The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in snapping scapula

Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedic Surgery: Expanding Our Toolbox

Regenerative medicine leverages the body's inherent regenerative capabilities to repair damaged tissues and address organ dysfunction. In orthopedics, this approach includes a variety of treatments collectively known as orthoregeneration, encompassing modalities such as prolotherapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and photobiomodulation therapy, and orthobiologics like platelet-rich plasma and cell-based therapies. These minimally invasive techniques are becoming prominent due to their potential for fewer complications in orthopedic surgery. As regenerative medicine continues to advance, surgeons must stay informed about these developments. This paper highlights the current state of regenerative medicine in orthopedics and advocates for further clinical research to validate and expand these treatments to enhance patient outcomes.

Pain-Relieving Effects of Shockwave Therapy for Ledderhose Disease: An Ultrasound-Based Study of an Unusual Bilateral Case

Ledderhose disease (LD, or plantar fibromatosis) is a rare, nodular, hyperproliferative condition affecting the plantar aponeurosis of the foot. At present, several conservative, non-surgical treatments have been documented, although with various degrees of success, with little evidence in the literature supporting their efficacy. In this scenario, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as a safe, effective, and less invasive approach for the successful treatment of several refractory musculoskeletal conditions and soft tissue injuries. Again, recent experimental evidence has shown that ESWT can exert beneficial effects on different fibroproliferative diseases, including Dupuytren's and Peyronie's disease. In contrast, the literature regarding the use of ESWT for LD is extremely limited, and no optimal application parameters have been defined to ensure its effectiveness for this disease. Therefore, in the present paper, we report a case of a 48-year-old male patient who developed bilateral foot LD, which was successfully treated with a novel ESWT protocol of treatment consisting of three sessions at 1-week intervals, with 2000 impulses at 5 Hz with an energy flux density of 0.20 mJ/mm2. Our data show that this ESWT treatment protocol was effective in completely relieving pain, restoring full functional activity, and thus, greatly improving the patient's quality of life.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Snapping Scapula Syndrome: A Scoping Review

CONTEXT

Snapping scapula syndrome (SSS) is commonly misdiagnosed and underreported due to lack of awareness.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to summarize the current evidence related to SSS diagnosis and treatment to aid clinicians in managing the condition more effectively.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases were searched for studies related to the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of SSS (database inception to March 2020).

STUDY SELECTION

Databases were searched for available studies related to the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of SSS.

STUDY DESIGN

A scoping review study design was selected to explore the breadth of knowledge in the literature regarding SSS diagnosis and treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

DATA EXTRACTION

Primary outcomes abstraction included accuracy of diagnostic tests, functional outcomes, and pain relief associated with various nonoperative and operative treatment options for SSS.

RESULTS

A total of 1442 references were screened and 40 met the inclusion criteria. Studies commonly reported SSS as a clinical diagnosis and relied heavily on a focused history and physical examination. The most common signs reported were medial scapular border tenderness, crepitus, and audible snapping. Three-dimensional computed tomography had high interrater reliability of 0.972, with a 100% success rate in identifying symptomatic incongruity of the scapular articular surface. Initial nonoperative treatment was reported as successful in most symptomatic patients, with improved visual analogue scale (VAS) scores (7.7 ± 0.5 pretreatment, to 2.4 ± 0.6). Persistently symptomatic patients underwent surgical intervention most commonly involving bursectomy, superomedial angle resection, or partial scapulectomy. High satisfaction rates of surgery were reported in VAS (6.9 ± 0.7 to 1.9 ± 0.9), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores (50.3 ± 12.2 to 80.6 ± 14.9), and mean simple shoulder test scores (5.6 ± 1.0 to 10.2 ± 1.1).

CONCLUSION

Focused history and physical examination is the most crucial initial step in the diagnostic process, with supplemental imaging used to assess for structural etiologies when nonoperative management fails. Nonoperative management is as effective as surgical management in pain relief and is advised for 3 to 6 months before operative treatment.

Outcome of Scapulothoracic Arthroscopy for Painful Snapping Scapula

Introduction:

Patients with scapulothoracic syndrome present with pain in the scapulothoracic area aggravated by overhead and repetitive shoulder movements. The aim of our study was to assess the outcome of scapulothoracic arthroscopic treatment in patients with painful snapping scapula in our institution.

Methods:

Fourteen patients underwent scapulothoracic arthroscopic treatment for painful snapping scapula. Pre-operatively, all these patients had a trial of conservative treatment modalities for at least 6 months.

Two portals along the medial border of scapula were used for arthroscopy and instrumentation. In three cases a superior portal was also used. The arm was placed in the “chicken wing” position so that the scapula lifted up from the chest wall. Outcome was assessed using pre and postoperative pain visual analogue score and Oxford Shoulder Score.

Results:

Of the fourteen patients included in our study, ten were female and four were male patients. Mean age at the time of surgery was 27.6 years. Mean follow up was 35.7 months. Pain visual analogue score improved significantly from a mean of 8.8 preoperatively to 2.5 postoperatively (P value 0.00002). There was also a significant improvement in Oxford Shoulder Score from a mean of 10.8 to 40.9 (P= 0.00001). Mean crepitus score significantly decreased from 2.6 to 0.21 (p < 0.00001). Crepitus completely resolved in eleven patients. In three there was residual palpable crepitus but they had good pain relief.

Conclusion:

Arthroscopic scapulothoracic treatment provides significant pain relief and functional improvement for painful snapping scapula symptoms not responding to non-surgical treatment modalities.

Low-energy versus middle-energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the treatment of snapping scapula bursitis

OBJECTIVE

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been used successfully in treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of low versus middle-energy ESWT on snapping scapula bursitis.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients, divided into two groups, group (L), received low-energy ESWT, group (M) received middle-energy ESWT. Groups were evaluated at 1,3,6 and 12 months using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Constant-Murley scoring (CMS) and the Roles and Maudsley criteria.

RESULTS

In groups (L) and (M), VAS average values after 1,3,6 months and one year were (43±5.17, 38±4.33, 28±4.18 and 19±3.39) and (37±4.85, 26±4.74, 21±4.45 and 7±3.42) respectively. At six and twelve months, statistical difference was detected, P (0.034, 0.026) respectively. After one year of completing the treatment, the average values of CMS were (83.5±6.44 and 91±5.33) respectively, P=0.046. Roles and Maudsley criteria demonstrated that, patients in group (L), 6 (35%) excellent, 5 (29%) good, 4 (24%) acceptable and 2 (12%) had poor results. Whereas, patients in group (M), 11 (61%) excellent, 3 (17%) good, 3 (17%) acceptable and 1 (5%) had poor results.

CONCLUSION

Although low-energy ESWT showed good early-term results, but middle-energy ESWT protocol demonstrated better early-term, Mid-term, and late-term results.