Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is characterised by pain in the heel, which is aggravated on weight bearing after prolonged rest. Many modalities of treatment are commonly used in the management of plantar fasciitis including steroid injection. Many studies show that steroid injection provides pain relief in the short term but not long lasting. Recent reports show autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection promotes healing, resulting in better pain relief in the short as well as long term. The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of local injection of platelet-rich plasma and Corticosteroid in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. Materials and methods: Patients with the clinical diagnosis of chronic plantar fasciitis (heel pain of more than six weeks) after failed conservative treatment and plantar fascia thickness more than 4mm were included in the study. Patients with previous surgery for plantar fasciitis, active bilateral plantar fasciitis, vascular insufficiency or neuropathy related to heel pain, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. In this prospective double-blind study, 60 patients who fulfilled the criteria were divided randomly into two groups. Patients in Group A received PRP injection and those in Group B received steroid injection. Patients were assessed with visual analog scale (VAS) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Assessment was done before injection, at six weeks, three months and six months follow-up after injection. Plantar fascia thickness was assessed before the intervention and six months after treatment using sonography. Results: Mean VAS in Group A decreased from 7.14 before injection to 1.41 after injection and in Group B decreased from 7.21 before injection to 1.93 after injection, at final follow-up. Mean AOFAS score in Group A improved from 54 to 90.03 and in Group B from 55.63 to 74.67 at six months' follow-up. The improvements observed in VAS and AOFAS were statistically significant. At the end of six months' follow-up, plantar fascia thickness had reduced in both groups (5.78mm to 3.35mm in Group A and 5.6 to 3.75 in Group B) and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Local injection of platelet-rich plasma is an effective treatment option for chronic plantar fasciitis when compared with steroid injection with long lasting beneficial effect.
Nursemaid’s elbow is a radial head subluxation caused by axial traction on the extended arm while
the forearm is pronated, allowing for slippage of the radial head. A 2-year-old boy presented with
pain, swelling and reduced range of movement of the right elbow for 4 days. The mother noted that
the child was moving the right upper limb less often and there was tenderness over the right elbow.
X-ray of the right elbow showed subluxation of the elbow joint with no obvious fracture. A trial of
conservative management was decided upon and the patient was placed on a right elbow backslab
with the right forearm in a supine position. On follow-up, there was no swelling, tenderness or
neurological deficit noted. A repeate x-ray revealed normal findings.
45,X/46,XY mosaicism is a rare disorder with a wide heterogeneity in its manifestations. An 18-year-old girl was referred to the endocrine clinic for investigation of her primary amenorrhea. Clinical examination was unremarkable. Hormonal profile was consistent with primary ovarian insufficiency and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation did not show evidence of active testicular tissue. Karyotyping studies by G-banding revealed a 45,X/46,XY karyotype. She was diagnosed with mosaic Turner syndrome with Y chromosomal material and investigation was performed to identify the presence of male gonads due to the risk of gonadal malignancy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis did not show evidence of gonads. Laparoscopic exploration was proposed but the patient and parents refused opting for conservative management. This case highlights the challenges in the management of this rare condition.
Vascular air embolism (VAE) is a known complication of contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scan occurring in venous or arterial circulation with a wide spectrum of presentations. We report a case of a 44-year-old woman with endometrial adenocarcinoma stage IVB complicated with liver abscess and pulmonary embolism who developed VAE following a routine CECT scan after the sixth cycle of chemotherapy. This was an incidental finding and the patient remained asymptomatic throughout. As such, she was treated conservatively and gradually recovered. This case report serves as a reminder that VAE should be considered in patients presenting with unexplained symptoms following this procedure.
Management bundles that define items or procedures strongly recommended in clinical practice have been used in many guidelines in recent years. Application of these bundles facilitates the adaptation of guidelines and helps improve the prognosis of target diseases. In Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13), we proposed management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Here, in Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18), we redefine the management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Critical parts of the bundles in TG18 include the diagnostic process, severity assessment, transfer of patients if necessary, and therapeutic approach at each time point. Observance of these items and procedures should improve the prognosis of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Studies are now needed to evaluate the dissemination of these TG18 bundles and their effectiveness. Free full articles and mobile app of TG18 are available at: http://www.jshbps.jp/modules/en/index.php?content_id=47. Related clinical questions and references are also included.
Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been a proven and effective immunotherapy treatment for superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder, especially for high-grade tumors and carcinoma in situ. Nevertheless, significant side effects are associated with BCG instillations, including fever, myalgia, malaise, dysuria, hematuria, and irritable lower urinary tract symptoms. We herein report the case of a patient who developed Reiter's syndrome following intravesical BCG instillations. A 39-year-old Chinese man presented with a 3-week history of dysuria, suprapubic pain, and pain at the tip of the penis postmicturition. Initial investigations revealed that he had microhematuria, and an ultrasound with computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a bladder mass. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed and the patient received a single dose of intravesical mitomycin postoperatively. Results of histopathological examination revealed high-grade bladder TCC (G3pT1), and the patient was managed with intravesical BCG for 2 weeks following the surgery. Four weekly cycles of BCG were administered uneventfully; however, before the fifth instillation, the patient complained of urethral discharge, bilateral conjunctivitis, and low back pain. Reiter's syndrome was diagnosed as a rare but known complication of BCG instillation and the BCG immunotherapy was withheld. The patient was treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (for back pain) and eye ointment (for conjunctivitis) and his condition improved. This case report of Reiter's syndrome should be highlighted as a rare but significant complication of BCG immunotherapy and urologists should have a high index of suspicion to diagnose this rare complication.