Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodissection With Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Pilot Study.
Corticosteroid injections can provide (temporary) relief in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Hydrodissection as part of an injection has been associated with positive clinical outcomes but data for CTS so far has been scarce. This study is designed to assess patient tolerance and secondarily provide pilot data on the added effect of hydrodissection. ⋯ After injection, both symptomatic and functional scores improved, but the hydrodissected group did not show additional improvement. Data presented can be used to support larger studies to assess the value of hydrodissection in CTS management.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided and Landmark-Based Lumbar Punctures in Inexperienced Resident Physicians.
We sought to determine whether US-guided lumbar puncture reduced the rate of lumbar puncture failures for providers at an academic teaching hospital with variable lumbar puncture and US experience compared to the traditional landmark-based technique. ⋯ The use of US guidance to assist in lumbar punctures did not improve the procedural success rate over traditional landmark techniques in an academic setting with novice providers. Although using US for procedural guidance significantly decreased the number of attempts, it seemed to have no effect on postprocedural pain or the time to obtain CSF.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Improving the Performance Time and Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Trial of the Line-of-Sight Approach and the "APPLES" Mnemonic.
To determine whether the line-of-sight approach improved the performance time and accuracy of ultrasound (US)-guided needle placement targeting the subdeltoid bursa in a cadaver among novice operators compared to the side approach. A secondary objective was to determine whether participants thought the APPLES (angle, position, perpendicular, line up, entry, sweep) mnemonic was a helpful guide for performing the procedure. ⋯ This study highlights the finding that positioning of the operator is important in performing US-guided interventions, and the line-of-sight approach may improve the performance time and accuracy among novice operators. Furthermore, the APPLES mnemonic serves as a useful educational tool for teaching US-guided interventional procedures.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effect of Emergency Physician-Performed Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Radiology Department-Performed Ultrasound Examinations on the Emergency Department Length of Stay Among Pregnant Women at Less Than 20 Weeks' Gestation.
We sought to confirm retrospective studies that measured an approximately 20% reduction in emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) in early-gestation pregnant women who receive emergency physician-performed point-of-care ultrasound (US) examinations rather than radiology department-performed US examinations for evaluation of intrauterine pregnancy (IUP). ⋯ Early-gestation pregnant ED patients requiring pelvic US were discharged earlier when point-of-care US was used rather than radiology US; however, this trial did not achieve our target of 30 minutes. Nevertheless, our data support the routine use of ED point-of-care US for IUP, saving the most time if a conclusive IUP is identified.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of the Efficiency of Ultrasound-Guided Injections of the Rhomboid Major and Trapezius Muscles in Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Double-blind Study.
We aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound (US)-guided injections of the rhomboid major (deep) and trapezius (superficial) muscles on pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. ⋯ We think that US-guided deep injection of the rhomboid major muscle was more effective than superficial injection of the trapezius muscle for pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with myofascial pain syndrome.