The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine Vol 28 No 6

June 08, 2011

Joint aspiration may be used for diagnosis or for relieving pressure, and joint injection may be used for treatment. Physicians can easily become proficient in aspiration and injection techniques. Indications for aspiration include both acute and chronic arthritis; there are few absolute contraindications. Intra-articular injections of medication usually are an adjunct to other treatment modalities.

June 07, 2011

NSAIDs are among the most frequently used and prescribed medications in the management of musculoskeletal pain and injury. Many physicians consider them to be the medication of choice. However, a number of studies have questioned the value of NSAIDs in the healing process of bone, muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries

June 05, 2011

Misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) occurs frequently in the clinic. In our case report, a 27-year-old woman with recurring neck pain and stiffness had received a diagnosis of cervical spondylosis, but later a definitive diagnosis of FMS was made. Misdiagnosis of FMS has occurred with various other diseases.

June 05, 2011

A 23-year-old woman who reported experiencing direct trauma to her right knee on a hard surface 3 months earlier was admitted to the arthroscopy unit with complaints of decreased range of motion (flexion, 90°; extension, 75°) and intractable pain.

June 04, 2011

Close to 70% of women who responded thought that the disease can be prevented, but only 50% recognized exercise as a method of osteoporosis prevention.

June 03, 2011

The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for US adults who have arthritis is much worse than for those who do not, according to a recent study. Both physical and mental health are affected, posing a significant health and economic burden as the number of diagnoses continues to increase.

June 02, 2011

A combination of weight loss and exercise provides greater benefit than either intervention alone.

June 02, 2011

Fracture risk in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) undergoing a total hip replacement (THR) procedure increases by 25% at 2.5 to 5 years postsurgery. Bisphosphonate use reduces fracture risk in patients in whom there was no fracture before surgery and in those who had a previous osteoporotic fracture and received the treatment in secondary prevention.

June 01, 2011

A new treatment for a disabling hand condition-Dupuytren disease, or Dupuytren contracture-can restore a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks, according to Hands: Strategies for Strong, Pain-Free Hands, a new edition of the Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. The report describes the causes of and treatments for a variety of conditions that can cause hand pain and features information on hand exercises.

June 01, 2011

The presence of isolated synovial thickening in B-mode ultrasonography (US) or isolated bone erosion in US is not sufficient to confirm the diagnosis of early inflammatory arthritis. However, the presence of more than 1 case of joint synovitis or bone erosion is a strong argument for the diagnosis.

June 01, 2011

Disability worsens over time in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Diffuse disease and severity of breathing problems are the strongest determinants of disability; others include joint pain and contractures, fatigue, and depression

June 01, 2011

Among patients receiving prescriptions for opioid analgesics for pain, higher doses are associated with an increased risk of overdose death. However, the increased risk of opioid overdose is not statistically significant in patients who are treated with as-needed and regularly scheduled opioids simultaneously.