Acute lateral ankle sprain accounts for 85% of sprains. The lateral sprain is associated with other ligament injuries e.g. medial and syndesmosis sprain. Long-term, approximately 20% of acute lateral sprains develop into chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) which includes persistent pain, and recurring ankle sprains. This study evaluated the grade of an ankle ligament injury by ultrasonography (US) and compared the findings to the outcome of patient-reported questionnaires. 48 subjects (18–40 years) diagnosed with an ankle sprain attended a clinical and US examination of ankle ligaments within two weeks after the sprain. Evaluation was done by US of acute lateral ligament injuries (ATFL, CFL), syndesmosis injury (AiTFL), and medial injury (dPT, TCt) only in participants with the positive clinical signs of medial injury. Participants were then mailed a questionnaire (PROMQ) every third month for a year. 29 women and 19 men participated with a mean age at 26.50 years. One-year follow-ups need to be analyzed further for final results. Temporary results include data based on the initial 26 patients: Two clinical signs statistically correlated. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed the results. Positive palpated tenderness AiTFL predicted with partial ruptured ATFL and reported pain during active plantar flexion of ankle predicted with normal CFL confirmed by the US. Patients with partial rupture of ATFL presented with tenderness at AiTFL point. Patients presenting with intact CFL reported pain during active plantar flexion. Compared to the US findings, the overall examinations were inconclusive in predicting ATFL, CFL, AiTFL, and medial ligament injuries.

Identification of modalities and procedures to improve the differential diagnosis of septic and aseptic cases in patients with joint-related pain after total hip or knee alloplasty (THA/TKA).

A prospective cohort of 147 patients presenting with problems related to previous THA or TKA was included and subjected to a comprehensive diagnostic algorithm. The standard diagnostics were supplemented with novel or improved methods for sampling of clinical specimens, sonication of retrieved implant parts, prolonged and effective culture of microorganisms, and dedicated clinical samples for molecular biological detection and identification of microorganisms. Furthermore, comprehensive pain investigations and nuclear imaging were employed. For each case the clinical management was decided upon in a clinical conference with participation of clinical microbiologist, orthopedics and experts in nuclear imaging. The clinical management of patients was blinded against the molecular biological detection of microorganisms.

Patients grouped as follows: 69 aseptic, 19 acute septic, 19 chronic septic, 40 pain/unresolved. Sonication of retrieved implant parts resulted in detection of biofilm not detected by standard specimens, i.e. joint fluid and periprosthetic tissue biopsies. Next generation sequencing detected and identified few infections not detected by culture. Molecular analyses showed more polymicrobial infections than culture. Nuclear imaging was inconclusive with respect to recommendation of changed setup. Analysis of blood based biomarkers is ongoing. Patients with chronic pain are undergoing follow-up.

The special emphasis put on detection of infections resulted in detection of infections in joints that otherwise would have been categorized as aseptic loosening. Clinical management for these cases was changed accordingly. The cross-disciplinary clinical conference is considered valuable for clinical management. The clinical relevance of the polymicrobial nature of infections as diagnosed employing next generation sequencing is yet to be established. Long-term follow-up is planned.

Trauma and orthopaedics is the largest of the surgical specialties and yet attracts a disproportionately small fraction of available national and international funding for health research. With the burden of musculoskeletal disease increasing, high-quality research is required to improve the evidence base for orthopaedic practice. Using the current research landscape in the United Kingdom as an example, but also addressing the international perspective, we highlight the issues surrounding poor levels of research funding in trauma and orthopaedics and indicate avenues for improving the impact and success of surgical musculoskeletal research.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:1578–85.

Introduction

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the quadriceps is frequent in runners finishing a marathon race, and may result in several days of discomfort and pain. There is an increasing clinical evidence that noninvasive, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) can have physiological effect on inflammation and tissue repair. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of PEMF on quadriceps muscle soreness in marathon runners and to use the data to calculate an appropriate sample size for a subsequent study.