Baker Cyst

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of arterial embolization using microparticles to reduce persistent pain in patients who have a total knee prosthesis due to gonarthrosis but continue to experience pain despite well-managed medical treatment. The trial includes up to 112 patients aged 40 to 80 years with knee pain lasting at least 3 months that is resistant to conservative treatments. The study compares the pain relief effects of embolization versus a sham procedure. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the treatment group receiving embolization with inert microparticles injected into abnormal blood vessels in the knee via angiography, and the control group undergoing only diagnostic arteriography with injection of saline. The embolization procedure uses microspheres of 100 microns delivered through a microcatheter inserted via the femoral artery. Follow-up visits are scheduled at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure to monitor outcomes. During the study, participants will have their pain assessed using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score 12 (KOOS-12) pain item at baseline and at 3 months, which is the primary outcome measure. Additional evaluations include pain scores, symptoms, knee function, physical activity, quality of life, medication use, adverse effects, and economic impact over a 12-month period. Safety and treatment effects will be closely monitored throughout, with the total duration of participation lasting up to one year.

This research aims to study dynamic asymmetries in the lower limbs of adults with unilateral motor impairments caused by conditions like post-stroke hemiparesis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, unilateral amputation, or orthopedic surgeries. It evaluates how walking on a split-belt treadmill, where each leg moves at a different speed, affects gait patterns and neural control of walking. The study seeks to clarify the potential of this split gait as a rehabilitation tool by investigating spatial and dynamic asymmetries and their effects on body movement. Participants will perform walking tests on a split-belt treadmill with belts moving at different speeds in a specific sequence: a baseline phase with increasing speed, a short habituation phase, an adaptation phase where one leg walks faster than the other for six minutes, and a post-adaptation phase where belt speeds are equal again for six minutes. After one week, participants repeat the protocol with the affected limb on the faster belt. The treadmill is equipped with force sensors, and participants walk freely without support. During the study, researchers will assess ankle joint power, step length, single and double stance times, and center of mass motion through two assessments spaced a week apart. Participants will be informed verbally before belt speed changes. The study involves adults aged 18 to 70 who can walk at least 20 meters unaided and understand instructions. The total participation includes multiple walking sessions and repeated assessments to monitor gait adaptation and symmetry changes.

This research focuses on cystic lesions in the anterior mediastinum, such as thymic cysts, bronchogenic cysts, pericardial cysts, cystic thymoma, and cystic teratoma. The study aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosing these cystic lesions by reviewing cases from 2000 to 2022. It is an observational, multicenter trial led by Maastricht University Medical Center to better understand these conditions and their treatment options. The study does not involve any specific intervention or treatment but collects and analyzes patient data, characteristics, complications, and comorbidities related to anterior mediastinal cysts. The research includes patients who have undergone radiological imaging and have approval for follow-up. Data from these patients will be reviewed to assess diagnostic accuracy and clinical outcomes. Participants will be involved through data collection based on their existing medical records and follow-up approvals. Researchers will evaluate diagnostic success rates and associated patient information over the study period. No additional procedures or treatments are administered as part of the study. The study began in December 2022 and will continue until December 2027, aiming to gather extensive clinical data on these cystic lesions.

Researchers are studying how past sports injuries and sedentary behavior may affect long-term health and physical function in current and former competitive athletes compared to non-athletes. This observational study focuses on adults aged 18 to 64, examining factors like strength, physical activity, diet, and cardiometabolic health to understand how prior knee injuries and inactivity might contribute to poorer health outcomes over time. Participants include young adults aged 18-25 who are current collegiate varsity athletes and midlife adults aged 40-64 who are former athletes with or without prior knee injuries, as well as non-athlete controls. The study compares these groups to assess differences in physical function, sedentary behavior, and health indicators. The research involves annual follow-ups to track changes in activity patterns, strength, and cardiometabolic health. During the study, participants undergo physical function tests such as the 30-Second Chair Stand, 6-Minute Walk, and Stair Climb tests, along with assessments of strength, body composition, step counts, and cardiovascular disease risk. Sedentary behavior and physical activity levels are measured at baseline and during follow-up visits roughly one year later. The study aims to better understand health trajectories in athletes and non-athletes over time, with participation lasting several years.

Researchers are studying the reliability and accuracy of the K-Pull dynamometer, a device designed to measure muscle strength in the lower limbs of children who are developing typically. The study focuses on children aged 5 to 16 years who have voluntary motor control. The goal is to compare the K-Pull's measurements with those from a Cybex isokinetic dynamometer, considered a reference standard. The study involves using the K-Pull dynamometer to assess the isometric strength of the hip and knee muscles by measuring maximum and average torque values during specific joint positions. This device uses traction through a non-elastic strap to help measure muscle contractions. Participants include neurotypical children who meet the age and motor control criteria. Participants will undergo strength assessments using the K-Pull dynamometer, with researchers measuring the average peak torque over approximately five months. The study tracks muscle function in the lower limbs through repeated evaluations. The involvement is observational, focusing on collecting data to understand the device's measurement reliability and validity.

Opioid overuse is a major public health issue in the United States, especially for patients with chronic pain from degenerative spine conditions. This trial investigates whether adding regional analgesic techniques can reduce the need for opioids after minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery. The study focuses on how these methods may lower opioid use and related complications following common lumbar spine procedures. The trial compares two groups: one receiving an erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with bupivacaine, epinephrine, and clonidine before surgery, and a control group receiving a placebo injection of saline using the same technique. ESPB involves ultrasound-guided injection near the spine to provide multi-level pain relief lasting from 4 to 36 hours. The surgeries include minimally invasive decompression and fusion procedures. Participants will be monitored for opioid consumption during their hospital stay and up to 90 days after surgery. Researchers will also assess pain scores, opioid-related complications like urinary retention and delirium, hospital length of stay, and patient-reported pain and function up to six weeks post-operation. The study uses a randomized, placebo-controlled design with detailed follow-up to evaluate the benefits and safety of ESPB in this surgical setting.

Researchers are investigating the voluntary activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle during subjectively maximal isometric and isokinetic concentric contractions in patients with various neurological and orthopedic conditions. The study focuses on how well muscle fibers are recruited during these contractions, especially since activation may be reduced in people with motor impairments such as hemiparesis post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic knee injuries, and knee osteoarthritis. The goal is to better understand muscle activation differences at varying joint rotation speeds in affected patients. Participants will perform isometric contractions at 40° knee flexion and isokinetic concentric contractions at an angular velocity of 100°/s using an isokinetic dynamometer. Voluntary activation will be measured using the interpolated twitch technique (ITT), which involves delivering electrical shocks to the muscle belly during contractions to assess whether all muscle fibers are recruited. The procedure includes three electric shocks during isometric contractions and shocks during continuous passive motion and isokinetic concentric contractions, first on the affected limb and then on the non-affected limb. During the study, participants will undergo testing of muscle activation with electrical stimulation and perform specific knee movements. Researchers will measure voluntary activation levels as the primary outcome on the first day. Participants must be able to understand instructions, perform the motor tasks, and have sufficient knee joint mobility. The study also includes safety monitoring for conditions like epilepsy and other health factors that may affect participation. Total participation duration details are not specified.