Percutaneous Release Procedures: Trigger Finger and Carpal Tunnel.

Trigger digit and carpal tunnel syndrome are both conditions traditionally treated with open surgery but are potentially amenable to curative treatment using percutaneous techniques. The advantages of minimally invasive techniques are lower risk of wound breakdown and infection, quicker healing, reduced postprocedural pain, reduced complications, and a quicker return to normal activity. The advent of high-resolution ultrasound has allowed percutaneous release procedures for these conditions to be developed and performed with a potential for a reduced risk of complications and an increased likelihood of success.

MRI findings and return to play in football: a prospective analysis of 255 hamstring injuries in the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study.

Aim: The present study evaluated whether the MRI parameters of hamstring injuries in male professional football players correlate with time to return to play (RTP).

Methods: 46 elite European football teams were followed prospectively for hamstring injuries between 2007 and 2014. Club medical staff recorded individual player exposure and time-loss after hamstring injury.

Hamstring muscle injuries in professional football: the correlation of MRI findings with return to play.

Background: Hamstring injury is the single most common injury in professional football. MRI is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis and provide a prognosis of lay-off time.

Objective: To evaluate the use of MRI as a prognostic tool for lay-off after hamstring injuries in professional football players and to study the association between MRI findings and injury circumstances.

Groin pain: clinical assessment and the role of MR imaging.

Groin pain is a common problem in the elite athlete and may lead to prolonged inactivity if inadequately treated. Groin pain, arising from injuries to the hip and pelvis, accounts for 5 to 6% of athletic injuries in adults and 10 to 24% of these injuries in children. Lower limb-dominated athletic activities such as football, rugby, ice hockey, running, and ballet are particularly at risk.

Ultrasound-guided treatments for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: an update and current status.

Minimally-invasive treatments for chronic Achilles tendinopathy may prevent the need for surgery when conservative methods have failed. Whilst injections have traditionally been used to manage symptoms, recently described therapies may also have disease-modifying potential. Ultrasound provides the ability to guide therapeutic interventions, ensuring that treatment is delivered to the exact site of pathology.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous release of the annular pulley in trigger digit.

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate a new technique for ultrasound-guided percutaneous release of the annular pulley in trigger digit using a modified hypodermic needle. A total of 35 ultrasound-guided percutaneous releases were performed on 25 patients diagnosed and referred by hand surgeons in our institution over 16 months from October 2006. Inclusion criteria were as follows: adulthood, triggering present for at least 4 months, failure to respond to conservative management or steroid injections, no previous history of pulley release in the affected digit.

Normal sonographic anatomy of the posterolateral corner of the knee.

Objective: The posterolateral corner of the knee comprises a group of structures that are important to knee stability. MRI is currently the standard imaging technique, but visualization of individual structures is often incomplete. Sonography allows rapid real-time assessment of these superficial structures, but knowledge of the anatomy is essential to allow accurate examination.

Posterior impingement syndromes of the ankle.

Acute, or repetitive, compression of the posterior structures of the ankle may lead to posterior ankle impingement (PAI) syndrome, posteromedial ankle impingement (PoMI) syndrome, or Haglund's syndrome. The etiology of each of these conditions is quite different. Variations in posterior ankle osseous and soft tissue anatomy contribute to the etiology of PAI and Haglund's syndromes.

Normal sonographic anatomy of the wrist and hand.

The advent of ultra-high-frequency sonographic transducers has significantly enhanced our ability to image superficial structures. As a result, sonography now can be used to assess injuries of the tendons in the wrist and hand. A clear understanding of normal sonographic anatomy is required to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure optimal patient care.

Abdominal computed tomographic findings of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection in HIV seropositive patients.

Objective: To compare the computed tomographic (CT) findings of abdominal Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Methods: A retrospective review of the CT findings of 30 patients with HIV and proven MTB (n = 9) or MAI (n = 21) infection was conducted. Images were reviewed by a radiologist blinded to the diagnosis, and the radiologic findings involving the abdominal viscera, peritoneum and lymph nodes were compared.

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the structural and functional results of postanal repair for neuropathic fecal incontinence.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic floor can discriminate between patients who improve after postanal repair for neurogenic fecal incontinence and those who remain symptomatic.

Methods: Pelvic floor measurements obtained during dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in eight females whose anal incontinence had improved after postanal repair were compared with those from nine females who remained symptomatic. All subjects also underwent standard anorectal physiology testing.

The use of a D-dimer assay in patients undergoing CT pulmonary angiography for suspected pulmonary embolus.

Purpose: To assess the ability of a semi-quantitative latex agglutination D-dimer test Accuclot with bedside measurements of arterial oxygen saturation, respiratory and cardiac rates to exclude pulmonary embolism (PE) on computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

Materials And Methods: All patients referred to our CT unit for investigation of suspected acute pulmonary embolism were enrolled. Pulse oximetery, respiratory rate, heart rate and blood sampling for D-dimer testing were carried out just before CT.