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Biomedical subjects

N Maffulli

Publications and source records attributed to N Maffulli.

266 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Outcome of surgery for chronic Achilles tendinopathy. A critical review.

Achilles tendinopathy is often treated surgically after failure of nonoperative management, but results are not uniformly excellent. We critically assessed the methods of 26 studies that reported surgical outcomes of patients with this condition. Using 10 previously published criteria, and blinded to study outcomes, we derived a "methodology score" (0 to 100) for each study. This score was highly reproducible (r = 0.99, P < 0.01). Scores were generally low concerning the type of study, subject selection process, and outcome measures, which indicates methods deficiency in the way the study was designed, performed, and analyzed. We found a negative correlation between reported success rate and overall methods scores (r = -0.53, P < 0.01), and a positive correlation between year of publication and overall methods score (r = 0.70, P < 0.01). Study methods may influence reported surgical outcome, and we suggest guidelines for improving study design in this area of clinical research. We acknowledge that study methods have improved over the course of the past 20 years.

Achilles Tendon↗
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Results of percutaneous longitudinal tenotomy for Achilles tendinopathy in middle- and long-distance runners.

From August 1989 to January 1995 we performed multiple percutaneous longitudinal tenotomies under local anesthetic on 52 middle- and long-distance runners with unilateral Achilles tendinitis or peritendinitis that had failed conservative treatment. Forty-eight patients were reviewed at an average of 22.1 months (SD, 6.5) after surgery. Results were rated as excellent in 25 patients, good in 12, fair in 7, and poor in 4. Four patients developed subcutaneous hematomas. One patient developed a superficial infection at one of the incision sites, which was managed by oral antibiotics with full recovery. Three patients complained of over-sensitivity to the incisions; this was resolved by rubbing hand cream over the incisions several times a day. One patient developed hypertrophic painful scars on three of the five incisions, but corticosteroid injections yielded good functional and cosmetic results. Isometric strength and endurance of the gastrocsoleus complex was measured just before the procedure, and at 6 weeks and 6 months later. Both were within 10% of the normal contralateral limb by the 6th postoperative month. Percutaneous longitudinal tenotomy is simple, can be performed on an outpatient basis, requires minimal follow-up care, and, in our experience, has produced no significant complications. We use this procedure as the operative treatment of choice for cases of chronic tendinitis that have failed conservative treatment.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The clinical diagnosis of subcutaneous tear of the Achilles tendon. A prospective study in 174 patients.

A study to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of several clinical diagnostic tests of subcutaneous Achilles tendon rupture was performed during a 13-year period. There were 174 patients with clinical diagnosis of unilateral complete subcutaneous Achilles tendon tear and 28 patients with unilateral suspected but no actual Achilles tendon tear. The following tests were used: palpation, calf squeeze, Matles, Copeland, and O'Brien. Palpation of the gap was the least sensitive clinical test with the patient awake (0.73), increasing to 0.81 when the test was performed under anesthesia; the Copeland and O'Brien tests showed a sensitivity of 0.8. Both the calf squeeze and Matles tests were significantly more sensitive than the other tests (0.96 and 0.88, respectively; 0.022 < P < 0.05). All tests showed a high positive predictive value, with no statistically significant difference between the various tests. In the 28 patients with no evidence of a subcutaneous Achilles tendon tear on imaging, the tests showed a high capability to detect that the Achilles tendon was intact (gap palpation specificity, 0.89; calf squeeze test specificity, 0.93; Matles test specificity, 0.85). Whichever tests were performed, at least two of them were positive for a subcutaneous tear of the Achilles tendon in all patients in this study.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical decompression of chronic central core lesions of the Achilles tendon.

We report the outcome of 14 athletes with chronic recalcitrant achillodynia and central core degeneration of the Achilles tendon. The patients underwent surgery after an average time from onset of symptoms to surgery of 87 months. All patients had undergone conservative management, including physical therapy treatment, orthoses, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and steroid injections. At an average follow-up of 35 months (range, 27 to 52), only 5 patients had an excellent or good result, despite reexploration in 6 of the 14 patients. In athletes with long-standing pain and central core degeneration of the Achilles tendon, prognosis is poor, and even reexploration is not successful. If the referral pattern allows, surgery should probably be undertaken earlier.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia in the hand of a fencer.

A case of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia in the hypothenar eminence of a 23-year-old female fencer is described. Differential diagnosis with other similar benign and malignant lesions was made using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The possible post-traumatic proliferative histogenesis is discussed. The non-malignant nature of the mass was confirmed after a three year follow-up.

Adult↗
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Thorn-induced granuloma of the medial cuneiform.

A lytic lesion of the medial cuneiform of a 10-year-old boy was explored surgically, and a date palm thorn was identified. Histology revealed an aseptic granuloma. Even in the absence of a definite history of trauma, an organic foreign body lesion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a lytic lesion of bone.

Child↗
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Biology of tendon injury: healing, modeling and remodeling.

Tendon disorders are frequent, and are responsible for much morbidity both in sport and the workplace. Although the presence of degenerative changes does not always lead to symptoms, pre-existing degeneration has been implicated as a risk factor for acute tendon rupture. The term tendinopathy is a generic descriptor of the clinical conditions in and around tendons arising from overuse. The terms "tendinosis" and "tendinitis/tendonitis" should only be used after histopathological examination. Disordered healing is seen in tendinopathy, and inflammation is not typically seen. In acute injuries, the process of tendon healing is an indivisible process that can be categorized into three overlapping phases for descriptive purposes. Tendon healing can occur intrinsically, via proliferation of epitenon and endotenon tenocytes, or extrinsically, by invasion of cells from the surrounding sheath and synovium. Despite remodeling, the biochemical and mechanical properties of healed tendon tissue never match those of intact tendon. Tendon injuries account for considerable morbidity, and often prove disabling for several months, despite what is considered appropriate management. Chronic problems caused by overuse of tendons probably account for 30% of all running-related injuries, and the prevalence of elbow tendinopathy in tennis players can be as high as 40%. The basic cell biology of tendons is still not fully understood, and the management of tendon injury poses a considerable challenge for clinicians. This article describes the structure of tendons, and reviews the pathophysiology of tendon injury and healing.

Animals↗
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Achilles tendon rupture in athletes: histochemistry of the triceps surae muscle.

Bilateral percutaneous muscle biopsies of the triceps surae were analyzed in 12 athletes who had sustained a one-sided subcutaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon while practicing their main sport. No necrosis, atrophy, or significant fiber grouping or regeneration was evident. The soleus muscle in these athletes was composed of approximately 70% of type I fibers in both the noninjured and injured sides, and no significant differences were detected in their histochemical composition. Fiber areas were within described values and not significantly different between the two sides. The noninjured side revealed an insignificant trend to greater average capillary density and average capillary/fiber ratio. Muscle abnormalities do not appear to be a significant factor in determining Achilles tendon rupture in healthy athletes.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fracture of the os tibiale externum in a decathlete.

The upsurge in popularity in sports activities has produced a large number of lower extremity injuries. This article describes acute fracture of the os tibiale externum in a 28-year-old decathlete. The injury was treated conservatively, and excellent functional recovery was obtained. This is the second case of traumatic fracture of this accessory bone of the foot described in the English literature. When dealing with the feet of an athlete, supernumerary bones must be taken into consideration as a possible cause of serious discomfort.

Adult↗
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Total dislocation of the talus.

A 24-year-old male Caucasian gymnast suffered from a total anterolateral dislocation of the talus during a training session. The injury was treated conservatively. The functional result was good 26 months after the trauma, although the athlete was not training any more. Isolated total talar dislocation is a rare injury, and only 73 cases have been so far described. A literature survey concerning mechanism of injury, diagnosis, treatment, and possible complications is presented.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Muscular strength after callotasis limb lengthening.

Seven patients (average age, 9.2 years; range, 7.6-10.6 years) underwent collotasis lengthening of a congenital short femur. The isometric voluntary contraction strength of the knee extensor muscles was measured for each leg immediately before and at 6-month intervals for 2 years, starting from 2 months after the fixator was removed. The normal side was always stronger, even when strength was standardized for an anthropometric estimate of the thigh muscle and bone cross-sectional areas. The increase in strength was correlated with the increase in limb size, both in the normal and in the lengthened limb. Although leg length discrepancy was equalized by the end of the procedure, the functional characteristics of the lengthened limb remained impaired for a significant time.

Analysis of Variance↗
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Septicemia in a child undergoing callotasis limb lengthening.

We report a patient undergoing femoral callotasis lengthening using the dynamic axial fixator to correct a post-infective leg length discrepancy of 7.8 cm. Seventeen days after the operation, the patient developed a pin site infection, which was successfully treated by oral antibiotics. On the 34th post-operative day, the infection reoccurred, and was accompanied by generalized malaise, vomiting and pyrexia. Serology identified Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin. Following removal of the fixator, the child recovered, but only four cm of lengthening was achieved. The pins probably acted as a persistent foreign body, with local inflammation creating favorable ground for bacterial infection. The role of the previous multifocal osteomyelitis unclear, but it could have acted as a continuous source of pathogens. The resulting toxemia was not immediately suspected, and could have resulted in the loss of the patient had the fixator not been removed promptly.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗