Dutch version of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire for Achilles tendinopathy: Reliability, validity and applicability to non-athletes

AIM To translate the Victorian Institute of Sports AssessmentAchilles(VISA-A) questionnaire into the Dutch language(VISA-A-NL), and to assess its reliability, validity, and applicability to non-athletes.METHODS After translation according to a forward-backward protocol, 101 patients with complaints of Achilles tendinopathy were asked to fill out the VISA-A-NL at two time points together with visual analogue scale, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, and the Short Form-36 questionnaires. Reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and content validity were tested.RESULTS The VISA-A-NL showed high reliability(0.97, 95%CI: 0.95-0.98). Cronbach's alpha(internal consistency) was 0.80. It increased to 0.88 without activity domain. Correlation with other questionnaires was moderate or poorer.CONCLUSION The VISA-A-NL proved to be an excellent evaluation instrument for the Dutch physician. If applied to nonathletes, using a modified score(questions 1-6) should be considered.

Can bedside needle arthroscopy of the ankle be an accurate option for intra-articular delivery of injectable agents?

BACKGROUND Bedside needle arthroscopy of the ankle under local anesthesia has been proposed for intra-articular delivery of injectable agents.Accuracy and tolerability of this approach in the clinical setting–including patients with end-stage ankle pathology and/or a history of prior surgery–is not known.AIM To assess clinical accuracy and tolerability of bedside needle arthroscopy as a delivery system for injectable agents into the tibiotalar joint.METHODS This was a prospective study that included adult patients who were scheduled for an injection with hyaluronic acid to the tibiotalar joint.In our center,these injections are used as a last resort prior to extensive surgery.The primary outcome was injection accuracy,which was defined as injecting through the arthroscopic cannula with intra-articular positioning confirmed by a clear arthroscopic view of the joint space.Secondary outcome measures included a patientreported numeric rating scale(NRS,0-10)of pain during the procedure and willingness of patients to return for the same procedure.NRS of ankle pain at rest and during walking was collected at baseline and at 2-wk follow-up.Complications were monitored from inclusion up to a 2-wk control visit.RESULTS We performed 24 inspection-injections.Eleven(46%)participants were male,and mean age was 46.8±14.5 years.Osteoarthritis was the indication for injection in 20(83%)cases,of which 8(33%)patients suffered from osteoarthritis Kellgren-Lawrence grade IV,and 10(42%)patients from Kellgren-Lawrence grade III.An osteochondral defect was the indication for injection in 4(17%)cases.A history of ankle surgery was present in 14(58%)participants and a history of multiple ankle surgeries in 11(46%)participants.It was possible to confirm accuracy in 21(88%)procedures.The 3(12%)participants where needle arthroscopy did not reach a clear view of the joint space all suffered from Kellgren-Lawrence grade IV osteoarthritis.Pain during the procedure was reported with a median of 1[interquartile ranges(IQR):0–2].Willingness to return was 100%.Pain in rest decreased from a median NRS of 4(IQR:2–7)at baseline to a median of 3(IQR:1–5)at follow-up(P<0.01).Pain during walking decreased from a median NRS of 8(IQR:6–9)to a median of 7(IQR:4–8)(P<0.01).Infections or other complications were not encountered.CONCLUSION Clinical accuracy and tolerability of bedside needle arthroscopy of the ankle as a delivery system for injectable agents are excellent.Accuracy was 100%in patients without total ventral joint obliteration.

Kitesurf injury trauma evaluation study:A prospective cohort study evaluating kitesurf injuries

BACKGROUND Kitesurfing is an increasingly popular and potentially dangerous extreme water sport.We hypothesized that kitesurfing has a higher injury rate than other(contact)sports and that the minority of injuries are severe.AIM To investigate the incidence and epidemiology of kitesurfing injuries in a Dutch cohort during a complete kitesurfing season.METHODS Injury data of 194 kitesurfers of various skill levels,riding styles and age were surveyed prospectively during a full kitesurf season.The participants were recruited through the Dutch national kitesurf association,social media,local websites and kitesurf schools.Participants completed digital questionnaires monthly.The amount of time kitesurfing was registered along with all sustained injuries.If an injury was reported,an additional questionnaire explored the type of injury,injury location,severity and the circumstances under which the injury occurred.RESULTS The mean age of participants was 31 years(range,13-59)and the majority of the study population was male(74.2%).A total of 177 injuries were sustained during 16816 kitesurf hours.The calculated injury rate was 10.5 injuries per 1000 h of kitesurfing.The most common injuries were cuts and abrasions(25.4%),followed by contusions(19.8%),joint sprains(17.5%)and muscle sprains(10.2%).The foot and ankle were the most common site of injury(31.8%),followed by the knee(14.1%)and hand and wrist(10.2%).Most injuries were reported to occur during a trick or jump.Although the majority of injuries were mild,severe injuries like an anterior cruciate ligament tear,a lumbar spine fracture,a bimalleolar ankle fracture and an eardrum rupture were reported.CONCLUSION The injury rate of kitesurfing is in the range of other popular(contact)sports.Most injuries are relatively mild,although kitesurfing has the potential to cause serious injuries.