Allogeneic platelet-derived growth factors local injection in treatment of tennis elbow: a prospective randomized controlled study

Purpose The purpose of this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of local injection of allogeneic platelet-derived growth factors in treatment of patients with tennis elbow. Patients and methods This study included 120 tennis elbow patients randomly divided into two groups. The patients were locally injected with allogeneic growth factors (treatment group) or with normal saline (control group). The outcomes were assessed using Patient-Related Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) and quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (qDASH) scales. The clinical outcomes were accordingly classified as excellent, good and poor. The patient’s satisfaction and adverse effects were also recorded. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the age, gender, dominant arm or the pre-injection scores. At three month follow-up, the reductions in the mean PRTEE and qDASH scores were 88.7% and 70.6% in the treatment group versus 21.8% and 14.9% in the control group, respectively. At the last follow-up, the outcomes in the treatment group were excellent in 85% of patients and good in 15%, versus 8% and 32% in the control group. Overall, 95% were satisfied in the treatment group compared to 25% in control group. Forty patients in the treatment group experienced mild transient post-injection pain. Conclusion This study strongly suggests that local injection of allogeneic platelet-derived growth factors could be a promising safe treatment option for tennis elbow with significant pain relief, functional improvement and patient’s satisfaction. Yet, additional larger studies are needed to assess the durability of these outcomes.

Clinical Practice of Cataract Special Care Standards in Nonophthalmic Wards

Cataract is a lens metabolism disease, which is caused by various factors, and leads to metamorphic lens proteins turbidity. Cataract commonly occurs in elderly patients, and majority of these patients have clinical manifestations of blurred vision and other symptoms. In this study, we explored the clinical practice and observations of cataract care criteria in nonophthalmic wards. To realize this, a total of one hundred and twenty (120) cataract patients, admitted to the East Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, particularly from April 2019-2020, were divided into the control and observation groups, where 60 cases were added to each group. The control group received routine nursing, and observation group was treated with cataract care criteria based on the control group. The complication rate, health cognition, and patient’s satisfaction were compared with existing approaches. The incidence of corneal edema, anterior chamber hemorrhage, endophthalmitis, and incision infection, specifically in the observation group, was lower than that in the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Likewise, the number of hospitalization days and expenses, specifically in the observation group, were lower than those in the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Health knowledge and satisfaction scores of the observation group were higher than the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Active service, service attitude, psychological support, caring patients, and health education dissatisfaction rate of the observation group were lower than the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Finally, the standard of cataract care in nonophthalmic wards reduces the incidence of complications, improve health awareness of patients, and help to improve satisfaction of patients with nurses. Furthermore, it is worthy of promotion and application particularly in traditional hospitals.

Satisfaction with Telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patients’ and psychiatrists’ report from a University Hospital

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to important changes in the approach to patients worldwide. Different agencies have proposed and implemented telemedicine-based care services in order to ensure access to health care for all people. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the satisfaction of patients using the Telepsychiatry service offered by the Department of Psychiatry of the Hospital de Clínicas (National University of Asunción, Paraguay). Methods: A cross sectional and descriptive study has been conducted. Participants were recruited through a phone-based survey. Satisfaction with Telepsychiatry has been measured with an adapted version of a satisfaction survey in Teleneurology. As a complement, psychiatrists from the Hospital de Clínicas were also interviewed about their rate of satisfaction with Telepsychiatry. Results: A total of 530 patients were included, 51.3% of whom were women. The consultation satisfaction scale ranged between 2.15 and 4.30 with a mean score of 3.02 ± 0.32. Cronbach’s alpha for the scale was .897, indicating a good internal consistency. Patients’ satisfaction was higher for the perception of Telepsychiatry and lower for the doctor-patient relationship. Of the physicians, 87.5% were satisfied with the Telepsychiatry service. Conclusion: The satisfaction overall score indicates patients’ general satisfaction with the quality of care in Telepsychiatry, mainly regarding the perception of health care. and lower satisfaction with the doctor-patient relationship. Nine out of 10 psychiatrists felt satisfied with the Telepsychiatry service and considered that the degree of patient’s satisfaction was acceptable during the Telepsychiatry consultation.

Peg-Shaped Lateral Incisors Treated with Ceramic Three-Quarter Crown

In recent years, patients’ expectations are becoming higher in terms of esthetic dentistry. Having the ideal smile is becoming a purpose as the appearance of stars and famous persons have been undoubtedly improved through smile correction. Peg-shaped lateral incisors are a common dental form aberration which could distort the smile and may hamper patient psychology because of the smaller shape and size in disharmony with other teeth. Three-quarter ceramic veneers are a mini-invasive approach which could solve the esthetic problem of peg-shaped teeth and ensure patient’s satisfaction. The present paper was about a clinical case with peg-shaped lateral incisors treated with three-quarter ceramic crowns. It would also highlight the preparation particularities.

Comparison of two resilient attachment systems for implant-/mucosa-supported overdentures with a PEKK framework: a clinical pilot study

Objectives The aim of the study was to determine differences between Locator and CM LOC attachment systems regarding patient satisfaction and wear of the abutments and their inserts. Plaque accumulation onto the polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) framework and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was investigated for the implant-supported overdentures. Methods Seventeen edentulous patients were randomised to receive either Locator or CM LOC system for the first year. The total number of implants was 53. After the randomisation, 25 implants received Locator system, and 28 implants received CM LOC system in the first year. After a period of 12 months, the attachment system was exchanged from either Locator to CM LOC or vice versa. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires were used to evaluate patient satisfaction, chewing comfort, and pressure lesions. Prosthesis hygiene on the PMMA and PEKK surfaces was evaluated by using Stark plaque index. After the exchange of the abutments, they were stored until the end of the 24 months, and the surface wear of the abutments was analysed using a scanning electron microscope. Results Three patients (10 implants) died shortly before the end of the first year. Two patients (7 implants) received only Locator system since CM LOC was not indictable for their implant system. Patient’s satisfaction was increased when the attachment system was changed from Locator to CM LOC after 12 months of wearing time. Chewing ability and comfort were increased when the attachment system was changed from CM LOC to Locator after 12-month wearing time. There was no influence of the change of the attachment system on pressure lesions. The observed plaque accumulation was higher on the PMMA than on the PEKK surface. For the 8 investigated Locator abutments, the wear was within low and middle level. For the 28 investigated CM LOC abutments, the wear was within middle and high level for the terminal implants and between low and middle for the central implants (for patients who received 4 implants). Conclusions Patient’s satisfaction and wearing comfort can be improved with implant-supported overdentures with CM LOC abutments in comparison to Locator. There was no clear difference between both attachment systems concerning the chewing ability of the patients. Plaque accumulation was observed on both attachment systems in different areas. Plaque accumulation on PEKK surface was less than on PMMA surface. Clinical relevance The CM LOC attachment system offers stable and comfortable wearing conditions for implant-supported overdentures. The use of PEKK as a framework material could reduce the incidence of pressure lesions.

Lumbar nerve root blocks using MRI – the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound/MRI fusion image guidance

Objective: To compare the outcome of nerve root injection guided by ultrasound/MRI fusion with radiofrequency needle tracking (eTRAX©) and the same procedure undertaken by fluoroscopic guidance. Methods: This is a retrospective audit of anonymised clinical records from before and after a change in the imaging technique used to perform nerve root blocks. We studied 181 consecutive patients who had undergone a nerve root block, the first 124 guided by fluoroscopic technique and the next 57 guided by ultrasound/MRI fusion with radiofrequency needle guidance. Using pain diaries, we reviewed the outcome scores at 24 h and 2 weeks. We recorded the use of analgesia, the patient’s satisfaction, complications and the duration of the procedures. Results: Completed pain diaries were returned by 61% in the fluoroscopy group and 67% in the fusion imaging group. The visual analogue pain score was reduced at 24 h by 3.29 [standard deviation (SD) 2.35] for the fluoroscopy group and by 3.69 (SD 2.58) in the fusion group (p 0.399). At two weeks the pain reduction was 3.27 (SD 2.57) for the fluoroscopic group and 4.21 (SD 2.95) for the fusion group (p 0.083). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. The patient’s satisfaction scores were similar for both groups. The procedure by the two guidance methods took a similar time to perform. There were no serious complications in either group. One patient in the fusion-guided nerve root block group experienced paraesthesia in the nerve distribution for 2 h. Conclusion: Ultrasound/MRI fusion imaging with needle tracking is an effective alternative to fluoroscopic image-guided injection. Advances in knowledge: Fusion imaging guidance provides the same outcome as fluoroscopic guidance. Fusion imaging guidance avoids the need for ionising radiation.

Closure Versus Non-closure of Hernia Defect in Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair with Mesh: a Systematic Review

There is a controversial premise about choosing a surgical approach in ventral hernia using laparoscopic repair. Some surgeons prefer to use mesh with closure while others prefer to use mesh without closure. This study aims to compare mainly the rate of recurrence in mesh repair with and without closure. A wide range of electronic bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Embase and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) was searched. Based on the eligibility criteria, all studies which compared the results after hernia repair from 2010 to 2020 were incorporated. Following screening the abstracts, we ended up reviewing seven full-text articles, and data were extracted on important parameters such as demographic attributes of participants, sample size and recurrence rate of hernia. Of the total studies that were reviewed, three were randomized controlled trials (RCT’s) and four retrospective observational studies. The sample size of all included studies varied between 80 and 176. The findings appear promising for the fascial closure as it showed evidence of a significant reduction in the recurrence rate with P = 0.047 in one out of the three randomized controlled trials and in the retrospective observational studies reaching up to 16.7% recurrence reduction rate. Likewise, there is also a reduction in the bulging, surgical site infection and seroma formation with higher patient’s satisfaction and quality of life score. Primary fascial closure appears to be effective as it can decrease the rates of recurrence, seroma formation and bulging, and improve patient’s satisfaction and quality of life. Given the dearth of studies, mainly randomized controlled trials, there is a need to carry out large randomized controlled trials with enough follow-up.

Factors correlating with patients’ satisfaction after undergoing cartilage repair surgery—data from the German Cartilage Registry (KnorpelRegister DGOU)

Subjective patient satisfaction is the most relevant parameter for assessing the success of treatment after orthopaedic surgery. The aim of the present study was to correlate patient-reported outcome parameters (i.e., absolute KOOS, KOOS increase) and revision-free survival with patient’s satisfaction. Furthermore, the study aimed on the identification of pre-operative factors that are associated with patient’s satisfaction after the surgery.For the present study, 6305 consecutive patients from the German Cartilage Registry (KnorpelRegister DGOU) were analyzed. Patient characteristics and outcome were correlated with patients’ satisfaction after a follow-up of three years by Spearman correlation. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Mean age was 37 ± 12.5 years, 59.7% patients were male, and 40.3% female. Most patients (46.7%) were treated with an autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). The strongest correlation of subjective satisfaction and the subscore quality of life (r = 0.682; p < 0.001) was found, whereas the post-operative increase in KOOS from the pre-operative value showed only a moderate correlation (r = 0.520; p < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation with the absolute KOOS value (r = 0.678; p < 0.001), the subscores pain (r = 0.652; p < 0.001), quality of life (r = 0.682; p < 0.001), and sports (r = 0.633; p < 0.001), whereas symptoms (r = 0.504, p < 0.001) and activities of daily life (r = 0.601; p < 0.001) showed a weaker correlation. Pain also correlated highly significant with the patient satisfaction 24 months after surgery (r = − 0.651, p < 0.001). The correlation between satisfaction after the 2nd and 3rd year (r = 0.727; p < 0.001) is stronger than correlation after six months and three years (r = 0.422, p < 0.001). All pre-operative parameters show a very weak correlation (r < 0.1).The use of standardized measuring instruments (KOOS and Pain) is a relevant outcome parameter in science and clinical practice, whereas absolute values represent satisfaction better than the individual increase. The subscores “pain,” “quality of life,” and “sports” represent satisfaction better than the subscores “symptoms” and “activity of daily life.” Early satisfaction has only a moderate predictive value for satisfaction after 3 years, which is of great practical relevance in particular for the assessment of potential treatment failures. It is remarkable to note that a revision surgery is only very mildly associated with increased dissatisfaction. Pre-operative factors are not reliable prediction factors for post-operative patient satisfaction.

Study of the effectiveness of fractional laser ablation in patients with atrophic postacne scars using the quantitative scar index

Introduction. Atrophic scars are common in acne patients. Regardless of their number and size, they are persistent defects and reduce patients' quality of life. With a variety of treatment options, effective scar correction remains a challenge. Laser technology continues to evolve and is considered promising for the treatment of scars.The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the fractional laser ablation method in patients with atrophic postacne scars using the quantitative postacne scar index.Materials and methods. The study involved 60 patients with ARP of II-IV severity, 35 women and 25 men. The patients underwent fractional ablation of scars with an Erbium laser (2940 nm). To assess the scars before and after treatment, we used the post-acne scar severity index according to the quantitative assessment scale according to G.J. Goodman et al. Goodman et al. (2006). The international scales Patient's Satisfaction Score, Physician's Satisfaction Score, and Definitive Graduated Score were used to assess physician and patient satisfaction with the results of the procedures.Results. The quantitative index of postacne scars before treatment ranged from 4.0 to 16.0 points and averaged 10.9±3.56 points; median was 12.0 points (8.0±13.0 points). After fractional laser ablation procedures, improvement of quantitative indexes scores (p<0.05), positive dynamics of the doctor's and patients' evaluation of procedure results were noted; no gender differences were noted.Discussion. Quantitative indices of scar expression reflect the severity of the affected skin areas in patients with postacne. This study confirms the effectiveness of fractional ablation with the Erbium laser in patients with ARP, which is confirmed by a decrease in quantitative scar severity indices. Dynamic growth of PSS, PhSS, DGS indices testifies to high satisfaction of the physician and the patient with the results of treatment and correlates with regression of clinical manifestations in these patients.Conclusion. Despite the limitations and laboriousness of counting quantitative indices of postacne scars, this approach allowed to establish and objectify the clinical efficacy of treatment of patients with ARP by fractionated ablation.