The use of “stabilization exercises” to affect neuromuscular control in the lumbopelvic region: a narrative review

It is well-established that the coordination of muscular activity in the lumbopelvic region is vital to the generation of mechanical spinal stability. Several models illustrating mechanisms by which dysfunctional neuromuscular control strategies may serve as a cause and/or effect of low back pain have been described in the literature. The term “core stability” is variously used by clinicians and researchers, and this variety has led to several rehabilitative approaches suggested to affect the neuromuscular control strategies of the lumbopelvic region (e.g. “stabilization exercise”, “motor control exercise”). This narrative review will highlight: 1) the ongoing debate in the clinical and research communities regarding the terms “core stability” and “stabilization exercise”, 2) the importance of sub-grouping in identifying those patients most likely to benefit from such therapeutic interventions, and 3) two protocols that can assist clinicians in this process.     

Invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation for treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury: A review

Context

Past evidence has shown that invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation may be effective for relieving central pain.

Objective

To perform a topical review of the literature on brain neurostimulation techniques in patients with chronic neuropathic pain due to traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to assess the current evidence for their therapeutic efficacy.

Methods

A MEDLINE search was performed using following terms: “Spinal cord injury”, “Neuropathic pain”, “Brain stimulation”, “Deep brain stimulation” (DBS), “Motor cortex stimulation” (MCS), “Transcranial magnetic stimulation” (TMS), “Transcranial direct current stimulation” (tDCS), “Cranial electrotherapy stimulation” (CES).

Results

Invasive neurostimulation therapies, in particular DBS and epidural MCS, have shown promise as treatments for neuropathic and phantom limb pain. However, the long-term efficacy of DBS is low, while MCS has a relatively higher potential with lesser complications that DBS. Among the non-invasive techniques, there is accumulating evidence that repetitive TMS can produce analgesic effects in healthy subjects undergoing laboratory-induced pain and in chronic pain conditions of various etiologies, at least partially and transiently. Another very safe technique of non-invasive brain stimulation – tDCS – applied over the sensory-motor cortex has been reported to decrease pain sensation and increase pain threshold in healthy subjects. CES has also proved to be effective in managing some types of pain, including neuropathic pain in subjects with SCI.

Conclusion

A number of studies have begun to use non-invasive neuromodulatory techniques therapeutically to relieve neuropathic pain and phantom phenomena in patients with SCI. However, further studies are warranted to corroborate the early findings and confirm different targets and stimulation paradigms. The utility of these protocols in combination with pharmacological approaches should also be explored.     

Can periprosthetic hip joint infections be successfully managed by debridement and prosthesis retention?

To evaluate the current literature about how successfully periprosthetic hip joint infections can be managed by debridement and prosthesis retention. A literature search was performed through PubMed until September 2013. Search terms were “DAIR (debridement, antibiotics, irrigation, and retention)” alone and in combination with “hip” as well as “hip infection + prosthesis retention”. A total of 11 studies reporting on 292 cases could be identified. Five different treatment modalities have been described with varying success rates (debridement-21% infection eradication rate; debridement + lavage-75% infection eradication rate; debridement, lavage, with change of modular prosthesis components-70.4% infection eradication rate; debridement, lavage, change of modular prosthesis components + vacuum-assisted closure-92.8% infection eradication rate; acetabular cup removal + spacer head onto retained stem-89.6% infection eradication rate). With regard to the postoperative antibiotic therapy, no general consensus could be drawn from the available data. Debridement, antibiotic therapy, irrigation, and prosthesis retention is an acceptable solution in the management of early and acute hematogenous periprosthetic hip joint infections. The current literature does not allow for generalization of conclusions with regard to the best treatment modality. A large, multi-center study is required for identification of the optimal treatment of these infections.     

Trajectories of musculoskeletal shoulder pain after spinal cord injury: Identification and predictors

Objective/Background

Although shoulder pain is a problem in up to 86% of persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI), so far, no studies have empirically identified longitudinal patterns (trajectories) of musculoskeletal shoulder pain after SCI. The objective of this study was: (1) to identify distinct trajectories of musculoskeletal shoulder pain in persons with SCI, and (2) to determine possible predictors of these trajectories.

Design/Methods

Multicenter, prospective cohort study in 225 newly injured persons with SCI.

Outcome Measure

Shoulder pain was assessed on five occasions up to 5 years after discharge. Latent class growth mixture modeling was used to identify the distinct shoulder pain trajectories.

Results

Three distinct shoulder pain trajectories were identified: (1) a “No or Low pain” trajectory (64%), (2) a “High pain” (30%) trajectory, and (3) a trajectory with a “Decrease of pain” (6%). Compared with the “No or Low pain” pain trajectory, the “High pain” trajectory consisted of more persons with tetraplegia, shoulder pain before injury, limited shoulder range of motion (ROM), lower manual muscle test scores, or more spasticity at t₁. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed two significant predictors for the “High pain” trajectory (as compared with the “No or Low pain” trajectory): having a tetraplegia (odds ratio (OR) = 3.2; P = 0.002) and having limited shoulder ROM (OR = 2.8; P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Shoulder pain in people with SCI follows distinct trajectories. At risk for belonging to the “High pain” trajectory are persons with tetraplegia and those with a limited shoulder ROM at start of active rehabilitation.     

The influence of prostatic calculi on lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual dysfunction: a narrative review

Prostatic calculi (PC) are commonly found in patients who present for urologic consultation. However, the effect of PC on urinary symptoms remains controversial. In this study, we searched the Embase and PubMed databases for literature related to the following keywords: “prostatic calculi”, “prostatic stone”, “prostatic lithiasis” and “prostatic calcification”, along with the limits, “lower urinary tract symptoms”, “sexual dysfunction”, “erectile dysfunction”, “erectile function”, and “premature ejaculation”. According to the literature, there are various subtypes of PC based on X-ray or ultrasound findings, including type I/II, type A/B, and endogenous PC/extrinsic PC. Furthermore, the formation of PC remains unclear, and more importantly, the ability of PC to cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual dysfunction (SD) is worth exploring. We retrospectively reviewed all available literature and found that most studies agreed that PC are associated with LUTS. The factors which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LUTS include the size and location of PC, induced inflammation, and the blood flow of the prostate. Similarly, SD was also examined in the patients with PC, and psychological factors cannot be ignored in this regard. However, more in-depth study of the molecular mechanisms, including prospective, controlled, longitudinal, and large- sample studies, are needed in the future.     

Rosacea and Diet: What is New in 2021?

ObjectiveRosacea is a common inflammatory cutaneous condition with a complex yet unknown etiopathogenesis. Diet and certain food items are known to trigger or worsen rosacea symptoms, but conflicting and often inconsistent advice is given to patients regarding this link. We provide an up-to-date literature review on the relationship between rosacea and diet.MethodsUsing the keywords “alcohol,” “diet,” “flushing,” “food,” “inflammation,” “rosacea,” “skin-gut axis” and “spice” we systemically searched the databases PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE for English-language articles in July 2020.ResultsThe most frequently reported triggers implicated in rosacea include alcohol, spicy food, cinnamaldehyde-containing foods (e.g., tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate), hot drinks, and histamine-rich foods (e.g., aged cheese, wine, processed meats). Some food items appear to play a protective role, such as omega-3, which appears to protect against ocular rosacea. The relationship between certain food items and the subtype of rosacea is varied, with inconsistent results shown in the few studies that examined this. As an example, alcohol worsens flushing and fatty food triggers both erythematotelangiectatatic and phymatous rosacea in susceptible individuals.ConclusionWhile several food types appear to be associated with exacerbation of rosacea, there are no recommendations that can be applied to all patients. Further studies are needed to examine the exact link between diet and rosacea subtypes.     

Women of Worth: the impact of a cash plus intervention to enhance attendance and reduce sexual health risks for young women in Cape Town,South Africa

IntroductionConditional cash transfers (CTs) augmented with other interventions are promising interventions for reducing HIV risk in adolescent girls and young women.MethodsA multi‐phase, quasi‐experimental study assessed the impact of a CT (ZAR300; $22) conditional on attending a skills building intervention, Women of Worth (WoW), designed to improve sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in Cape Town, South Africa from May 2017 to December 2019. The intervention entailed 12 sessions with encouragement to attend adolescent and youth‐friendly health services. Women aged 19–24 years were randomized 1:1 to receive the intervention with a CT (“cash + care” or C+C) or without a CT (“care”). The study included a pilot phase followed by a post‐modification phase with improved uptake and retention without changing programme content or CT. Self‐reported HIV prevalence and SRH/HIV vulnerability were assessed via a self‐administered questionnaire at baseline, after 11 sessions, and 6–30 months’ post‐intervention for a subset. Mixed effect logistic regression models were fitted to estimate within‐subject changes in outcomes.ResultsOf 5116 participants, 904 (452 participants per arm) were in the pilot and 4212 (2039 “care” participants and 2173 “C+C” participants) were in the post modified phase. There were 1867 (85.9%) and 135 (6,6%) participants in the “C+C” group and the “Care,” respectively, that were WoW completers (≥ 11 sessions/retention). During the pilot phase, 194 (42.9%) and 18 (4.0%) participants in “C+C” and the “care” groups were retained. Receiving a CT sustained participation nearly 60‐fold (OR 60.37; 95% CI: 17.32; 210.50, p <0.001). Three‐hundred and thirty women were followed for a median of 15.0 months [IQR: 13.3; 17.8] to assess the durability of impact. Self‐reported new employment status increased more than three‐fold (p <0.001) at WoW completion and was sustained to the longer time point. Intimate partner violence indicators were reduced immediately after WoW, but this was not durable.ConclusionsParticipants receiving CT had sustained participation in an SRH/HIV prevention skills building with improvement in employment and some SRH outcomes. Layered, “young woman centred” programmes to address HIV and SRH risk in young women may be enhanced with CT.     

Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of a Specific Group of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Patients Who Came Across Both Bracing and Surgery

Background/Purpose of the StudyChanges in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of AIS patients coming across both bracing and surgery have not yet reported. These patients received two major clinical interventions and their HRQOL might be different from previous articles. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes of HRQOL of a specific group of AIS patients who experienced both bracing and surgery.MethodsOne hundred and twenty-eight patients requiring surgery with prior bracing treatment were identified from the electronic record. SRS-22 questionnaire was completed at 7 time points crossing both interventions (namely “Before”, “Bracing ≤ 1 year”, “Bracing > 1 year”, “Pre-op”, “Post-op”, “Post-op ≤ 1 year, and “Post-op 1-2 years”).ResultsSRS-22 “Function”, “Pain” and “Self-image” scores were decreased from “Before” to “Bracing ≤ 1 year” when started bracing and raised at “Bracing > 1 year”. The 3 scores were dropped from “Bracing > 1 year” to “Pre-op”, particularly on “Self-image”. “Function” and “Pain” were significantly dropped from “Pre-op” to “Post-op” and kept raising until “Post-op 1–2 years”. “Self-image” was improving after “Pre-op”. “Mental” was relatively stable along the timeline.ConclusionThis study described the changes in HRQOL of a specific group of AIS patients. Scores were dropped after the two major clinical interventions and recovered afterwards. Medical professionals were able to plan and provide appropriate supports on the expected changes in HRQOL, especially on function, pain and mental.     

What Is the Utility of Biomarkers for Assessing the Pathophysiology of Hip Osteoarthritis? A Systematic Review

Background

Innovations in biologics offer great promise in the treatment of patients with orthopaedic conditions and in advancing our ability to monitor underlying disease pathophysiology. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of hip osteoarthritis (OA) has improved significantly in the last decade. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip dysplasia are increasingly recognized and treated as forms of prearthritic hip disease, yet the inability of radiographic and MR imaging to identify patients before the onset of irreversible articular cartilage injury limits their use for early diagnosis and treatment of patients with these conditions. Molecular biomarkers, as objectively measureable indicators of the pathophysiology of hip OA, have the potential to improve diagnosis, disease staging, and prognosis of hip OA and prearthritic hip disease. Although research into molecular biomarkers of hip OA has been conducted, investigations in prearthritic hip disease have only recently begun.

Questions/purposes

The purpose of our review was to assess the use of molecular biomarkers in the pathophysiology of hip OA, including (1) diagnosis; (2) disease staging; and (3) prognosis. We additionally aimed to summarize the available literature investigating the use of biomarkers in (4) prearthritic hip disease, including FAI and hip dysplasia.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of molecular biomarkers associated with hip OA or prearthritic hip disease by searching four major electronic databases for keywords “hip”, “osteoarthritis”, “biomarker”, and all synonyms. The search terms “femoroacetabular impingement” and “hip dysplasia” were also included. The biologic source of biomarkers was limited to serum, plasma, urine, and synovial fluid. The literature search yielded a total of 2740 results. Forty studies met all criteria and were included in our review. Studies were categorized regarding their relevance to (1) diagnosis; (2) disease staging; (3) prognosis; and/or (4) prearthritic hip disease.

Results

Biomarker studies were characterized as relevant to diagnosis (16 studies), disease staging (15 studies), prognosis (11 studies), and prearthritic hip disease (three studies). Sixteen different biomarkers demonstrated associations relevant to the diagnosis of hip OA, 16 biomarkers demonstrated similar associations for disease staging, and six for prognosis. Six biomarkers seemed to be the most promising, demonstrating associations with hip OA in multiple studies, including: urinary level of type II collagen telopeptide (n = 5 studies), serum cartilage oligomeric protein (n = 4 studies), and serum C-reactive protein (n = 4 studies). Only three studies investigated the role of biomarkers in prearthritic hip disease, including two in FAI and one in unspecified etiology of pain. There were no studies about biomarkers in hip dysplasia.

Conclusions

Molecular biomarkers are increasingly investigated for their use in evaluating the pathophysiology of hip OA, but less so for prearthritic hip disease. Several biomarkers have demonstrated significant associations with hip OA across multiple studies. Further validation of these biomarkers is needed to assess their clinical use and potential application to prearthritic hip disease.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11999-015-4148-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Suitability of FIFA’s “The 11” Training Programme for Young Football Players – Impact on Physical Performance

There is a paucity of evidence regarding the use of injury prevention programmes for preadolescents participating in sport. “The 11 ”injury prevention programme was developed by FIFA’s medical research centre (F-MARC) to help reduce the risk of injury in football players aged 14 years and over. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability and effectiveness of “The 11 ”for younger football players. Twenty-four [12 experimental (EXP), 12 control (CON)] young football players (age 10.4 ± 1.4 yr) participated. The EXP group followed “The 11 ”training programme 5 days per week, for 6 weeks, completing all but one of the 10 exercises. Prior to, and after the intervention, both EXP and CON groups performed a battery of football-specific physical tests. Changes in performance scores within each group were compared using independent t-tests (p ≤ 0.05). Feedback was also gathered on the young players’ perceptions of “The 11”. No injuries occurred during the study in either group. Compliance to the intervention was 72%. Measures of leg power (3 step jump and counter-movement jump) increased significantly (3.4 and 6.0% respectively, p < 0.05). Speed over 20 m improved by 2% (p < 0.05). Most players considered “The 11 ”beneficial but not enjoyable in the prescribed format. Given the observed improvements in the physical abilities and the perceived benefits of “The 11”, it would appear that a modified version of the programme is appropriate and should be included in the training of young football players, for both physical development and potential injury prevention purposes, as well as to promote fair play. To further engage young football players in such a programme, some modification to “The 11 ”should be considered.

Key points

• Children who participate in recreational and competitive sports, especially football, are susceptible to injury.
• There is a need for the design and assessment of injury prevention programmes for children.
• The 11 ”improves essential physical performance characteristics and has the potential to reduce the risk of injury.
• It may be prudent to implement a ‘child-friendly’ version of “The 11”, to enhance long-term programme adherence and to ensure progressive physical development of players.

Key words: Injury, football, soccer, children, prevention, FIFA     

How Should We Grade Lumbar Disc Herniation and Nerve Root Compression? A Systematic Review

Background

MRI is the gold standard for evaluating the relationship of disc material to soft tissue and neural structures. However, terminologies used to describe lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression have always been a source of confusion. A clear understanding of lumbar disc terminology among clinicians, radiologists, and researchers is vital for patient care and future research.

Questions/purposes

Through a systematic review of the literature, the purpose of this article is to describe lumbar disc terminology and comment on the reliability of various nomenclature systems and their application to clinical practice.

Methods

PubMed was used for our literature search using the following MeSH headings: “Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Intervertebral Disc Displacement” and “Lumbar Vertebrae” and terms “nomenclature” or “grading” or “classification”. Ten papers evaluating lumbar disc herniation/nerve root compression using different grading criteria and providing information regarding intraobserver and interobserver agreement were identified.

Results

To date, the Combined Task Force (CTF) and van Rijn classification systems are the most reliable methods for describing lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression, respectively. van Rijn dichotomized nerve roots from “definitely no root compression, possibly no root compression, indeterminate root compression, possible root compression, and definite root compression” into no root compression (first three categories) and root compression (last two categories). The CTF classification defines lumbar discs as normal, focal protrusion, broad-based protrusion, or extrusion. The CTF classification system excludes “disc bulges,” which is a source of confusion and disagreement among many practitioners. This potentially accounts for its improved reliability compared with other proposed nomenclature systems.

Conclusions

The main issue in the management of patients with lumbar disc disease and nerve root compression is correlation of imaging findings with clinical presentation and symptomatology to guide treatment and intervention. Although it appears that the most commonly supported nomenclatures have strong interobserver reliability, the classification term “disc bulges” is a source of confusion and disagreement among many practitioners. Additional research should focus on the clinical application of the various nomenclatures.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11999-014-3674-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The internet as a source of information for De Quervain’s tendinitis

Background

Many individuals are turning to the Internet for information about various health conditions, and in our study we evaluated the quality and readability of information on the internet about De Quervain’s tendinitis.

Methods

We chose the search terms “De Quervain’s Tendinitis,” “De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis,” and “De Quervain’s Syndrome,” and entered them into the search engines “Google,” “Bing,” and “Yahoo” and compiled the search results. The websites were then evaluated and assigned a quality score, a Flesch-Kincaid (FK) reading level, and a subjective quality score. They were then grouped according to the search term used, search engine used, and the order (priority) returned by the search engines. ANOVA analysis and pairwise comparisons of quality and readability among groups, as well as correlation analysis were performed.

Results

The FK readability average was 10.3, above the recommended level. The search term De Quervain’s tenosynovitis returned the highest objective quality results. There was no statistical difference found between the different search engines. The first 10 results from the searches were of higher quality than results 11–20, and there was a positive correlation between objective and subjective quality scores but no correlation between readability and objective quality.

Conclusions

We concluded that quality information about De Quervain’s tendinitis is available on the internet and is most likely to be found using the search term De Quervain’s tenosynovitis and in the first 10 results of an internet search. However, most information is written above the recommended 6th grade reading level.     

“Acute postoperative open abdominal wall”: Nosological concept and treatment implications

The so-called “burst abdomen” has been described for many years and is a well-known clinical condition, whereas the concept of the “open abdomen” is relatively new. In clinical practice, both nosological entities are characterized by a complex spectrum of symptoms apparently disconnected, which in many cases poses a great challenge for surgical repair. In order to assess the management of these disorders in a more comprehensive and integral fashion, the concept of “acute postoperative open abdominal wall” (acute POAW) is presented, which in turn can be divided into “intentional” or planned acute POAW and “unintentional” or unplanned POAW. The understanding of the acute POAW as a single clinical process not only allows a better optimization of the therapeutic approach in the surgical repair of abdominal wall-related disorders, but also the stratification and collection of data in different patient subsets, favoring a better knowledge of the wide spectrum of conditions involved in the surgical reconstruction of the abdominal wall.     

Clinical Case of Acute Non-Traumatic Hand Compartment Syndrome and Systematic Review for the Upper Extremity

Background: While trauma to the upper extremity is known to cause acute compartment syndrome (ACS), nontraumatic causes of ACS of the upper extremity are rare. Nontraumatic ACS of the upper extremity can lead to adverse outcomes if not recognized early. There are limited reports of spontaneous ACS published in the literature. The aim of this comprehensive systematic review is to increase awareness among plastic surgeons and hand surgeons of this acute event and provide an algorithmic approach to management in the acute setting through an illustrative case example. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of published literature was conducted in the Medline/PubMed database with the search terms, “compartment syndrome,” “extremity,” “spontaneous,” “nontraumatic,” and “atraumatic” without timeframe limitations. Articles were identified and included in this review based on ACS localization in the upper extremity and etiology of nontraumatic, spontaneous origin. Results: Sixteen publications and 19 total cases of nontraumatic ACS of the upper extremity from 1993 to 2016 met our search criteria. A bleeding disorder was the etiology in three cases, systemic anticoagulation in three cases, infection in six cases, and unknown in three cases. The remaining four cases included systemic sclerosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, and McArdle disease. Conclusions: Nontraumatic causes of ACS of the upper extremity include infection, anticoagulation therapy, and bleeding disorders. Even though trauma is the most common cause of ACS, clinicians should be aware of these other potential causes of ACS in the nontraumatic setting. Appropriate medical and surgical intervention should be done to avoid potential adverse outcomes.     

Spinal cord involvement in Lewy body-related α-synucleinopathies

Context: Lewy body (LB)-related α-synucleinopathy (LBAS) is the neuropathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease (PD), but it is also found in neurologically asymptomatic subjects. An abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein has been reported also in the spinal cord, but extent and significance of the spinal cord involvement are still poorly defined.Objective: We aimed to review the studies addressing the spinal cord involvement of LBAS in healthy subjects and in patients with PD or other neurodegenerative diseases.Methods: A MEDLINE search was performed using following terms: “spinal cord”, “ α-synucleinopathy”, “α-synuclein”, “Lewy body”, “Parkinson’s disease”, “multiple system atrophy”, “neurodegenerative disorder”.Results: LBAS in the spinal cord is associated with that of the medullary reticular formation and locus ceruleus in the brainstem but not with that in the olfactory bulb and amygdala. The intermediolateral columns of the thoracic and sacral cord are the most frequently and severely affected region of the spinal cord. LBAS occurs in centrally projecting spinal cord neurons integrating pain, in particular from lower body periphery. It also involves the sacral parasympathetic nucleus innervating the smooth muscles of the bladder and distal colon and the Onuf’s nucleus innervating the striated sphincters. The spinal cord lesions may thus play a crucial role in the genesis of frequent non-motor symptoms such as pain, urinary symptoms, bowel dysfunction, autonomic failure including orthostatic hypotension and sexual disturbances. Moreover, these may also contribute to the motor symptoms, since α-synuclein inclusions have been observed in the pyramidal tracts of patients with PD and multiple system atrophy.Conclusion: Recognition of this peculiar spinal cord pathology may help in the management of the related symptoms in subjects affected by α-synucleinopathies.     

The application of the “omental wrapping” technique with autologous onlay flap/graft ureteroplasty for the management of long ureteral strictures

BackgroundTo present our experience with the “omental wrapping” technique in laparoscopic and robotic ureteroplasty using onlay flaps or grafts for the management of long proximal or middle ureteral strictures.MethodsThis is a retrospective review of 25 patients with long proximal or middle ureteral strictures who underwent laparoscopic and robotic onlay flaps or grafts ureteroplasty using an omental flap to reinforce an anastomosis site between August 2018 and November 2019. Perioperative and follow-up data were collected.ResultsSixteen laparoscopic procedures and nine robotic procedures were performed successfully. Sixteen patients underwent ureteroplasty with lingual mucosal graft (LMG), and nine patients with appendiceal onlay flap (AOF). The median stricture length was 4 cm (range, 2–6 cm). The mean operative time (OT) was 220.5±50.6 min, the estimated blood loss (EBL) was 66.0±38.9 mL, and the length of hospital stay (LHS) was 8.0±3.6 days. In the LMG group, four patients had tongue numbing and one had an oral ulcer, which relieved itself gradually without intervention. Two patients in the LMG group and four patients in the AOF group experienced urinary tract infection, and all responded well to antibiotic treatment. There were no complications attributed to “omental wrapping”. The mean follow-up was 16.3±4.8 months. According to the standards regarding improvement in clinical symptoms, relief of obstruction radiologically and a stable estimate glomerular filtration rate, our surgical success rate was 100%.ConclusionsThe “omental wrapping” technique in laparoscopic and robotic onlay flaps or grafts ureteroplasty for long proximal or middle ureteral strictures is an efficient, safe, reproducible and simple technique.     

Rationale for participation in venous leg ulcer clinical research: Patient interview study

Recruitment to wound care clinical trials is challenging and a better understanding of patient decisions to participate has the potential to influence recruitment success. We conducted 31 semi‐structured telephone interviews of patients who participated in the Aspirin in Venous Leg Ulcer (ASPiVLU) randomised controlled trail (RCT) or ASPiVLU cohort study. Data were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. We identified four key themes: (a) “I participated to help others”; (b) “I participated in research to thank those who cared for me”; (c) “I participated to receive better care”; and (d) “I participated to have a say on what works.” These themes became basic elements for the Rationale for Research Participation Framework that we have developed to improve the participant recruitment process for clinical trials in wound care.     

Scoring system for prediction of metastatic spine tumor prognosis

Assessing the prognosis before treatment for metastatic spine tumor is extremely important in therapy selection. Therefore, we review some prognostic scoring systems and their outcomes. Articles with combinations of two keywords among “metastatic spine tumor” and “prognosis”, “score”, “scoring system”, “predicting”, or “life expectancy” were searched for in PubMed. As a result, 236 articles were extracted. Those referring to representative scoring systems about predicting the survival of patients with metastatic spine tumors were used. The significance and limits of these scoring systems, and the future perspectives were described. Tokuhashi score, Tomita score, Baur score, Linden score, Rades score, and Katagiri score were introduced. They are all scoring systems prepared by combining factors that affect prognosis. The primary site of cancer and visceral metastasis were common factors in all of these scoring systems. Other factors selected to influence the prognosis varied. They were useful to roughly predict the survival period, such as, “more than one year or not” or “more than six months or not”. In particular, they were utilized for decision-making about operative indications and avoidance of excessive medical treatment. Because the function depended on the survival period in the patients with metastatic spine tumor, it was also utilized in assessing functional prognosis. However, no scoring system had more than 90% consistency between the predicted and actual survival periods. Future perspectives should adopt more oncological viewpoints with adjustment of the process of treatment for metastatic spine tumor.