Diagnostics (Basel)
January 2025
A 66-year-old woman presented with persistent knee effusion three months after undergoing a cemented medial uni-compartmental knee replacement. She was afebrile and able to walk with a stick. Physical examination revealed moderate effusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA groin mass can arise from multiple conditions, with common causes including hernias, enlarged lymph nodes, fluid collections, or tumors. An ultrasound, together with a clinical examination, plays a key role in diagnosing groin masses and identifying hidden hernias. A 44-year-old male presented with a painless right inguinal mass that had been continuously present for one month.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To propose a standardized, high-resolution ultrasound (US) protocol to assess the patellar tendon-Hoffa fat pad interface (PTHFPI) in patients with (proximal) patellar tendinopathy (PPT).
Methods: Using a high-frequency transducer and a high-level machine, we matched the cadaveric and histological microarchitecture of the PTHFPI with multiple sonographic patterns of patients with PPT. Likewise, high-sensitive color/power Doppler assessments were also performed to evaluate the microcirculation of the soft tissues beneath the patellar tendon.
A 27-year-old female presented with persistent right medial plantar pain that developed over six months following an ankle sprain. The pain, described as sharp and radiating to the toes, progressively worsened, affecting her ability to walk. An initial ultrasound examination suggested medial plantar nerve compression by a lipoma, prompting her referral for ultrasound-guided hydrodissection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Low back pain is a globally prevalent musculoskeletal issue. Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) is emerging as a promising modality for managing musculoskeletal pain, while ultrasound-guided lumbar facet/multifidus injections are a potential therapeutic option for low back pain. This study explores the feasibility of combining these two treatments for managing low back pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This umbrella review synthesizes systematic reviews and meta-analyses to reach a conclusion concerning the overall effectiveness of ultrasound-guided vs landmark-guided injections for treating musculoskeletal pain.
Design: Umbrella review.
Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched for relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses from inception to March 2024.
Background: The pathophysiology of sarcopenia is complex and multifactorial and has not been fully elucidated. The impact of resistance training and nutritional support (RTNS) on metabolomics and lipodomics in older adults with sarcopenia remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore potential biomarkers of sarcopenia and clinical indicators of RTNS in older sarcopenic adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the foremost cause of mortality globally. Taurine, an amino acid, holds promise for cardiovascular health through mechanisms such as calcium regulation, blood pressure reduction, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite these potential benefits, previous studies have yielded inconsistent results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsertional Achilles tendinopathy is an umbrella medical term referring to pain and swelling on the posterior aspect of the calcaneus. High-resolution ultrasound imaging is commonly used in daily practice to assess the pathological changes of the Achilles tendon, cortical bone of the calcaneus, and soft tissues located inside the retrocalcaneal space to optimize the management of relevant patients. To the best of our knowledge, a standardized ultrasound protocol to evaluate the retrocalcaneal bursal complex is lacking in the pertinent literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Reduced longitudinal median nerve gliding is a new promising diagnostic feature in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, the complexity of existing ultrasound analysis protocols undermines the application in routine clinical practice.
Aim: To provide a simple method for assessing longitudinal gliding with ultrasound, without the need for post-hoc image analysis.
The pertinent literature widely describes ultrasound-guided procedures targeting the retrocalcaneal bursa and the tendon tissue to manage insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Synovial bursae and cutaneous nerves of the superficial retrocalcaneal pad are often overlooked pain generators and are poorly considered by clinicians and surgeons. A layer-by-layer dissection of the superficial soft tissues in the retrocalcaneal region of two fresh frozen cadavers was matched with historical anatomical tables of the textbook Traite d'Anatomie Topographique Avec Applications Médico-Chirurgicales (1909 by Testut and Jacob).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Studies have demonstrated that exercise can mitigate the intensity of menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea, but the most effective type of exercise remains unclear. The objective of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of different exercise regimens in reducing pain associated with primary dysmenorrhoea.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials investigating the relationship between menstrual pain and exercise were selected from major electronic databases until February 2, 2024.
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of interconnected risk factors that significantly increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Taurine has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for MetS. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine supplementation on MetS-related parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe paraspinal muscles of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are important pain generators because muscle strains or myofascial pain syndrome caused by trigger points are common during clinical practice. Ultrasonography is the most convenient imaging tool for evaluating these muscles due to its advantages, such as providing good delineation of soft tissues, easy accessibility, and zero radiation. Additionally, ultrasound can serve as a useful guiding tool for paraspinal muscle intervention to prevent inadvertent injuries to vital axial neurovascular structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the influence of core muscle training on throwing ball velocity among overhead throwing athletes.
Design: A literature search was performed from inception to July 2023 for randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of core muscle training on overhead throwing ball velocity. The primary outcome was the change in standing throwing ball velocity.
Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of lumbar segmental stabilization exercise (LSSE) in managing spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.
Summary Of Background Data: Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are spinal disorders associated with lumbar segmental instability.