Background: An ankle sprain is a frequent musculoskeletal injury, often leading to chronic instability and an increased risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Kinesio Tape, an elastic adhesive tape, is widely used in rehabilitation for its supposed benefits in reducing pain, controlling edema, and improving ankle function. However, its effectiveness in managing acute ankle sprains remains debated. Methods: This systematic review aims to evaluate the evidence on the impact of Kinesio Taping on pain reduction, edema control, and return to sport in patients with acute ankle sprains. A systematic review was conducted in line with the PRISMA guidelines. The literature from PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library was searched for studies published from 2004 to 2024. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 247 patients with acute ankle sprains. Data on patient demographics, follow-up duration, Kinesio Taping protocols, and clinical outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Results: The review revealed mixed findings. Some studies reported short-term pain relief and reduced need for analgesics in the Kinesio Taping group, especially when combined with manual therapy. However, no significant differences were found in the edema control compared to bracing or casting. Functional recovery, as assessed by scales like the Karlsson scoring scale, showed no clear advantage for Kinesio Taping over other treatments. Conclusions: Kinesio Taping provides limited benefits for ankle sprain management, particularly in terms of long-term functional recovery and edema reduction. While it may offer short-term pain relief, it should be considered as an adjunctive treatment rather than a primary intervention.

Background: Euthyroid Sick Syndrome (ESS) is a clinical condition characterized by reduced free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels in response to acute or chronic stress. Proximal femur fractures in geriatric patients are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and ESS may influence outcomes in this population. This study aimed to investigate the role of ESS as a predictor of complications in elderly patients with hip fractures, analyzing its association with inflammatory and nutritional markers, including the Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet (HALP) score. Materials and Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of patients aged 65 and older who were admitted with proximal femur fractures requiring surgical intervention. Thyroid hormone profiles, inflammatory markers and other clinical variables were analyzed preoperatively (T0) and on the first (T1) and third (T2) postoperative days. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of complications and transfusion requirements. Results: The study included 103 patients (72 men, 31 women; mean age 85 ± 6.27 years). ESS was present in 30 patients (29%) and was associated with longer surgery duration (83.9 ± 35.5 vs. 68.9 ± 21.3 min; p = 0.042). At admission (T0), ESS patients had lower FT3 (1.91 ± 0.25 vs. 2.75 ± 0.28 pmol/L; p < 0.001) and higher TSH (1.55 ± 0.75 vs. 1.20 ± 0.80 mIU/L; p = 0.057). Postoperatively, MLR was significantly altered at T1 (p = 0.026) and T2 (p = 0.040). ESS was a significant predictor of complications at T0 but lost significance postoperatively, while MLR emerged as a key predictor at T2 (p = 0.003). Logistic regression confirmed MLR at T2 as an independent predictor of complications. Hemoglobin levels at T0 (p < 0.001), T1 (p < 0.001), and T2 (p < 0.001), along with albumin at T1 (2.67 ± 0.34 vs. 2.94 ± 0.33 g/dL; p = 0.001) and calcium at T1 (p = 0.006), were significant predictors of transfusion requirements. Nutritional and inflammatory scores were not predictive. Conclusions: ESS is a significant initial predictor of complications in geriatric patients with hip fractures, but inflammatory markers such as MLR assume greater relevance in the postoperative period. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring ESS and MLR to enhance risk stratification and guide personalized management strategies.