the authors conclude that ultrasound-guided gastrocnemius interfascial PRF provides an attractive treatment for myofascial pain syndrome of the gastrocnemius.
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To investigate the short-term effects of bipolar radiofrequency applied to sacral nerves to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with spinal cord injury.
Ten patients with spinal cord injury with neurogenic detrusor overactivity were recruited. These subjects were randomized to two groups: intervention (n=5) and control (n=5), members of which received conventional treatment. Voiding diary, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) and the urinary incontinence quality of life scale (IQOL) data were obtained and an urodynamic study (UDS) was performed before and after intervention. In the intervention group, percutaneous bipolar continuous radiofrequency (CRF) was performed on both the S2 and S3 nerves in each patient.
In a comparison of daily frequency and number of urinary incontinence and ICIQ and IQOL scores at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after intervention, all variables achieved a significant effect for time (p<0.05). Regarding UDS parameters, pre/post intervention differences between baseline and 3-month post-intervention for volume at maximal detrusor pressure during filling and reflex detrusor volume at first contraction were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). However, pre/post intervention differences in maximum cystometric capacity and maximum detrusor pressure during filling were not significant between the two groups (p>0.05).
Percutaneous bipolar CRF applied to sacral nerves might be an effective therapy for neurogenic overactive bladder that reduces urinary incontinence and improves quality of life.
To investigate changes in lumbar multifidus (LM) and deep lumbar stabilizing abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis [TrA] and obliquus internus [OI]) during transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of lumbar paraspinal L4-L5 regions using real-time ultrasound imaging (RUSI).
Lumbar paraspinal regions of 20 healthy physically active male volunteers were stimulated at 20, 50, and 80 Hz. Ultrasound images of the LM, TrA, OI, and obliquus externus (OE) were captured during stimulation at each frequency.
The thicknesses of superficial LM and deep LM as measured by RUSI were greater during NMES than at rest for all three frequencies (p<0.05). The thicknesses in TrA, OI, and OE were also significantly greater during NMES of lumbar paraspinal regions than at rest (p<0.05).
The studied transcutaneous NMES of the lumbar paraspinal region significantly activated deep spinal stabilizing muscle (LM) and the abdominal lumbar stabilizing muscles TrA and OI as evidenced by RUSI. The findings of this study suggested that transcutaneous NMES might be useful for improving spinal stability and strength in patients having difficulty initiating contraction of these muscles.
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To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a Tibia Counter Rotator (TCR) with toe-out gait plate (GP) upon tibial internal torsion by a comparative analysis of transmalleolar angle (TMA) and gait analysis with GP alone.
Twenty participants with tibial internal torsion were recruited for this study. Each 10 participants were included in group A with TCR and GP application and in group B with GP application only. The TMA and the kinematic results were used for the evaluation of the therapeutic effects of orthoses.
Within each group, TMA showed a significant increase after treatment. Group A showed a continuous improvement up to six months, however, group B showed an improvement up to five months only. Group A showed a significantly higher correction effect than group B after treatment. Regarding kinematic data, both groups showed a significantly decreased mean ankle adduction angle after treatment. However, group A showed a significantly lower mean ankle adduction angle than group B after six months.
The group with TCR and GP showed a significantly better outcome and continued correction force compared to the group with GP only. Our results suggest that TCR with GP may be useful therapeutic orthoses for children with tibial internal torsion.
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To examine using surface electromyography whether stair climbing with abdominal hollowing (AH) is better at facilitating local trunk muscle activity than stair climbing without AH.
Twenty healthy men with no history of low back pain participated in the study. Surface electrodes were attached to the multifidus (MF), lumbar erector spinae, thoracic erector spinae, transverse abdominus - internal oblique abdominals (TrA-IO), external oblique abdominals (EO), and the rectus abdominis. Amplitudes of electromyographic signals were measured during stair climbing. Study participants performed maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) for each muscle in various positions to normalize the surface electromyography data.
AH during stair climbing resulted in significant increases in normalized MVCs in both MFs and TrA-IOs (p<0.05). Local trunk muscle/global trunk muscle ratios were higher during stair climbing with AH as compared with stair climbing without AH. Especially, right TrA-IO/EO and left TrA-IO/EO were significantly increased (p<0.05).
Stair climbing with AH activates local trunk stabilizing muscles better than stair climbing without AH. The findings suggest that AH during stair climbing contributes to trunk muscle activation and trunk stabilization.
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To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous intradiscal monopolar pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) in patients with chronic disabling discogenic back pain.
Twenty-six subjects (7 males; mean age 43.2 years) with chronic back pain refractory to active rehabilitative management were recruited. All subjects underwent MRI for evaluation of Modic changes, and monopolar PRF (20 min at 60 V) at the center of target lumbar intervertebral disc confirmed by pressure-controlled provocative discography. Clinical outcomes were measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and sitting tolerance time (ST) for 12 months after treatment. Successful clinical outcome was described as a minimum of 2 point reduction in VAS compared with the baseline at each follow-up period.
The mean VAS for low back pain reduced significantly from 6.4±1.1 at pre-treatment to 4.4±1.9 at 12 months (p<0.05). The mean ODI score was 47.3±15.4 points at pre-treatment and 36.7±19.5 at 12 months (p<0.001). The ST was 27.8±20.4 minutes at pre-treatment and 71.5±42.2 at 12 months (p<0.001). However, successful clinical outcome was achieved at 58%, 50%, and 42%, measured at 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment. There were no significant relationship between the clinical outcome and Modic changes; no adverse events were recorded.
The results demonstrated that the application of intradiscal monopolar PRF might be relatively effective but limited; successful intervention for chronic refractory discogenic back pain is needed. To achieve the optimal outcome through intradiscal PRF, we suggested further studies about stimulation duration, mode, and intensity of PRF.
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Rotavirus encephalopathy (RE) is a benign afebrile seizure associated with acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus infection. We investigated the diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) findings of a patient with RE. The patient was a 30-month-old female that had experienced a brief, generalized convulsive seizure. On the day of admission, the patient had vomiting and experienced watery diarrhea. Her stool was positive for rotavirus antigen. At onset, the patient displayed a drowsy and delirious mental status; later, a splenial lesion of the corpus callosum was found on MRI. One week later, the patient's condition improved and the splenial lesion had disappeared by conventional MRI. Initial DTI showed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) values of fornix, as well as of the corpus callosum. A follow-up DTT showed a restored interrupted right fonical crus and increased FA values of corpus callosum and fornix. These results highlight the implications of the probability of not only a corpus callosum injury, but a fornix injury as well, in this patient with RE.
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