A survey regarding upper-extremity steroid injection practices was distributed to all active members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) using SurveyMonkey. Response rates for the ASSH and ASES were 26% and 24%, respectively. The potency-adjusted dose of steroid injected for common hand and wrist injections ranged from 0.375 to 133.33 mg and for shoulder injections ranged from 0.375 to 250 mg. These ranges span 356-fold and 667-fold differences, respectively. Potency-adjusted doses differed significantly between steroid types for all injections evaluated in this study. American Society for Surgery of the Hand members gave significantly smaller doses of steroid for the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints than ASES members. Only 9% of respondents based injection practice on a scientific reference. Sixteen percent of ASSH and 31% of ASES respondents reported no specific rationale for their steroid injection practice; 78% of ASSH and 52% of ASES respondents attributed their rationale to some kind of instruction from their mentors or colleagues. Upper-extremity surgeons demonstrate substantial variability in their practice of steroid injections, with up to a 667-fold range in steroid dose. Experienced clinical opinion is the principal rationale for these injection practices; little rationale is based on formal scientific evidence.

Background:Outcomes of meniscus surgery are typically assessed with patient questionnaires that help capture symptoms and functional limitations but may not provide an accurate representation of underlying joint health. There are currently no performance-based measures of knee function in patients with symptomatic meniscus injury.Purpose:To assess the reproducibility, response to partial meniscectomy, and correlation with patient-reported questionnaire outcomes of novel performance-based knee function tests.Study Design:Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.Methods:A battery of 9 tests for activities that require knee movements essential for everyday living was developed. Intra- and interrater reproducibility was assessed in 50 meniscus tear patients completing the battery at 2 preoperative assessments with either the same or different examiners. Response to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy was evaluated in 35 of these patients 6 weeks after surgery. Subjects also completed the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaires pre- and postoperatively.Results:The intrarater intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were excellent for all tests (ICC > 0.8). Interrater ICC > 0.8 was observed for step-down, stair descent, star lunges, and timed treadmill travel. Performance on all tests improved significantly with surgery (P < .05), with the greatest improvement in sit-to-stand and stair ascent and descent. A greater percentage response to surgery was seen on questionnaire outcomes (20%-65%) than on performance-based tests (3%-15%). Moderate to poor correlations existed between the KOOS activities of daily living subscale and the performance-based tests (all ICCs ≤ 0.4).Conclusion:Performance-based knee function tests demonstrated good reproducibility and responsiveness in patients undergoing partial meniscectomy.Clinical Relevance:As both patient perception and functional performance are determinants of patient outcomes, questionnaires and performance-based tests could be used simultaneously to provide complementary data to monitor short- and long-term outcomes after meniscus surgery.

However, diabetes/hyperglycemia and/or dyslipemia artes were not different between groups. Metabolic syndrome was also significantly more prevalent among patients with KOA (Table). When analyzing the history of complications of cardiovascular disease such as ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular complications, patients with KOA also showed a significantly higher rate as compared with the control group (16/184 (61.5%) vs. 9/254 (3.5%), p <0.05).

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Background: Much has been written about the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue mallet injuries. However, there has been little regarding the characteristics of this injury affecting patients’ prognosis. The purpose of this prospective study was to identify factors influencing the outcome of treatment of soft tissue mallet injuries. Methods: Patients diagnosed with soft tissue mallet injuries were enrolled prospectively in a protocol of dorsal splinting for 6 to 12 weeks, followed by weaning over 2 weeks and then evaluated at 6, 9, and ≥12 months. Results: Thirty-seven patients (38 digits) completed the study. Treatment success was defined as a final extensor lag of <15° and failure as a final extensor lag of ≥15°. Those failing splint treatment were older compared with those successfully treated. Patient compliance was significantly associated with a successful outcome. Factors that did not significantly affect success included time to treatment, initial injury severity, splinting duration, sex, and ligamentous laxity. Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores >0 were not associated with treatment failure. Radiographic and clinical extension lag were statistically comparable. Conclusions: This study shows strong association between the success of splint treatment, younger patient age, and compliance with the treatment protocol. Despite this finding, most patients did not report any functional limitations, irrespective of the treatment success. In contrast to prior results, time to treatment and initial extensor lag did not significantly affect treatment success.