Level II, therapeutic study.

Background: Periarticular injection is a popular method to control postoperative pain after total knee replacement. An adductor canal block is a sensory block that can also help to alleviate pain after total knee replacement. We hypothesized that the combination of adductor canal block and periarticular injection would allow patients to reach discharge criteria 0.5 day faster than with periarticular injection alone. Methods: This prospective trial enrolled 56 patients to receive a periarticular injection and 55 patients to receive an adductor canal block and periarticular injection. Both groups received intraoperative neuraxial anesthesia and multiple different types of pharmaceutical analgesics. The primary outcome was time to reach discharge criteria. Secondary outcomes, collected on postoperative days 1 and 2, included numeric rating scale pain scores, the PAIN OUT questionnaire, opioid consumption, and opioid-related side effects. Results: There was no difference in time to reach discharge criteria between the groups with and without an adductor canal block. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney odds ratio was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 1.33; p = 0.518). The median time to achieve discharge criteria (and interquartile range) was 25.8 hours (23.4 hours, 44.3 hours) in the adductor canal block and periarticular injection group compared with 26.4 hours (22.9 hours, 46.2 hours) in the periarticular injection group. Patients who received an adductor canal block and periarticular injection reported lower worst pain (difference in means, −1.4 [99% CI, −2.7 to 0]; adjusted p = 0.041) and more pain relief (difference in means, 12% [99% CI, 0% to 24%]; adjusted p = 0.048) at 24 hours after anesthesia. There was no difference in any other secondary outcome measure (e.g., opioid consumption, opioid-related side effects, numeric rating scale pain scores). Conclusions: The time to meet the discharge criteria was not significantly different between the groups. In the adductor canal block and periarticular injection group, the patients had lower worst pain and greater pain relief at 24 hours after anesthesia. No difference was noted in any other secondary outcome measure (e.g., opioid consumption, opioid-related side effects, numeric rating scale pain scores). Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Summary The purpose was to determine if increasing serum 25(OH)D and calcium in postmenopausal women increased skeletal muscle size, strength, balance, and functional task performance while decreasing muscle fatigue. PCSA of the vastus lateralis increased and ascent of stairs time decreased after 6 months of increased serum 25(OH)D. Purpose The Institute of Medicine recommends ≥ 20 ng/ml of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] for bone and overall health. Serum 25(OH)D levels have been associated with physical performance, postural sway, and falls. The purpose of this study was to determine if increasing postmenopausal women’s serum 25(OH)D levels from 20–30 ng/ml to 40–50 ng/ml improved skeletal muscle size, strength, balance, and functional performance while decreasing skeletal muscle fatigue. Methods Twenty-six post-menopausal women (60–85 years old) with baseline serum 25(OH)D levels between 20 and 30 ng/ml were recruited. Oral over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin D3 and calcium citrate were prescribed to increase subjects’ serum 25(OH)D to levels between 40 and 50 ng/ml, serum calcium levels above 9.2 mg/dl, and PTH levels below 60 pg/ml, which were confirmed at 6 and 12 weeks. Outcome measures assessed at baseline and 6 months included muscle physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), muscle strength, postural balance, time to perform functional tasks, and muscle fatigue. Repeated measures comparisons between baseline and follow-up were performed. Results Nineteen subjects completed the study. One individual could not afford the time commitment for the repeated measures. Three individuals did not take their vitamin D as recommended. Two subjects were lost to follow-up (lack of interest), and one did not achieve targeted serum 25(OH)D. Vastus lateralis PCSA increased (p = 0.007) and ascent of stair time decreased (p = 0.042) after 6 months of increasing serum 25(OH)D levels from 20–30 ng/ml to 40–50 ng/ml. Isometric strength was unchanged. Anterior-posterior center of pressure (COP) excursion and COP path length decreased (p < 0.1) albeit non-significantly, suggesting balance may improve from increased serum 25(OH)D and calcium citrate levels. Conclusions Several measures of muscle structure and function were sensitive to elevated serum 25(OH)D and calcium levels indicating that further investigation of this phenomenon in post-menopausal women is warranted.

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s11657-020-00875-5

Objectives: Measuring shoulder movements, specifically range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint is an important clinical parameter related to glenohumeral disorders and for functional evaluation of the shoulder before and after treatment, which may include surgery. Currently shoulder ROM measurements are performed in an office setting by the provider or alternatively may be performed by a physical therapist, traditionally with the use of a goniometer. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of a smartphone-based digital ROM tool in assessing active shoulder ROM, compared to traditional goniometry measured by a physical therapist in an office setting. Methods: A prospective, non-blinded study was conducted at a single institution (University of St. Augustine, Austin< TX). Thirty (30) eligible and consenting participants with normal shoulder ROM were recruited. Each participant self-assessed their active shoulder ROM using the smartphone App. A physical therapist concurrently measured each participant’s active shoulder ROM using a hand-held goniometer. This concurrent data collection was designed for greater efficiency and minimal bias. Forward flexion (FF), abduction (AB) external rotation (ER), internal rotation (IR) and extension (EX) were measured. Agreement between the smartphone App and goniometric measurements, as well as intra-rater reliability (precision) was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Limits of Agreement analysis. Each measurement was performed in duplicate to assess precision. Statistical analysis was performed using R (https://www.r-project.org/) Results: Data were analyzed for 60 shoulders (30 right, 30 left) from 30 participants (mean age was 31.4, 92% female.) The inter-rater reliability between the two methods was excellent for all movements, with ICC ranging from 0.9 to 0.96. For all movements except AB, the mean difference in the measurements between PT and App was less than 1.3 degrees, and the difference was within 6 degrees of the mean differences for 80% of the participants. For AB, the mean difference was 2.08, and the difference was within 15 degrees of the mean difference for 80% of the participants. The intra-rater reliability or precision ranged from good to excellent. For all movements except IR, both PT and App showed excellent intra-rater reliability (ICCs > 0.90). For IR, good intra-rater reliability (ICCs >= 0.75) was observed. Conclusions: These data provide evidence that the smartphone App can be a reliable and valid tool for measuring shoulder ROM. Smartphone Apps enable self-assessment of ROM by patients at the convenience of their home and allow for remote monitoring at zero visit cost to the patient.