This study explores the diagnosis and treatment of needle knife therapy for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at middle and advanced stage based on the theory of meridian tendons, from a holistic perspective and syndrome differentiation. The treatment strategy includes "harmonizing yin and yang" to address root causes and "tendons-based release" to harmonize qi and blood, with the "tendons nodule points" as the core acupoint selection criterion. Based on this approach, the study systematically elaborates on two needle knife methods for AS: "governor vessel bone-piercing technique" and "below-the-umbilicus release technique", covering indications, acupoint location, and procedures. Clinical case examples are provided to enrich needle knife therapy guided by the theory of meridian tendons, offering insights for clinical and research work on AS.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Meridians ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/physiopathology* ; Tendons/physiopathology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of arthroscopic double fixation and enhanced suture of long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) in situ for repairing rotator cuff tear. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 patients with rotator cuff tears and LHBT injuries admitted between June 2022 and November 2023. All patients underwent arthroscopic double fixation and enhanced suture of LHBT in situ. There were 12 males and 19 females, with an average age of 61.6 years (range, 53-76 years). There were 10 cases of acute injury and 21 cases of chronic injury. According to DeOrio and Cofield classification criteria, the degree of rotator cuff tear rated as medium-sized tears in 3 cases, large tears in 12 cases, and massive tears in 16 cases. Associated injuries included 5 cases of shoulder joint adhesions, 12 cases of subscapularis muscle tears, and 31 case of shoulder impingement syndromes. The shoulder range of motion (ROM) (forward flexion, abduction, lateral external rotation, lateral internal rotation) and pain/function scores [visual analogue scale (VAS) score, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, Constant-Murley score] were recorded before operation and at last follow-up. MRI at last follow-up were taken to evaluate the rotator cuff healing and structural integrity. RESULTS: All 31 surgeries were successfully completed with operation time ranging from 90 to 210 minutes (mean, 144 minutes). The 3-5 anchors (mean, 3.8 anchors) were used during operation. All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-29 months (mean, 18.5 months). At 3 months after operation, 2 cases developed joint adhesions, 3 had internal rotation limitations, and 2 experienced residual pain at the intertubercular groove, all resolved with conservative management. No Popeye deformity occurred during follow-up. At last follow-up, shoulder ROM (forward flexion, abduction, lateral external rotation, lateral internal rotation) and pain/function scores (VAS, UCLA, and Constant-Murley scores) showed significant improvements compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, MRI evaluation showed that the rotator cuff healing rate reached 90.3% according to the Sugaya classification criteria. LHBT exhibited normal morphology, course, and continuity without dislocation. Surrounding synovial sheath showed no thickening or effusion. CONCLUSION Arthroscopic double fixation and enhanced suture of LHBT in situ for repairing rotator cuff tear can significantly reduce shoulder joint pain, improve ROM, and achieve a high rotator cuff healing rate.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Rotator Cuff Injuries/physiopathology* ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Suture Techniques ; Treatment Outcome ; Rotator Cuff/surgery* ; Shoulder Joint/physiopathology* ; Tendons/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To summarize research progress on enhanced recovery after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction, clarify the core contradictions, effective intervention methods, and evaluation shortcomings in current clinical practice, and provide theoretical support for optimizing clinical rehabilitation strategies. METHODS: Relevant domestic and international literature in recent years was systematically searched. The key technologies and challenges for enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction were analyzed from three aspects: the core issues of enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction, treatment strategies, and the post-reconstruction effectiveness evaluation system. RESULTS: Enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction mainly faces two core problems. First, there is a balance dilemma between graft tendon protection and knee joint function recovery: the tensile capacity of the graft tendon is weak in the early postoperative period, so excessive weight-bearing easily leads to relaxation, while overly conservative immobilization causes muscle atrophy and joint adhesion. Second, the return-to-sport rate is significantly affected by injury type and treatment method: patients with combined multiple ligament or meniscus injuries have a much lower return-to-sport rate than those with isolated PCL injury, and the risk of return-to-sport failure is higher. Current research mainly promotes rehabilitation from two aspects: physical therapy and surgical technology. Physical therapy runs through the perioperative period: preoperatively, muscle strength training, swelling control, and maintenance of joint range of motion are used to optimize surgical conditions; postoperatively, phased intervention is implemented. Surgical technology focuses on minimally invasive and anatomical approaches: arthroscopic surgery reduces injury, double-bundle reconstruction and internal tension-relief technology improve stability, and modified tunnel positioning and special surgical methods avoid the risk of "Killer Turn". Postoperative functional evaluation adopts multi-dimensional indicators: subjective evaluation relies on scales such as Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC); objective evaluation assesses stability through Telos stress test and posterior drawer test; imaging evaluation takes MRI as the core; psychological evaluation is assisted by the Tampa scale of kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11). However, there are obvious shortcomings, such as the lack of PCL-specific evaluation tools. CONCLUSION Enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction requires the integration of precise surgery, individualized rehabilitation, and comprehensive subjective and objective evaluation. In the future, biomaterials and digital technologies should be integrated to optimize the full-cycle management of PCL reconstruction, thereby improving functional recovery and the effect of return to sports.
Humans ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/rehabilitation* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries* ; Recovery of Function ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Knee Injuries/rehabilitation* ; Return to Sport ; Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ; Tendons/transplantation* ; Arthroscopy

Professor -'s academic idea of "pain in joint and disorder in tendon region of meridian" was explored in this paper. According to the particular characteristics of the occurrence and development of the disease, knee arthralgia is divided into 4 stages, named tendon spasm, tendon blockage, tendon contraction and tendon atrophy. It is proposed that "tendon disorder results in bone disorder", implying the relationship between the disorders of tendon and bone. It is pointed that insufficiency occurs throughout knee arthralgia. "The tendon disorder should be treated at the first-line procedure for the bone disorder, and the tendon softening benefits the recovery of knee joints". The treatment principle includes "removing obstruction from meridian, eliminating pathogen, warming up and softening tendon". In clinical application, the heat-sensitive moxibustion is predominated. The various regimens are developed align with the pathogenesis characteristics of the disease at different stages.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Arthralgia ; therapy ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; Pain ; Tendons ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the immediate analgesic effect of tendon acupuncture on soft tissue injury in different sites.

METHODSA total of 140 cases of soft tissue injury, involving 14 injury sites, were treated with tendon acupuncture. According to the principle of "considering pain as acupoint", based on injury sites, one to three tendon acupoints were selected in each tendon, which were treated with 1 to 5 times. Totally 676 times Of treatment was given. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the immediate. analgesic effect before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the score of VAS was significantly reduced (4. 20+ 1. 77 vs 2. 43 ± 1. 30, P<0. 001); regardless of the total number of treatment, the score of VAS after each acupuncture was obviously reduced compared with that before acupuncture (all P<0. 001); the score of VAS at each injury sites after treatment was significantly reduced compared with that before treatment (all P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONThere is an immediate analgesic effect of tendon acupuncture for different sites of soft tissue injury. Also, the effect has been shown in different frequencies of treatment.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Tendons ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe main goals of flexor tendon surgery are to restore digital motion by providing tendon healing and to preserve tendon gliding. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on tendon adhesions in partially divided profundus flexor tendons (flexor digitorum profundus [FDPs]) following surgical repair and in partially divided FDPs without surgical repair, and to compare the results of the repair versus the nonrepair of zone two injuries via macroscopic and biomechanical evaluations of tendon adhesions.

METHODSWe used 32 adult male European rabbits (Oryctolagus cunniculus) weighing from 2.5 to 3.5 kg. The study was performed on the deep flexor tendons of the second and third digits of the right hind paws of the rabbits; thus, a total of 64 tendons were examined in this study.

RESULTSBased on the results achieved in our experimental study, the load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared with subgroup 2a in which tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU.

CONCLUSIONSThe load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared to subgroup 2a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU. Therefore, these results revealed a decrease in adhesion formation in the subgroup that was treated with 5-FU due to increased resistance to tendon adhesions during their excursion through the tendon sheath, which in this case required greater traction force.

Animals ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rabbits ; Tendon Injuries ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Tendons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tissue Adhesions ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

BACKGROUND: Many shoulder diseases are related to glenohumeral joint synovitis and effusion. The purpose of the present study is to detect effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath as the sign of glenohumeral joint synovitis using ultrasonography, and to evaluate the clinical meaning of effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath. METHODS: A consecutive series of 569 patients who underwent ultrasonography for shoulder pain were reviewed retrospectively and ultimately, 303 patients were included. The authors evaluated the incidence and amount of the effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath on the ultrasonographic short axis view. Furthermore, the authors evaluated the correlation between the amount of effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath and the range of motion and the functional score. RESULTS: The effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath was detected in 58.42% of the patients studied: 69.23% in adhesive capsulitis, 56.69% in rotator cuff tear, 41.03% in calcific tendinitis, and 33.33% in biceps tendinitis. The average amount of the effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath was 1.7 +/- 1.6 mm, and it was measured to be the largest in adhesive capsulitis. The amount of effusion within biceps long head tendon sheath showed a moderate to high degree of correlation with the range of motion, and a low degree of correlation with the functional score and visual analogue scale for pain in each type of shoulder disease. CONCLUSIONS: The effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath is closely related to the range of motion and clinical scores in patients with painful shoulders. Ultrasonographic detection of the effusion within the biceps long head tendon sheath might be a simple and easy method to evaluate shoulder function.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Joint/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; Synovitis/*ultrasonography ; Tendons/*ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference of analgesia and detumescence on ankle sprain among acupuncture at Xiaojie point combined with tendon regulation manipulation, acupuncture at Xiaojie point and tendon regulation manipulation.

METHODSSixty cases of ankle sprain were randomized into a combined therapy group, a Xiaojie point group and a tendon-regulation manipulation group, 20 cases in each one. The combined therapy of acupuncture at Xiaojie point and tendon regulation manipulation, the acupuncture at Xiaojie point and the simple application of tendon-regulation manipulation were applied respectively in the three groups, once a day, 3 treatments were required. The symptom score such as pain, ecchymosis, swelling and motor dysfunction and the total score were observed before and after treatment in the three groups. The different values of pain and swelling scores were compared before and after treatment in the three groups. The efficacy was compared among the groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 100.0% (20/20) in each group. But the curative rate was 85.0% (17/20) in the combined group, 65.0% (13/20) in the Xiaojie point tion manipulation group. After treatment, the symptom scores of pain, ecchymosis, swelling and motor dysfunction and the total score were all improved as compared with those before treatment in the three groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The pain score in either the combined therapy group or Xiaojie point group was lower than that in the tendon-regulation manipulation group after treatment (0.20 -/+ 0.41, 0.15 +/- 0.37 vs 0.60 +/- 0.50, both P < 0.05). Swelling score in the Xiaojie point group was different significantly from that in the tendon-regulation manipulation 0.49 vs 06.4 vs. 20+0.41, P < 0.05). The different value of pain score in either the combined therapy group or Xiaojie point group was higher than that in the tendon-regulation manipulation group before group after treatment (0.65 bined therapy group or Xiaojie point group was higher than that in the tendon-regulation manipulation group before and after treatment (2.35 +/- 0.59, 2.45 +/- 0.51 vs 2.00 +/- 0.46, both P < 0.05). The different value of swelling score in the tendon-regulation manipulation group was higher than that in the Xiaojie point group before and after treatment (2.30 +/- 0.57 vs 1.60 +/- 0.60, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Xiaojie point combined with tendon-regulation manipulation achieve an apparent effect of analgesia and detumescence on ankle sprain.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tendons ; physiopathology ; Therapy, Soft Tissue ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; Periarthritis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Tendons ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the tibial fixation strength provided by different intraosseous soft tissue graft lengths within the tibial tunnel. METHODS: Porcine tibial bones and digital flexor tendons were used for testing. Bone mineral densities of proximal tibial medial condyles were measured, and two-strand tendon bundles of 8 mm diameter were used. An intraosseous graft length of 2 cm was used in group 1 (n = 10), and a graft length of 4 cm was used in group 2 (n = 10). Tunnels were 4 cm in length and 8 mm in diameter. Tibial fixation was performed using a suture tied around a screw post with a washer and an additionally inserted 7 x 20 mm bioabsorbable screw. After applying preconditioning loading of 10 cycles, 1,000 cycles between 70-220 N were applied at a frequency of 1 Hz. Graft slippage and total graft movement were recorded. Ultimate tensile strength was measured by pull-out testing at an Instron crosshead speed of 1,000 mm/min. RESULTS: No significant intergroup difference was found for total graft movement after cyclic loading (slippage in group 1, 1.2 mm and group 2, 1.2 mm, respectively, p = 0.917; and total graft movement in group 1, 3.3 mm and group 2, 2.7 mm, respectively, p = 0.199). However, mean ultimate tensile strength in group 2 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (group 1, 649.9 N; group 2, 938 N; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In a porcine model, ultimate tensile strength was greater for a 4 cm long intraosseous flexor tendon in the tibial tunnel. However, no intergroup difference in graft slippage or total graft movement was observed. The results show that a 2 cm intraosseous graft length in the tibial tunnel is safe and has sufficient strength (> 450 N) for adequate rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries/*physiopathology/surgery ; *Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; Models, Animal ; Swine ; Tendons/*transplantation ; Tensile Strength ; Tibia/*surgery