A pre-, peri- and postoperative rehabilitation pathway for lumbar fusion surgery (REACT): a nonrandomized controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based pre-, peri- and postoperative rehabilitation pathway (i.e. the REACT rehabilitation pathway) on disability in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery (LFS), compared to usual care.

ICON 2023: International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus - the core outcome set for Achilles tendinopathy (COS-AT) using a systematic review and a Delphi study of professional participants and patients.

To develop a core outcome set for Achilles tendinopathy (COS-AT) for use in clinical trials we performed a five-step process including (1) a systematic review of available outcome measurement instruments, (2) an online survey on truth and feasibility of the available measurement instruments, (3) an assessment of the methodological quality of the selected outcome measurement instruments, (4) an online survey on the outcome measurement instruments as COS and (5) a consensus in-person meeting. Both surveys were completed by healthcare professionals and patients. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology guidelines with a 70% threshold for consensus were followed.

Palmitoylethanolamide Does Not Affect Recovery from Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Healthy Males.

Introduction: Strenuous eccentric exercise (EE) induces microstructural muscle damage, which decreases muscle performance. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) exerts analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in clinical pain conditions and preclinical models of experimentally induced inflammation. This might hold clues for improved recovery from EE.

Neuritis ossificans mimicking a malignancy in a child: case report and literature review.

We present the case of a child with neuritis ossificans after acute trauma, treated conservatively. The aim of the review is to compare several parameters in this disease. Emphasis is placed on the clinical-radiological features distinguishing neuritis ossificans from malignancy to avoid unnecessary biopsy and surgery.

Defining tibial anterior muscle morphology in first-ever chronic stroke patients using three-dimensional freehand ultrasound.

Background: Drop foot is common post-stroke, elevating fall risks and mobility limitations. It is caused by weakness and lack of control of the tibialis anterior muscle (TA), for which various rehabilitation treatments are used. A reliable objective estimate of changes in TA muscle morphology and composition can enhance treatment optimization.

Safety of dry needling in stroke patients: a scoping review.

Introduction: Spasticity is a common problem in stroke patients. Treatments of spasticity often have side effects or are insufficiently effective. Dry needling (DN) has been proposed as a potential additional option to consider in the multimodal treatment of post-stroke spasticity, although questions about its safety remain.

Comparison of immediate versus optional delayed surgical repair for treatment of acute anterior cruciate ligament injury through a parallel, multicentric, pragmatic randomized controlled trial - IODA trial.

Background: Standard care for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries often includes surgical reconstruction of the ACL. However, two randomized controlled trials [1, 2] (RCT) concluded that conservative treatment does not result in inferior clinical outcomes compared to immediate ACL reconstruction. More research is needed to verify these results and assess whether patient-specific parameters determine if a patient would benefit from one treatment option over the other.

Three-dimensional freehand ultrasonography to measure muscle volume of the lumbar multifidus: Reliability of processing technique and validity through comparison to magnetic resonance imaging.

There is a growing interest in muscle characteristics of the lumbar multifidus related to low back pain, but findings between studies are inconsistent. One of the issues explaining these conflicting findings might be the use of two-dimensional measures of cross-sectional area and thickness of the lumbar multifidus in most studies, which might be a suboptimal representation of the entire muscle volume. A three-dimensional volumetric assessment, combined with standardized imaging and processing measurement protocols, is highly recommended to quantify spinal muscle morphology.

Ultrasound measurement of subsynovial connective tissue thickness in the carpal tunnel: An intrarater/interrater reliability and agreement study.

Objectives: Non-inflammatory thickening of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) in the carpal tunnel is commonly found in subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and quantification may shed light on CTS pathogenesis. To date, information on the reliability of ultrasound quantification of SSCT is scarce. Therefore, we investigated intrarater and interrater reliability/agreement for ultrasound quantification of SSCT thickness in subjects with and without CTS, and predictors for tissue thickness.

Best practice rehabilitation pathway for the management of single and double-level lumbar fusion surgery: a modified Delphi Study.

Background: There is limited evidence to guide the rehabilitation of patients following single or double-level lumbar fusion surgery (LFS). This is reflected in extensive variability in current rehabilitation regimes and subsequent low clinical success rates, which urges a call for a consensus rehabilitation pathway.

Aim: To establish consensus on the optimal pre-, peri- and postoperative rehabilitation of LFS.

Pilot study to investigate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial that compares Immediate versus Optional Delayed surgical repair for treatment of acute Anterior cruciate ligament injury: IODA pilot trial.

Introduction: Standard care for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries includes surgical reconstruction of the ACL. However, two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) concluded that conservative treatment does not result in inferior clinical outcomes compared with immediate ACL reconstruction. More research is needed to in the first place verify these results, and second to assess whether patient-specific parameters determine whether a patient would benefit from one treatment option over the other.

Rehabilitation to improve outcomes of lumbar fusion surgery: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation strategies on disability, pain, pain-related fear, and return-to-work in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative conditions or adult isthmic spondylolisthesis.

Methods: Six electronic databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of rehabilitation (unimodal or multimodal). The estimated effect size was calculated for interventions with homogeneous content using a random-effects model.

Reliability and agreement of lumbar multifidus volume and fat fraction quantification using magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard to quantify size and structure of lumbar muscles. Three-dimensional volumetric measures are expected to be more closely related to muscle function than two-dimensional measures such as cross-sectional area. Reliability and agreement of a standardized method should be established to enable the use of MRI to assess lumbar muscle characteristics.

Six-Minute Walk Distance Is a Useful Outcome Measure to Detect Motor Decline in Treated Late-Onset Pompe Disease Patients.

Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a rare, progressive disorder characterized by limb-girdle muscle weakness and/or respiratory insufficiency, caused by acid alpha-glucosidase () gene mutations and treated with enzyme replacement therapy. We studied isometric muscle strength in eight muscle groups bilaterally using a Biodex dynamometer, as well as the Medical Research Council sum score (MRC-SS), hand grip strength, 6 min walk distance (6MWD), 10 m walk test (10MWT) and timed up-and-go test (TUG) in 12 adult, ambulatory, treated LOPD patients and 12 age-/gender-matched healthy controls, every 6 months for 2 years. The mean isometric muscle strength showed a significant decline in right and left knee extensors at 12 months in controls ( < 0.

Jumping stump phenomenon: a case report.

Case Description: The jumping stump phenomenon is a peripherally induced movement disorder that is due to peripheral nerve damage. We report on a very resistant case in which different treatment strategies were applied.

Objectives: To inform physicians about this condition, its implications, and treatment options.

ICON 2020-International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus: A Systematic Review of Outcome Measures Reported in Clinical Trials of Achilles Tendinopathy.

Background: Nine core domains for tendinopathy have been identified. For Achilles tendinopathy there is large variation in outcome measures used, and how these fit into the core domains has not been investigated.

Objective: To identify all available outcome measures outcome measures used to assess the clinical phenotype of Achilles tendinopathy in prospective studies and to map the outcomes measures into predefined health-related core domains.

A Pragmatic Benchmarking Study of an Evidence-Based Personalised Approach in 1938 Adolescents with High-Risk Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Combining evidence-based medicine and shared decision making, current guidelines support an evidence-based personalised approach (EBPA) for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents (AIS). EBPA is considered important for adolescents' compliance, which is particularly difficult in AIS. Benchmarking to existing Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) as paradigms of single treatments, we aimed to check the effectiveness and burden of care of an EBPA in high-risk AIS.

Amputation for chronic pain and/or functional impairment of a limb.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a lower limb amputation for chronic pain and/or functional impairment on pain and participation in daily living activities and to assess the use of prostheses. To improve decision-making for this controversial treatment.

Design: Survey.

Impact of COVID-19: urging a need for multi-domain assessment of COVID-19 inpatients.

Objective: To retrospectively analyse data obtained from the multi-domain assessment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, to describe their health status at discharge, and to investigate whether subgroups of patients, more specific ICU patients and older adults (> 70 years), had more (or less) risk to experience specific impairments.

Methods: Retrospective case series in the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium of confirmed COVID-19 patients 'after surviving an ICU-stay', 'aged ≥ 70 years', or 'aged < 70 years with a length of hospitalization > 7 days'. Exclusion criteria were 'unwilling to cooperate', 'medically unstable', or 'palliative care policy'.

The prevalence of scoliosis within Belgian myelomeningocele population and the correlation with ambulatory status and neurological comorbidities: a chart audit.

Study Design: Retrospective chart audit.

Objectives: Firstly determining the prevalence of scoliosis in myelomeningocele (MMC) patients of the University Hospitals Leuven. Secondly analyzing whether there are differences concerning distribution of radiological level, ambulatory status, hydrocephalus, tethered cord, and syringomyelia in MMC patients with/without scoliosis.

Muscle and tendon properties of the spastic lower leg after stroke defined by ultrasonography: a systematic review.

Introduction: Peripheral muscle and tendon changes after stroke can influence the functional outcome of patients. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence of ultrasonographic changes in morphological muscle and tendon properties of the spastic hemiparetic lower leg in patients with first ever stroke.

Evidence Acquisition: A systematic search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cinahl, Cochrane Library, and manual searches from inception until May 1, 2020.