scholarly journals Corticosteroid injection or dry needling for musculoskeletal pain and disability? A systematic review and GRADE evidence synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Fernando Sousa Filho ◽  
Marta Maria Barbosa Santos ◽  
Gabriel Henrique Freire dos Santos ◽  
Walderi Monteiro da Silva Júnior

Abstract Background Corticosteroid injection and dry needling have been used in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, but it is unclear which intervention is the most effective. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of corticosteroid injection and dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions at short-, medium-, and long-term follow-up. Methods Electronic databases were searched up to 31 October 2021. Two researchers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that investigated the effectiveness of dry needling compared to corticosteroid injection in patients over 18 years with a musculoskeletal condition were included in the review. The studies had to report pain and/or disability as outcome. Risk of bias was assessed by using the revised Cochrane Collaboration tool (RoB 2.0). Quality of evidence was evaluated by using the GRADE approach. Results Six studies were included (n = 384 participants). Four musculoskeletal conditions were investigated. There is very low-quality evidence that CSI is superior to DN for reducing heel pain (plantar fasciitis) and lateral elbow pain at short- and medium-term follow-up, but not for myofascial pain and greater trochanteric pain. There is very low-quality evidence that DN is more effective than CSI at long-term follow-up for reducing pain in people with plantar fasciitis and lateral epicondylitis. Very low-certainty evidence shows that there is no difference between DN and CSI for disability at short-term follow-up. One study showed that CSI is superior to DN at medium-term follow-up and another observed that DN is superior to CSI for reducing disability at long-term. Conclusions There are no differences between DN and CSI in pain or disability for myofascial pain and greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Very-low certainty evidence suggests that CSI is superior to DN at shorter follow-up periods, whereas DN seems to be more effective than CSI at longer follow-up durations for improving pain in plantar fasciitis and lateral epicondylitis. Large RCTs with higher methodological quality are needed in order to draw more incisive conclusions. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020148650.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e240441
Author(s):  
Tannous Jorge Sassine ◽  
Bernardo Barcellos Terra ◽  
Vincenzo Giordano ◽  
Benno Ejnisman

A 9-year-old girl presented to the emergency department reporting intense pain and inability to bear weight on her left foot after a classmate tripped over it. Imaging studies confirmed a fracture of the cuboid bone due to compression of the lateral column of the foot (also known as nutcracker fracture). The patient was treated surgically, with direct reduction of the compression fracture and definitive fixation with two Kirschner wires. Cuboid nutcracker fracture is rare in children and adolescents, and potential consequences can occur if it is not correctly diagnosed and adequately managed. Literature on this type of fracture is scarce, along with information on treatment options and results over medium-term and long-term follow-up. We describe this case and review the literature on this particular topic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 232596711875798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liselotte Hansen ◽  
Thøger Persson Krogh ◽  
Torkell Ellingsen ◽  
Lars Bolvig ◽  
Ulrich Fredberg

Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) affects 7% to 10% of the population. The long-term prognosis is unknown. Purpose: Our study had 4 aims: (1) to assess the long-term prognosis of PF, (2) to evaluate whether baseline characteristics (sex, body mass index, age, smoking status, physical work, exercise-induced symptoms, bilateral heel pain, fascia thickness, and presence of a heel spur) could predict long-term outcomes, (3) to assess the long-term ultrasound (US) development in the fascia, and (4) to assess whether US-guided corticosteroid injections induce atrophy of the heel fat pad. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: From 2001 to 2011 (baseline), 269 patients were diagnosed with PF based on symptoms and US. At follow-up (2016), all patients were invited to an interview regarding their medical history and for clinical and US re-examinations. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to estimate the long-term prognosis, and a multiple Cox regression analysis was used for the prediction model. Results: In all, 174 patients (91 women, 83 men) participated in the study. All were interviewed, and 137 underwent a US examination. The mean follow-up was 9.7 years from the onset of symptoms and 8.9 years from baseline. At follow-up, 54% of patients were asymptomatic (mean duration of symptoms, 725 days), and 46% still had symptoms. The risk of having PF was 80.5% after 1 year, 50.0% after 5 years, 45.6% after 10 years, and 44.0% after 15 years from the onset of symptoms. The risk was significantly greater for women ( P < .01) and patients with bilateral pain ( P < .01). Fascia thickness decreased significantly in both the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups ( P < .01) from 6.9 mm and 6.7 mm, respectively, to 4.3 mm in both groups. Fascia thickness ( P = .49) and presence of a heel spur ( P = .88) at baseline had no impact on prognosis. At follow-up, fascia thickness and echogenicity had normalized in only 24% of the asymptomatic group. The mean fat pad thickness was 9.0 mm in patients who had received a US-guided corticosteroid injection and 9.4 mm in those who had not been given an injection ( P = .66). Conclusion: The risk of having PF in this study was 45.6% at a mean 10 years after the onset of symptoms. The asymptomatic patients had PF for a mean 725 days. The prognosis was significantly worse for women and patients with bilateral pain. Fascia thickness decreased over time regardless of symptoms and had no impact on prognosis, and neither did the presence of a heel spur. Only 24% of asymptomatic patients had a normal fascia on US at long-term follow-up. A US-guided corticosteroid injection did not cause atrophy of the heel fat pad. Our observational study did not allow us to determine the efficacy of different treatment strategies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nat Padhiar ◽  
Mark Curtin ◽  
Osama Aweid ◽  
Bashaar Awied ◽  
Dylan Morrissey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is one of the most common lower leg injuries in sporting populations. It accounts for between 6%-16% of all running injuries, and up to 53% of lower leg injuries in military recruits. Various treatment modalities are available with varying degrees of success. In recalcitrant cases, surgery is often the only option.Objective: To evaluate whether ultrasound-guided injection of 15% dextrose for treatment of recalcitrant MTSS decreases pain and facilitates a return to desired activity levels for those who may otherwise be considering surgery or giving up the sport.Method: The study design was a prospective consecutive case series involving eighteen patients: fifteen male and three female; (mean age=31.2 years) with recalcitrant MTSS. They were referred from sports injury clinics across the UK, having failed all available conservative treatment.Intervention: An ultrasound-guided sub-periosteal injection of 15% dextrose was administered by the same clinician (NP) along the length of the symptomatic area. Typically, 1 mL of solution was injected per cm of the symptomatic area. Main Outcome Measures: Pain was assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, short-term, medium-term (mean 18 weeks), and long-term (mean 52 weeks) follow-up. Symptom resolution and return to activity were measured using a Likert scale at medium and long-term follow-up. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Mac version 19.0.0 (IBM, New York, NY, US). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of the distribution of data. Friedman's non-parametric test was used to compare the within-patient treatment response over time. Post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Bonferroni corrections were performed to determine VAS average pain response to treatment over five paired periods.Results: Patients reported a significant (p<0.01) reduction in median VAS pain score at medium and long-term follow-up compared to baseline. Median improvement per patient was 4.5/10. Patients rated their condition as 'much improved' at medium-term follow-up and the median return to sports score was 'returned to desired but not pre-injury level' at medium-term and long-term follow-up. No adverse events were reported.Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided 15% dextrose prolotherapy injection has a significant medium-term effect on pain in MTSS. This benefit may be maintained long-term; however, more robust trials are required to validate these findings in the absence of controls.Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should consider the use of ultrasound-guided injection of 15% dextrose as a viable treatment option to reduce pain and aid return to activity for patients with recalcitrant MTSS.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nat Padhiar ◽  
Mark Curtin ◽  
Osama Aweid ◽  
Bashaar Awied ◽  
Dylan Morrissey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is one of the most common lower leg injuries in sporting populations. It accounts for between 6%-16% of all running injuries, and up to 53% of lower leg injuries in military recruits. Various treatment modalities are available with varying degree of success. In recalcitrant cases, surgery is often the only option.Objective: To evaluate whether ultrasound-guided injection of 15% dextrose for treatment of recalcitrant Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome decreases pain and facilitates a return to desired activity levels for those who may otherwise be considering surgery or giving up sport.Design: Prospective case seriesSetting: Private specialist CentrePatients: Eighteen patients: fifteen male and three female; (mean age=31.2 years) with MTSS were referred from sports injury clinics across the UK, having failed all available conservative treatment.Intervention: An ultrasound-guided sub-periosteal injection of 15% dextrose was administered by the same clinician (NP) along the length of the symptomatic area. Typically, 1 mL of solution was injected per cm of symptomatic area. Main Outcome Measures: Pain was assessed using a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline, short-term, medium-term (mean 18 weeks) and long-term (mean one year) follow-up. Symptom resolution and return to activity were measured using a Likert scale at medium and long-term follow-up. Results: Patients reported a significant (p<0.01) reduction in median VAS pain score at medium and long-term follow-up compared to baseline. Median improvement per patient was 4.5/10. Patients rated their condition as ‘much improved’ at medium-term follow-up and median return to sport score was ‘returned to desired but not pre-injury level’ at medium-term and long-term follow-up. No adverse events were reported.Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided 15% dextrose prolotherapy injection has a significant medium-term effect on pain in MTSS. This benefit may be maintained long-term. More robust trials are required to validate these findings.Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should consider the use of ultrasound-guided injection of 15% dextrose as a viable treatment option to reduce pain and aid return to activity for patients with recalcitrant Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Champ L. Baker ◽  
Champ L. Baker

Background In a previously published report of the authors’ arthroscopic technique of operative management of recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis, they demonstrated short-term success with the procedure in their patients. Hypothesis Arthroscopic management of patients with lateral epicondylitis can produce clinical improvement and have successful long-term outcomes. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Forty patients (42 elbows) with lateral epicondylitis who had not responded to nonoperative management were treated with arthroscopic resection of pathologic tissue. Thirty of these patients (30 elbows) were located for extended follow-up. At a mean follow-up of 130 months (range, 106–173 months), patients were asked to use a numeric scale to rate their elbow pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain). Patients were also asked to rate their elbows according to the functional portion of the Mayo Clinic Elbow Performance Index. Results The mean pain score at rest was 0; with activities of daily living, 1.0; and with work or sports, 1.9. The mean functional score was 11.7 out of a possible 12 points. No patient required further surgery or repeat injections after surgery. One patient continued to wear a counterforce brace with heavy activities. Twenty-three patients (77%) stated they were “much better,” 6 patients (20%) stated they were “better,” and 1 patient (3%) stated he was the same. Twenty-six patients (87%) were satisfied, and 28 patients (93%) stated they would have the surgery again if needed. Conclusion Arthroscopic removal of pathologic tendinosis tissue is a reliable treatment for recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis. The early high rate of success in patients was maintained at long-term follow-up.


2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renate Kaulitz ◽  
Matthias Peuster ◽  
Christian Jux ◽  
Thomas Paul ◽  
Gerd Hausdorf

Data on long-term follow-up for closure of so-called secundum type“ atrial septal defects within the oval fossa using recently developed devices are limited, and results focused on presence of residual shunting. The purpose of our study was to report the experience from a single center establishing the effectiveness of transcatheter closure in patients with various types of defect other than those located centrally within the oval fossa.A total of 72 patients was included in this study. On transesophageal echocardiography, the size of the defects varied from 6 to 18 mm, with estimation of the stretched diameter from 11 to 21 mm. The ratio of stretched diameter to the extent of the residual septum ranged from 0.28 to 0.54. Mean follow-up was 30.5+ 7.4 months, with a range from 13 to 42 months. The rate of closure using devices with diameters from 28 to 40 mm increased from 80% immediately after implantation to 93% in the 57 patients examined 24 months after implantation. For further analysis, we compared the 44 patients with a solitary, centrally located, defect to 28 having morphological variations, including superiorly located defects with deficient superior and aortic rims, multifenestrated and aneurysmal defects, or isolated additional defects. There was no incidence of formation of thrombus, sustained atrial arrhythmia, or infective endocarditis. Residual shunting was not influenced by location or morphology of the defects, but increased with size, stretched diameter, and the ratio of pulmonary to systemic flows. Serial transthoracic echocardiographic findings revealed malposition of one right-sided superior arm of the device in 8 patients, while protrusion of one leftsided arm onto the right atrial aspect was observed in 3 patients. Fluoroscopy showed fatigue fracture of a single arm in 7 patients (9.7%) within the first 6 months after implantation.These results demonstrate that transcatheter closure with the non self-centering double umbrella device was effective and safe on medium-term follow-up, and could be extended to defects within the oval fossa having various morphologies. Residual shunting resolved with time, and was not related to either morphology or the position of the device.


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