Background: The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to investigate the intrarater reliability of acromiohumeral distance measurement; (ii) to assess the level of association between acromiohumeral distance measured by ultrasonography, and the degree of supraspinatus tendon tear, in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain. Methods: A cross-sectional, case-control study was carried out. A convenience sample comprising 59 patients with a unilateral supraspinatus tendon tear was assessed. Both shoulders of each patient were scanned by ultrasound, with the contralateral asymptomatic shoulders serving as the control group for comparison. Acromiohumeral distances of each shoulder were measured and analysed. Results: Intrarater reliability was excellent for the ultrasound method of acromiohumeral distance measurement. The acromiohumeral distance of shoulders with full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear was significantly smaller than that of joints with partial-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear and an intact supraspinatus tendon. There was a significant positive correlation between reduced acromiohumeral distance and the severity of a supraspinatus tendon tear. Conclusions: Ultrasound is a reliable tool to measure acromiohumeral distance. A positive relationship was found between a narrowed acromiohumeral distance and the severity grading of a supraspinatus tendon tear. Reduced acromiohumeral distance can be considered a predictive parameter for a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear. Trial registration: The study was prospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17013550. Date of registry: 26 November 2017.

The aim of this study was to investigate the preparation method and effect of artificial pelvic fluid during the sclerotherapy of ovarian endometrioma cysts guided by ultrasound through an abdominal wall puncture. Under the guidance of ultrasound, a total of 70 cases of artificial pelvic isolation fluid were isolated during the sclerosis of ovarian endometrioma cysts through an abdominal wall puncture. The success rate, time required, intraoperative pain incidence, vagal reflex incidence, related complications, and efficacy of artificial pelvic isolation fluid were summarized and analyzed. The results showed that the success rate of artificial pelvic isolation fluid was 100%, the average time of surgery was 9.1±1.3 min, the incidence of intraoperative pain was 5.71% (4/70), and the incidence of vagal reflex was 2.86% (2/70). No complications, such as bleeding, intestinal perforation, or infection, occurred. After 12 months of follow-up, the cure rate was 97.14% (68/70) and the effective rate was 100% (70/70). We were first to use artificial pelvic isolation fluid technology to solve the problems of unclear cyst display, lack of safe puncture path, and severe pain during or after surgery in patients, and to exhibit a high level of intraoperative comfort for patients with a safe and effective clinical treatment.

BACKGROUND:Lumbodorsal fasciitis (LF) is a condition in which muscle and fascial lesions cause low back pain (LBP) and limited mobility. This retrospective study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided fascial hydrodissection combined with eperisone for treating LF. MATERIAL AND METHODS:A total of 103 patients with LF were selected and divided into a combined therapy (CT) group (ultrasound-guided fascial hydrodissection and oral drugs of eperisone) and single medication (SM) group (oral drugs of celecoxib and eperisone). Outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) at baseline and at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment. The adverse reactions and complications of the 2 groups were recorded. RESULTS:There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the 2 groups (P>0.05). After treatment, all scores showed a statistically significant improvement at 2 weeks and 1 month (P<0.05). The VAS and ODI scores showed a significant effect by time and group (P<0.001). The results also showed significant group-by-time interactions (P<0.001). Patients in the CT group had lower scores at any follow-up time (P<0.05). At 3 months, the scores slightly increased. There were no adverse reactions or complications in the CT group; however, the SM group had 4 cases of gastrointestinal reactions. CONCLUSIONS:Ultrasound-guided fascial hydrodissection combined with eperisone therapy can effectively relieve LBP and improve lumbar function in treating LF. Moreover, this procedure is considered safe.

At present, there is a dearth of objective methodologies for assessing the effectiveness of treatments for Lateral Epicondylitis (LE). This study examined 73 patients suffering from tennis elbow using a multimodal ultrasound approach and investigated the correlation between pertinent indicators and clinical scores. 73 patients diagnosed with unilateral tennis elbow by interventional ultrasound at Zhejiang Rongjun Hospital were included in the study. Ultrasound data of the extensor tendon, as well as VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and MEPS (Mayo Elbow Performance Score) for the affected elbow, were collected before and after a two-week treatment period. The study aimed to compare the alterations in gray-scale ultrasound features, hemodynamic parameters, and elastography scores pre- and post-treatment, and to analyze the correlation between the changes in ultrasound parameters and pain scores. Following treatment, the effective group exhibited a reduction in both the blood flow grade and elastic score of the extensor tendon. Additionally, the extensor tendon thickness in the effective group diminished to a greater extent than in the ineffective group. The effective group also experienced a higher rate of decrease in blood flow grade and a more pronounced increase in Resistive Index (RI) compared to the ineffective group. The reduction in tendon thickness, the increase in RI, and the improvement in elastic score were all positively correlated with the reduction in VAS scores. Notably, the increase in RI demonstrated the strongest correlation with the decrease in VAS scores. Multimodal ultrasound plays a significant role in the clinical assessment of treatment outcomes for Lateral Epicondylitis.