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George Georgoudis,1,2 Bledjana Felah,2 Pantelis T Nikolaidis,3 Maria Papandreou,1 Evanthia Mitsiokappa,4 Andreas F Mavrogenis,4 Thomas Rosemann,5 Beat Knechtle5,6 1Musculoskeletal and Respiratory Research Lab, Department of Physiotherapy, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece; 2PhysioPain Group, Pain Specialist & Rehabilitation Centers, Athens, Greece; 3Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Nikaia, Greece; 4First Department of Orthopaedics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece; 5Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 6Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland Introduction: Nonpharmacological therapies have been widely used to treat tension-type headache (TTH); however, limited evidence exists with regards to their effectiveness. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the combined effect of acupuncture, stretching, and physiotherapy (myofascial release techniques and microwave diathermy) on psychocognitive, somatic, quality of life, and disability characteristics in such patients. Subjects and methods: Patients with TTH (n=44) performed either acupuncture or stretching (control group, n=20) or acupuncture, stretching, and physiotherapy (experimental group, n=24) during a 4-week intervention period including 10 treatment sessions. They were tested for the Greek version of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Greek version of the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire, the Greek version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short Form Health Survey 12 9 (SF-12), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale at baseline after the fifth and tenth sessions. Results: All measures were improved throughout the first to tenth session (P0.05). Conclusion: In summary, a significant beneficial role of acupuncture, stretching, and physiotherapy on cognitive, psychosomatic pain measures, disability index, quality of life, and catastrophizing in patients with TTH was observed. Keywords: tension-type headache, acupuncture, physiotherapy, stretching, psychocognitive characteristics, myofascial release

Objectives: To present the results of biopsy and computed tomography (CT) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for non-spinal osteoid osteomas, and compare the results before and after procedural modifications.Methods: We retrospectively studied 557 patients with non-spinal osteoid osteomas treated with biopsy and CT-guided RFA. In 68 patients we used 3-mm CT at 2-mm intervals, 19 G/5-mm active tip electrodes, and one 4-minute ablation at 90-93°C. In 489 patients we used contiguous 1-mm CT, 20 G/5-15-mm electrodes, ablation maintaining 60°C for 2 min followed by 14-15 min at 90-93°C, and multiple ablations in the same session for large and multiform lesions.Results: 533/557 patients (96%) remained asymptomatic and 24/557 (4%) had recurrence; repeat RFA was successful in 22/24 patients (92%). Biopsy was non-diagnostic in 82%. With the modifications performed, success improved from 79% to 98%, recurrences reduced from 21% to 2% and complications from 5.9% to 0.2% (p < 0.001). All patients with large and multiform lesions treated with one ablation had recurrence, compared to no patient with similar lesions and multiple ablations in the same session.Conclusion: Electrode parameters, duration of ablation, morphology and size of osteoid osteomas are important for RFA. The above modifications are recommended for improved outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prospectively studied knee proprioception following ACL reconstruction in 40 patients (34 men and six women; mean age 31 years). The patients were allocated into two equal groups; group A underwent reconstruction using hamstrings autograft, and group B underwent reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft. Proprioception was assessed in flexion and extension by the joint position sense (JPS) at 15°, 45° and 75°, and time threshold to detection of passive motion (TTDPM) at 15° and 45°, preoperatively and at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The contralateral healthy knee was used as internal control. No statistical difference was found between the ACL-operated and the contralateral knees in JPS 15°, 45° and 75° at 6 and 12 months, in both study groups. No statistical difference was found between the ACL-operated and the contralateral knees in TTDPM 15° at 6 and 12 months, nor regarding TTDPM 45° at 3, 6 and 12 months, in group A. No statistical difference was found in JPS and TTDPM between the two grafts, at any time period. Knee proprioception returned to normal with ACL reconstruction at 6 months postoperatively, without any statistically significant difference between the autografts used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromyographic biofeedback is a therapeutic modality used along with other interventions in the treatment of pain. This article presents a brief re-view of the effectiveness of electromyographic biofeedback in treating musculoskeletal pain. Electromyographic biofeedback may provide pain relief for chronic musculoskeletal pain due to cumulative trauma, and may be pro-posed as an additional intervention to exercise in patellofemoral pain syndrome and acute sciatic pain. Electromyographic biofeedback is comparable to cognitive behavioral treatment and relaxation techniques. When added to an exercise program in patients with patellofemoral pain or acute sciatic pain, no further pain reduction is achieved. Electromyographic biofeedback promotes active participation and thus may motivate patients to adopt an active role in establishing and reaching goals in rehabilitation. Further research is required to investigate its effect on musculoskeletal pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The records of 68 patients (42 men and 26 women) who underwent spine stabilization with a dynamic neutralization system were reviewed. Mean patient age at operation was 42.8 years. The primary indication for surgery was degenerative spine disease and instability with neurogenic or radicular pain and/or chronic back pain. Forty-one (60.2%) patients had degenerative diskopathy or disk herniation, and 27 (39.8%) patients had lumbar spine stenosis. One-motion segment spine stabilization was performed in 30 patients, 2-motion segment spine stabilization in 32 patients, and 3-motion segment spine stabilization in 6 patients. Within a mean follow-up of 36.2 months (range, 12.9-75.3 months), there were 2 re-operations, and 3 patients with screw loosening. Re-operations were for a deep infection in 1 patient and left leg pain in another patient. Both patients were managed with early implant removal and spinal arthrodesis. Self-assessment questionnaires showed improvement of patients' clinical and functional status. The Oswestry Disability Index and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire score improved from a mean preoperative score of 55.4% (severe disability) and 52% respectively to a mean postoperative score of 22.9% (moderate disability) and 35% respectively. The overall results of this study are highly comparable to fusion procedures. The dynamic neutralization system can be a safe and effective alternative technique to spine arthrodesis in selected cases of degenerative lumbar spine instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous osteoplasty is a useful procedure for the management of painful spine and pelvic lesions. It is promising for pain relief, restoration of function, and ambulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tilted supine position allows unobstructed fluoroscopic access for AP and lateral views of the hip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas are low-grade malignant mesenchymal neoplasms with high propensity to local recurrence and potential to dedifferentiate to higher grades over time. However, the published risks of local recurrence and dedifferentiation vary, and no unified treatment and follow-up plan has been accepted. We performed a study to evaluate the long-term clinical behavior and proper treatment and follow-up strategy for these tumors. We retrospectively reviewed the files of 101 patients treated between 1990 and 2008 with the diagnosis of atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas. For 67 of these patients, complete data and 2-year minimum follow-up were available and were included in the study; 47 patients (group A) had primary surgical treatment at our institution and 20 patients (group B) were referred after ?1 local recurrences. Mean follow-up was 81 months (range, 24-229 months). The local recurrence rate of primary atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas was 10.6% (5/47 group A patients). The local re-recurrence rate of the recurrent atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas was 52% (13/67 group A and B patients). Recurrences developed as late as 140 months after diagnosis and treatment. The rate of dedifferentiation at recurrences was 4% (1/25 group A and B patients with recurrent tumors). No patients developed metastases. Atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas are associated with an increased rate of local re-recurrence and low risk of dedifferentiation at recurrences. Long-term follow-up is recommended for early diagnosis and treatment of local recurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AO-Magerl classification is widely accepted for the appropriate management of patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures; however, it fails to assess the ability of the injured spine to withstand compressive loading and cannot predict instrumentation failure after short-segment posterior fixation. The load-sharing classification depends on the degree of comminution and apposition of bony fragments. We retrospectively classified according to both classifications 100 consecutive patients with 1-level thoracolumbar burst fractures treated nonoperatively or operatively within a 7-year period. Sixty neurologically intact patients (60%) were treated nonoperatively, 15 (15%) had short posterior instrumentation, 15 (15%) had short anterior instrumentation, and 10 (10%) had combined short posterior instrumentation and anterior strut grafting. Twenty-five of the 40 (60%) surgically treated patients had neurological impairment on admission. Clinical outcome was assessed using a pain and working ability scale. Mean follow-up was 52 months (range, 24-70 months). Function was satisfactory in 55 (92%) nonoperatively treated patients and in 33 (83%) surgically treated patients. Neurological improvement by American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade was observed in patients with incomplete paraplegia (70% of neurologically impaired patients) who were treated operatively. The combination of AO-Magerl and load-sharing classifications provides for accurate selection of treatment, surgical approach, and length of instrumentation, and can guide the decision for additional anterior surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]