Tendon Transfers to Improve Grip and Pinch in Patients with Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis.

Background: Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is a rare and slowly progressive skeletal muscle disease that can cause hand dysfunction, which is a major source of disability. Tendon transfers have been reliably used to improve function in other neuromuscular settings. Given that sIBM patients often present with flexion impairments and mostly functioning extensors, we investigated the potential opportunity for tendon transfer surgery to improve hand dysfunction in sIBM patients.

The personal financial burden associated with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

The economic burden of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) within the US is underexplored. We hypothesized that IIMs patients experience considerable personal financial burden due to risks of multi-specialist visits, chronic long-term care, costs associated with disability, medical treatment, and overall high spending costs within the US healthcare system. We surveyed members of Myositis Support and Understanding (MSU) (response rate 4.

Pain profile and opioid medication use in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Objectives: Pain is commonly reported in people living with myositis. This study assesses the presence of pain in the subtypes of myositis as well as the frequency of opioid and non-opioid pain medication use.

Methods: A survey was developed and distributed by Myositis Support and Understanding, a patient-led advocacy organization, to members of its group.