OBJECTIVE: To explore the early clinical efficacy of a three-stage external treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of talar bone contusion caused by acute ankle sprain. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 360 patients with primary lateral ankle sprain admitted from September 2021 to July 2024. Patients with talar bone contusion were selected based on MRI examination, and 73 cases were finally included. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into the observation group and the control group. The observation group consisted of 35 cases, including 16 males and 19 females, aged 24 to 37 years old with an average of (30.34±2.68) years old, and received the three-stage external TCM treatment combined with the "POLICE" protocol. The control group included 38 cases, including 18 males and 20 females, aged 24 to 35 years old with an average of (29.87±2.57) years old, and was treated with the "POLICE" protocol alone. The volume of bone marrow edema (BME) area shown by MRI before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment was measured using 3D Slicer software, and the BME improvement rate was calculated. The "Figure of 8" measurement method was used to assess ankle swelling before treatment and at 1 and 3 weeks after treatment. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate ankle pain before treatment and at 1 and 6 weeks after treatment. At 6 weeks after treatment, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and Karlsson ankle function score system were used to evaluate the improvement of ankle function. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients with talar bone contusion caused by ankle sprain completed the 6-week follow-up. At 6 weeks after treatment, the BME improvement rate in the observation group was (39.18±0.06)%, which was higher than (26.75±0.03)% in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). After 1 week of treatment, the VAS score in the observation group was (2.89±0.72) points, lower than (3.37±0.79) points in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The ankle swelling degree in the observation group was (50.20±3.19) cm, lower than (52.00±3.60) cm in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). After 3 weeks of treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in ankle swelling between the two groups. At 6 weeks after treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups. At 6 weeks after treatment, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and Karlsson score in the observation group were (87.43±4.18) and (82.77±5.93) points, respectively, which were higher than (82.92±4.87) and (76.45±6.85) points in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). According to the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, 8 cases were excellent and 27 cases were good in the observation group;2 cases were excellent, 33 cases were good, and 3 cases were fair in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=7.089, P=0.029). CONCLUSION The three-stage external TCM treatment combined with the "POLICE" protocol has a significant early clinical efficacy. It can significantly reduce ankle pain and swelling in patients with bone contusion caused by acute lateral ankle sprain, promote the absorption of bone marrow edema, and accelerate the recovery of ankle function.
Ankle Injuries/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Talus/injuries* ; Retrospective Studies ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Contusions/etiology* ; Visual Analog Scale ; Musculoskeletal Pain/etiology* ; Recovery of Function/drug effects* ; Treatment Outcome ; Follow-Up Studies

Objective: To report an alternative combined gingivobuccal and endoscopic endonasal approach to treating ossifying fibroma of the left maxilla. Methods: Design: Case Report. Setting: Tertiary Private University Hospital. Patient: A 19-year-old girl with a progressively enlarging left cheek mass for 3 years. Results: Our patient underwent left medial maxillectomy via a combined gingivobuccal and endoscopic endonasal approach with complete resection and significant improvement of symptoms, with good functional outcome. Conclusion Large ossifying fibromas of the maxilla can be completely and successfully excised via a combined gingivobuccal and endoscopic endonasal approach.
Cementoma ; Sino-Nasal Outcome Test ; Visual Analog Scale

INTRODUCTION: Unmet psychosocial concerns are associated with emotional distress among cancer patients. This longitudinal study aimed to identify specific psychosocial concern profiles and trajectories of emotional distress, and examine their association among newly diagnosed adult cancer patients across the first year of diagnosis. METHODS: Adult patients aged 21-64 years were screened to determine their eligibility for this study. Psychosocial concerns and psychological distress were measured using the Problem List and the Distress Thermometer, respectively (n = 221). Latent transition mixture analysis was used to determine specific psychosocial concern profiles and trajectories of emotional distress, and examine associations with adjustments made for demographic and medical variables. RESULTS: Two classes of psychosocial concerns were identified: low (81%) and high (19%) concerns. Two trajectories of distress were identified: low stable (69%) and high stable (31%) trajectories. Patients in the high concerns class were significantly more likely to demonstrate the high stable trajectory of distress. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the importance of concurrent assessment of multiple psychosocial concerns and screening of emotional distress throughout a cancer patient's treatment journey. Such assessments can effectively guide interventions to address individual concerns and alleviate emotional distress among newly diagnosed cancer patients.
Adult ; Emotions ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Neoplasms/psychology* ; Stress, Psychological/psychology* ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: Functional outcomes have traditionally been evaluated and compared using subjective surveys, such as visual analog scores (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Short Form-36 (SF-36), to assess symptoms and quality of life. However, these surveys are limited by their subjective natures and inherent bias caused by differences in patient perceptions of symptoms. The Fitbit Charge® (Fitbit Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA) provides accurate and objective measures of physical activity. The use of this device in patients after laminectomy would provide objective physical measures that define ambulatory function, activity level, and degree of recovery. Therefore, the present study was conducted to identify relationships between the number of steps taken by patients per day and VAS pain scores, prognoses, and postoperative functional outcomes.METHODS: We prospectively investigated 22 consecutive patients that underwent laminectomy for spinal stenosis or a herniated lumbar disc between June 2015 and April 2016 by the same surgeon. When patients were admitted for surgery and first visited after surgery, preoperative and postoperative functional scores were recorded using VAS scores, ODI scores, and SF-36. The VAS scores and physical activities were recorded daily from postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 7. The relationship between daily VAS scores and daily physical activities were investigated by simple correlation analysis and the relationship between mean number of steps taken and ODI scores after surgery was subjected to simple regression analysis. In addition, Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test was used to investigate the significance of pre-to-postoperative differences in VAS, ODI, and SF-36 scores.RESULTS: Pre-to-postoperative VAS (p<0.001), ODI (p<0.001), SF-36 mental composite scores (p=0.009), and SF-36 physical composite scores (p<0.001) scores were found to be significantly different. Numbers of steps taken from POD 1 to POD 7 were negatively correlated with daily VAS scores (r=-0.981, p<0.001). In addition, the mean number of steps from POD 3 to POD 7 and the decrease in ODI conducted one month after surgery were statistically significant (p=0.029).CONCLUSION: Wearable devices are not only being used increasingly by consumers as lifestyle devices, but are also progressively being used in the medical area. This is the first study to demonstrate the usefulness of a wearable device for checking patient physical activity and predicting pain and prognosis after laminectomy. Based on our experience, the wearable device used to provide measures of physical activity in the present study has the potential to provide objective information on pain severity and prognosis.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Life Style ; Motor Activity ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Spinal Stenosis ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: Lumbar discectomy is an effective treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH); however, up to 2–18% of patients with LDH have experienced recurrent disc herniation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel annular closure device (ACD) for preventing LDH recurrence and re-operation compared with that of conventional lumbar discectomy (CLD).METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we compared CLD with discectomy utilizing the Barricaid® (Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc., Woburn, MA, USA) ACD. Primary radiologic outcomes included disc height, percentage of preoperative disc height maintained, and re-herniation rates. Additional clinical outcomes included visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12) quality of life scores. Outcomes were measured at preoperation and at 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperation.RESULTS: Sixty patients (30 CLD, 30 ACD) were enrolled in this study. At 24-month follow-up, the disc height in the ACD group was significantly greater than that in the CLD group (11.4±1.5 vs. 10.2±1.2 mm, p=0.006). Re-herniation occurred in one patient in the ACD group versus six patients in the CLD group (χ²=4.04, p=0.044). Back and leg VAS scores, ODI scores, and SF-12 scores improved significantly in both groups compared with preoperative scores in the first 7 days following surgery and remained at significantly improved levels at a 24-month follow-up. However, no statistical difference was found between the two groups.CONCLUSION: Lumbar discectomy with the Barricaid® (Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.) ACD is more effective at maintaining disc height and preventing re-herniation compared with conventional discectomy. Our results suggest that adoption of ACD in lumbar discectomy can help improve the treatment outcome.
Diskectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the outcomes of percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (PEN) are influenced by the type of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and evaluate the effectiveness of PEN in patients with single-level LDH.METHODS: This study included 430 consecutive patients with single-level LDH who underwent PEN. Before treatment, the LDH type was categorized as bulging, protrusion, extrusion, and sequestration, while Pfirrmann grades were assigned according to imaging findings. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain and success rates (Odom’s criteria) were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment.RESULTS: The mean preoperative VAS scores for back and leg pain were 6.90 and 4.23, respectively; these decreased after PEN as follows : 2.25 and 1.45, respectively, at 1 month; 2.61 and 1.68, respectively, at 3 months; 2.28 and 1.48, respectively, at 6 months; and 2.88 and 1.48, respectively, at 12 months (p<0.001). The decrease in VAS scores for leg pain was significantly greater in the extrusion and sequestration groups than in the other two groups (p<0.05); there were no other significant differences among groups. More than 70% patients exhibited good or excellent 12-month outcomes according to Odom’s criteria. Subsequent surgery was required for 59 patients (13.7%), with a significantly higher rate in the extrusion (25.0%) and sequestration (30.0%) groups than in the bulging (7.3%) and protrusion (13.8%) groups (p<0.05). Nevertheless, subsequent surgery was not required for >70% patients with extrusion or sequestration. Patients with Pfirrmann grades 1–3 (14.0–21.5%) showed a significantly higher rate of subsequent surgery than those with Pfirrmann grade 0 (4.9%; p<0.05).CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PEN is an effective treatment for back and leg pain caused by single-level LDH, with the outcomes remaining unaffected by the LDH type.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: To investigate functional outcomes after the application of a critical pathway for inpatient rehabilitation of total knee arthroplasty (TKA).METHODS: A total of 184 patients (57 males and 127 females; average age, 71.5±5.9 years) who underwent unilateral or bilateral TKA were included. The critical pathway included early, intensive individualized rehabilitation exercises. Patients completed the following performance-based physical function tests: the stair climbing test (SCT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) as well as measurement of isometric knee flexor and extensor strength of the operated knee, gait speed, and range of knee flexion and extension. Self-reported physical function and pain were measured using the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS), respectively, and self-reported quality of life was measured using the EuroQoL 5 dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire. These evaluations were performed preoperatively and at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively.RESULTS: Performance-based and self-reported physical function and quality of life measures improved nonlinearly over time. Specifically, the 6WMT, TUG, gait speed, WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-function, VAS, and EQ-5D scores showed a significant improvement at 1-month post-TKA, whereas SCT, peak torque of the knee extensors and flexors, and WOMAC-stiffness scores showed gradual, but substantial, improvements over 3 months. There were between-group differences (unilateral and bilateral TKA groups) in the time course of the SCT, 6MWT, TUG, VAS, WOAMC-stiffness, and WOMAC-function results.CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent critical pathway rehabilitation after TKA showed significant improvements in functional measurements during the first 3 months post-surgery.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Critical Pathways ; Exercise ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Knee ; Male ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation ; Torque ; Visual Analog Scale

BACKGROUND: Defects of the nasal ala and tip have a complex three-dimensional structure that makes them challenging to reconstruct. Many reconstructive options have been described for nasal ala and tip defects, ranging from primary closure to local flaps and skin grafts. However, it is difficult to determine which method will yield the best cosmetic results in each individual case. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine which surgical procedures for reconstructing defects of the nasal ala and tip have better cosmetic results.METHODS: From 2008 to 2018, 111 patients underwent surgery to reconstruct skin defects after resection of skin cancer in the nasal ala or tip. Their charts were reviewed to obtain data on age, sex, surgical location, size of the defect, surgical method, and cosmetic results using a visual analog scale (VAS).RESULTS: For nasal ala reconstruction, the most commonly used surgical technique was the nasolabial flap (n= 42). This method also had the highest VAS score (7/10). The most commonly selected surgical method for nasal tip reconstruction was the bilobed flap (n= 13), and bilobed flaps and primary closure had the highest VAS score (7/10).CONCLUSION: Nasolabial flaps showed excellent cosmetic results for the reconstruction of nasal ala defects, while primary closure and bilobed flaps yielded excellent cosmetic results for the reconstruction of nasal tip defects.
Humans ; Methods ; Nose ; Skin Neoplasms ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Transplants ; Visual Analog Scale

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort.PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes, including pain and neurologic status, and to evaluate radiographic outcomes of patients treated with extended posterior decompression, posterior fixation, and fusion in different vertebral segments.OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The standard surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis is radical debridement via anterior approach. However, this approach may lead to several serious complications. Meanwhile, extended posterior approach, the posterior surgical approach, involving the removal of posterior elements, ribs, and pedicles, is an alternative option that can achieve the aims of treatment in this disease and may reduce the serious complications from anterior approach.METHODS: The medical records and imaging of 50 patients admitted with spinal tuberculosis from January 2010 to June 2016 were reviewed. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Frankel grading scale, and kyphotic Cobb angle between the pre- and postoperative periods were used to evaluate the patients.RESULTS: The patients had significant improvement of VAS score in all the groups. The T/T–L, L, and L–S group scores improved from 7.2±1.5 to 1.7±1.2 (p<0.01), from 8.1±1.8 to 1.7±1.4 (p<0.01), and from 7.9±2.2 to 1.7±0.8 (p<0.01), respectively, and overall, the patient scores (n=50) improved from 7.8±1.4 to 1.7±1.3 (p<0.01). Ten patients (20%) had Frankel grade E preoperatively, which was improved to 38 patients (76%) postoperatively. A significant improvement of the kyphotic Cobb angle was observed when compared at the preoperative, early postoperative, and final follow-up period in the T/T–L, L, and L–S groups. The loss of correction angle in the LS group was 7.7°±4.3° at the final follow-up compared with the early postoperative correction angle at 9.1°±5.8°, with no statistically significant difference.CONCLUSIONS: Extended posterior decompression, posterior instrumentation, and fusion are effective methods of surgery for treatment of spinal tuberculosis involved in the thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar, and lumbosacral regions.
Cohort Studies ; Debridement ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribs ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; Visual Analog Scale

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.PURPOSE: To compare clonidine and pregabalin with placebo for the attenuation of postoperative pain after thoracolumbar spinal surgery and instrumentationOVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Spine surgery is associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain that needs to be controlled to improve patient’s outcome. Alpha 2 agonists (e.g., clonidine) and gabapentenoids (e.g., pregabalin) are successfully used as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen.METHODS: Total 75 patients were enrolled and randomly allocated into three groups. Group P received pregabalin (150 mg), group C received clonidine (150 mcg), and group N received placebo 90 minutes preoperatively. A standard anesthesia protocol comprising fentanyl, thiopentone, vecuronium, nitrous oxide, and oxygen in isoflurane was used for all patients. Postoperative recovery profile, pain, time for first analgesic, 24-hour analgesic requirement, sedation, and hemodynamic parameters were noted.RESULTS: Recovery profile was similar in all three groups; however, the patients in group P and C were more sedated (p<0.05). Group N patients had a higher Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score (p<0.05) and the time for first analgesic was also lower (p=0.02). Postoperative (24-hour) analgesic requirement was maximum in group N, followed by that in group C and group P. The VAS score was highest in the control group; however, after 12 hours, it was similar in all groups.CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative pain and analgesic requirement is significantly attenuated by preoperative administration of a single dose of clonidine (150 mcg) or pregabalin (150 mg); pregabalin was more effective. Thus, their use offers a reasonable strategy for pain management in patients undergoing spine surgery.
Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Clonidine ; Fentanyl ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Pain Management ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pregabalin ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Visual Analog Scale