The influence of synovial inflammation and hyperplasia on symptomatic outcomes up to 2 years post-operatively in patients undergoing partial meniscectomy.

Objective: Synovitis is associated with pain and other symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and in patients with meniscal tears even in the absence of radiographic OA. Patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were followed for 2 years to determine whether synovitis predicts post-operative symptoms.

Design: Thirty-three patients scheduled for arthroscopy were recruited for this pilot study.

Synovial inflammation in patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy: molecular characterization and relationship to symptoms.

Objective: Traumatic and degenerative meniscal tears have different anatomic features and different proposed etiologies, yet both are associated with the development or progression of osteoarthritis (OA). In established OA, synovitis is associated with pain and progression, but a relationship between synovitis and symptoms in isolated meniscal disease has not been reported. Accordingly, we sought to characterize synovial pathology in patients with traumatic meniscal injuries and determine the relationships between inflammation, meniscal and cartilage pathology, and symptoms.

The accuracy of the physical examination for the diagnosis of midlumbar and low lumbar nerve root impingement.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study with prospective recruitment. OBJECTIVE.: To determine the accuracy of the physical examination for the diagnosis of midlumbar nerve root impingement (L2, L3, or L4), low lumbar nerve root impingement (L5 or S1) and level-specific lumbar nerve root impingement on magnetic resonance imaging, using individual tests and combinations of tests.

Inciting events associated with lumbar disc herniation.

Background Context: No prior study has investigated the frequency of patient-identified inciting events in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) or their clinical significance.

Purpose: To examine the clinical frequency of patient-identified inciting events in LDH, and to identify associations between the presence of inciting events and the severity of the clinical presentation.

Study Design/setting: Cross-sectional analysis of data from a cohort study with prospective recruitment, with retrospective data collection on inciting events.

Outcome of percutaneous rupture of lumbar synovial cysts: a case series of 101 patients.

Background Context: Lumbar facet joint synovial cysts are benign degenerative abnormalities of the lumbar spine. Previous reports have supported operative and nonoperative management. Facet joint steroid injection with cyst rupture is occasionally performed, but there has been no systematic evaluation of this treatment option.