In this case series, BoNT-A reduced the IMP and eliminated exertional pain in anterior or anterolateral CECS of the leg for up to 9 months after the intervention. The mode of action of BoNT-A is still unclear. A randomized controlled study should be carried out to determine whether BoNT-A can be used as a medical alternative to surgical treatment.

Level IV. Retrospective cohort study.

[Purpose] To compare measurements of knee extensor and flexor muscle strength performed using a hand-held dynamometer and an isokinetic dynamometer in apparently healthy subjects. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty adult volunteers underwent knee muscle strength evaluation using an isokinetic or a hand-held dynamometer. [Results] Strong positive correlations were found between the 2 methods, with correlation coefficients r ranging from 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48−0.86) to 0.87 (95% CI, 0.75−0.94), depending on the muscle group and the isokinetic evaluation mode. The reproducibility of the hand-held dynamometer findings was good, judged by a coefficient of variation of 3.2–4.2%. However, the correlation between the 2 methods for the assessment of flexor/extensor ratios ranged from −0.04 to 0.46. [Conclusion] Knee extensor and flexor muscle strength recorded with a hand-held dynamometer is reproducible and significantly correlated with the isokinetic values, indicating that this method may in some cases be a useful replacement for isokinetic strength measurement. However, for strength ratio assessment, and when judged against the isokinetic standard, a hand-held dynamometer is not a valid option.

Elective orthopaedic surgery is regularly withheld from patients with haemophilia and high inhibitor titre despite the presence of severe arthropathy and urgent medical need. A knee joint arthroplasty was performed in a patient with severe haemophilia A and a high inhibitor titre using recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) as the sole coagulation factor. There was no abnormal bleeding during surgery although an increased blood loss through surgical drains did occur during the first 6 h postoperatively. Rehabilitation was started on day 1 and continued for 3 months. Walking commenced on day 4. After 1 year of follow-up, the clinical outcome of surgery was considered excellent with no pain, knee mobility at 0-5-90 degrees, and an International Knee Society score of 95/100. No rFVIIa-associated side-effects or thrombotic complications were reported. In conclusion, knee joint arthroplasty is now an option for haemophilia patients with a high inhibitor titre. An international review of all available data on elective orthopaedic surgery in inhibitor patients is required so that the optimal treatment regime can be defined and the short- and long-term risk-benefit ratio of surgery compared to that of noninhibitor patients.

No abstract