Skeletal radiology
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Injury to a tendon leads to alterations in the mechanical properties of the tendon. Axial-strain sonoelastography and shear-wave elastography are relatively new, real-time imaging techniques that evaluate the mechanical properties of tendons in addition to the existing morphological and vascular information that is obtained with traditional imaging tools. Axial-strain sonoelastography displays the subjective distribution of strain data on an elastogram caused by tissue compression, whereas shear-wave elastography provides a more objective, quantitative measure of the intrinsic tissue elasticity using the acoustic push-pulse. ⋯ Possible barriers to the dissemination of axial-strain sonoelastography technique include operator dependency, technical limitations such as artefacts and lack of reproducibility and quantification of sonoelastography data. Shear-wave elastography may improve the reproducibility of elastography data, although there is only one published study on the topic to date. Large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to further elucidate the clinical relevance and potential applications of axial-strain sonoelastography and shear-wave elastography in diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring the progress of tendon healing before they can be widely adopted into routine clinical practice.
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Review Case Reports
Empty toe phenomenon: a big problem for a little toe.
The authors present a case report and review of the sparse literature of a rare closed degloving injury to the toe, referred to by Flaherty as an "empty toe phenomenon." A 25-year-old man sustained a twisting injury to his left foot when he was involved in a motorcycle accident. The skin was not lacerated around the toe but on physical exam it appeared that part of the toe was empty of its bony contents.
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Review Meta Analysis
Access routes and reported decision criteria for lumbar epidural drug injections: a systematic literature review.
To review lumbar epidural drug injection routes in relation to current practice and the reported criteria used for selecting a given approach. ⋯ The most commonly used access routes for epidural drug injection are the interlaminar and transforaminal pathways at the level of the pathology. Transforaminal routes are being performed with increasing frequency in recent years.
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Peer-reviewed abstracts presented at the 2013 Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR) Annual Meeting were reviewed following oral presentation. Topics felt to be of potential interest to musculoskeletal investigators and practicing clinicians are highlighted in this compilation and analysis of the meeting. New concepts regarding musculoskeletal and spine imaging and intervention, musculoskeletal protocols and techniques, radiology education, and quality improvement are included. ePoster highlights are also presented.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Do more MRI findings imply worse disability or more intense low back pain? A cross-sectional study of candidates for lumbar disc prosthesis.
To examine whether combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are related to the degree of disability and low back pain (LBP) in candidates for lumbar disc prosthesis surgery. ⋯ The combined MRI findings were not related to the degree of disability or the intensity of LBP. These degenerative MRI findings cannot explain variation in pre-treatment disability and pain in patients with chronic LBP accepted for disc prosthesis surgery.