UNASSIGNED: Worldwide many countries provide direct access in physiotherapy. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize the available evidence on the quality of primary care musculoskeletal physiotherapy from different perspectives.
UNASSIGNED: Systematic searches were conducted in three databases up to September 2022. Studies were included when regarding assessment of at least one of the following perspectives: patient (quality of Life, patient satisfaction, pain, functioning, adverse events), provider (treatment compliance, responsibility, liability, status, prestige, job satisfaction), and society (number of referrals, amount of medical imaging, medication use, number of sessions needed for rehabilitation, and overall costs and cost-effectiveness). Selection and methodological quality assessment of systematic reviews were performed. Data extraction and analysis were performed separately for systematic reviews and individual primary studies.
UNASSIGNED: Five systematic reviews as well as 17 primary studies were included. From a patient perspective, no significant effect of direct access was found for pain and a tendency in favour of direct access was found for quality of life, functioning, and well-being. Concerning providers, higher treatment compliance was found in direct access to physiotherapy and decision-making was more accurate. From a societal perspective, significant differences in favour of direct access physiotherapy were found for waiting time, prescribed medication, and medical imaging. In addition, there was a tendency towards lower health care costs.
UNASSIGNED: Emerging evidence suggests that direct access physiotherapy could provide at least equal quality of care for patients and better opportunities for providers and the society on selected outcomes.

Background. Direct access in physiotherapy (DAPT) occurs when a patient has the ability to self-refer to physical therapy without physician referral. This model of care in musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) has shown better outcomes than the traditional-based medical model of care that requires physician referral to access physiotherapist services. This traditional physician referral often results in a delay in care. Unfortunately, DAPT is still not permitted in many countries. Objectives. The primary objective of this systematic review was to compare the effectiveness, safety, and the accuracy of DAPT compared to the physician-led model of care for the management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The secondary objective of the present study is to define the physiotherapists\' characteristics or qualifications involved in DAPT. Materials and methods. Databases searched included: Medline, Scopus and Web of Science. Databases were searched from their inception to July 2022. Research strings were developed according to the PICO model of clinical questions (patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome). Free terms or synonyms (e.g., physical therapy; primary health care; direct access; musculoskeletal disease; cost-effectiveness) and when possible MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms were used and combined with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). Risk of bias assessment was carried out through Version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROB-2) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies. Authors conducted a qualitative analysis of the results through narrative analysis and narrative synthesis. The narrative analysis was provided for an extraction of the key concepts and common meanings of the different studies, while the summary narrative provided a textual combination of data. In addition, a quantitative analysis was conducted comparing the analysis of the mean and differences between the means. Results. Twenty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Results show that DAPT had a high referral accuracy and a reduction in the rate of return visits. The medical model had a higher use of imaging, drugs, and referral to another specialist. DAPT was found to be more cost-effective than the medical model. DAPT resulted in better work-related outcomes and was superior when considering patient satisfaction. There were no adverse events noted in any of the studies. In regard to health outcomes, there was no difference between models. ROB-2 shows an intermediate risk of bias risk for the RCTs with an average of 6/9 points for the NOS scale for observational studies. Conclusion. DAPT is a safe, less expensive, reliable triage and management model of care that results in higher levels of satisfaction for patients compared to the traditional medical model. Prospero Registration Number: CRD42022349261.

Neck pain (NP) is the second most common musculoskeletal disorder. Spinal cysts (SCs) are cystic dilatations of the synovial sheaths in joints and tendons. SCs are extremely rare in the cervical spine. Typically, patients are unaware of having an SC due to its asymptomatic nature; however, when cervical SC extends, its volume could compress the surrounding structures, such as the hypoglossal nerve. Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy (HNP) is very rare and typically presents with unilateral atrophy of the musculature of the tongue and contralateral tongue deviation. Often, patients with HNP also report occipital/neck pain. A 75-year-old man with occipital/neck pain as a primary complaint. Although difficult to observe because of the filtering facepiece two mask, difficulties in articulation and sialorrhea during the interview were noticed. These latter were cues to consider CN examination that revealed CN XII palsy. This prompted a referral for further examination that revealed an SC compressing the right hypoglossal canal. The patient was not considered a surgical candidate and was managed conservatively. This case report outlines the relevant findings relating to the triage of a rare isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy from the physiotherapist\'s perspective within a complex setting because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although referred with a diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy, our case highlights that skilled physiotherapists may play a fundamental role in both the recognition and, when applicable, subsequent novel management of a non-musculoskeletal presentation.

The aim of this research was to examine the scope of evidence for the influence of a nonmedical initial provider on health care utilization and outcomes in people with low back pain (LBP).
Using scoping review methodology, we conducted an electronic search of 4 databases from inception to June 2021. Studies investigating the management of patients with a new onset of LBP by a nonmedical initial health care provider were identified. Pairs of reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and eligible full-text studies. We extracted health care utilization and patient outcomes and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Two reviewers descriptively analyzed the data and categorized findings by outcome measure.
A total of 26,462 citations were screened, and 11 studies were eligible. Studies were primarily retrospective cohort designs using claims-based data. Four studies had a low risk of bias. Five health care outcomes were identified: medication, imaging, care seeking, cost of care, and health care procedures. Patient outcomes included patient satisfaction and functional recovery. Compared with patients initiating care with medical providers, those initiating care with a nonmedical provider showed associations with reduced opioid prescribing and imaging ordering rates but increased rates of care seeking. Results for cost of care, health care procedures, and patient outcomes were inconsistent.
Prioritizing nonmedical providers at the first point of care may decrease the use of low-value care, such as opioid prescribing and imaging referral, but may lead to an increased number of health care visits in the care of people with LBP. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm our findings.
This scoping review provides preliminary evidence that nonmedical practitioners, as initial providers, may help reduce opioid prescription and selective imaging in people with LBP. The trend observed in this scoping review has important implications for pathways of care and the role of nonmedical providers, such as physical therapists, within primary health care systems.
This scoping review provides preliminary evidence that nonmedical practitioners, as initial providers, might help reduce opioid prescription and selective imaging in people with LBP. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Haglund\'s syndrome (HS) is a painful condition that is caused by an exostosis of the posterior superior part of the calcaneus coupled with Achilles tendinopathy and retrocalcaneal bursitis. Both for the proper musculoskeletal assessment and for the differential diagnosis process of possible concurrent diseases deriving from other anatomical areas, the diagnosis of HS is still a challenge. Case Presentation: A 41-year-old male amateur runner was diagnosed and treated for low back pain and referred leg pain by his general practitioner. Due to ineffective results, he self-presented to a physical therapist (PT) with intense right heel pain, radiating up to the leg and to the lumbopelvic region. Results: The PT\'s examination and interview relating to the sports activities led to the correct diagnosis and a proper orthopedic referral. At the one-year follow-up, the patient reported regular pain-free marathon running. Discussion: This case report highlights the central role of PTs working in direct access environments as primary care healthcare professionals for the management of musculoskeletal diseases, and their abilities in identifying patients with suspected pathologic conditions that may need referral for imaging, medical assessment or surgical intervention.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of direct-access physiotherapy on patients presenting with a musculoskeletal disorder (MSKD) to the emergency department (ED) on clinical outcomes and use of health care resources.
We conducted a randomized controlled trial in an academic ED in Québec City, Canada. We included patients aged 18 to 80 years with minor MSKD. The intervention group had direct access to a physiotherapist (PT) in the ED immediately after triage and prior to physician assessment, and the control group received usual care by the emergency physician without PT intervention. The key variables included clinical outcomes (pain, interference of pain on function) and resources use (ED return visit, medications, diagnostic tests, additional consultations). They were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared between groups using two-way analyses of variance, log-linear analysis, and chi-square tests.
Seventy-eight patients suffering from MSKDs were included (40.2 ± 17.6 years old; 44% women). For the primary clinical outcome, participants in the PT group (n = 40) had statistically lower levels of pain and pain interference at 1 and 3 months. In terms of resource use, participants in the PT group returned significantly less often to the ED. At baseline and 1 month, less prescription medication was used, including opioids, but there were no differences at 3 months. Although over-the-counter medication was recommended more at baseline in the PT group, there were no differences in use at 1 month, and the PT group had used them less at 3 months. There were no differences between groups at follow-up for imaging tests, other professionals consulted, and hospitalization rates.
Patients presenting with a MSKD to the ED with direct access to a PT had better clinical outcomes and used less services and resources than those in the usual care group after ED discharge and up to 3 months after discharge.

To evaluate the cost, accessibility and patient satisfaction implications of two clinical pathways used in the management of chronic headache.
Management of chronic headache following referral from Primary Care that differed in the first appointment, either a Neurology appointment or an MRI brain scan.
A pragmatic, non-randomised, prospective, single-centre study at a Central Hospital in London.
Adult patients with chronic headache referred from primary to secondary care.
Participants\' use of healthcare services and costs were estimated using primary and secondary care databases and questionnaires quarterly up to 12 months postrecruitment. Cost analyses were compared using generalised linear models. Secondary outcomes assessed: access to care, patient satisfaction, headache burden and self-perceived quality of life using headache-specific (Migraine Disability Assessment Scale and Headache Impact Test) and a generic questionnaire (5-level EQ-5D).
Mean (SD) cost up to 6 months postrecruitment per participant was £578 (£420) for the Neurology group (n=128) and £245 (£172) for the MRI group (n=95), leading to an estimated mean cost difference of £333 (95% CI £253 to £413, p<0.001). The mean cost difference at 12 months increased to £518 (95% CI £401 to £637, p<0.001). When adjusted for baseline and follow-up imbalances between groups, this remained statistically significant. The utilisation of brain MRI improved access to care compared with the Neurology group (p<0.001). Participants in the Neurology group reported higher levels of satisfaction associated with the pathway and led to greater change in care management.
Direct referral to brain MRI from Primary Care led to cost-savings and quicker access to care but lower satisfaction levels when compared with referral to Neurology services. Further research into the use of brain MRI for a subset of patient population more likely to be reassured by a negative brain scan should be considered.
NCT02753933.

To determine patient characteristics, frequency of use, type of symptoms and treatment outcomes in patients with knee or ankle symptoms, separately, for patients referred by their general practitioner (GP) and patients who self-referred.
Longitudinal study.
Dutch primary care physical therapy practices.
All patients who visited a physiotherapist with knee or ankle symptoms between 2006 and 2012.
Data were collected from the NIVEL Primary Care Database. The mode of access (self-referred or GP-referred) was determined for all patients. For analyses, descriptive statistics, unpaired t-tests, Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were applied.
The study included 6179 patients with knee or ankle symptoms. The use of self-referral increased from 26% in 2006 to 56% in 2012, and stabilised between 2010 and 2012. Self-referred patients were younger, had a higher education level and had a shorter duration of symptoms compared with GP-referred patients. Self-referred patients had fewer treatment sessions than GP-referred patients.
Among patients with knee or ankle symptoms, younger patients, and those with a higher education level, a shorter duration of symptoms and recurrent symptoms were more likely to self-refer than other patients. Self-referred patients had fewer treatment sessions. After 2009, the frequency of self-referrals to physical therapists stabilised. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of physical therapy for patients who self-refer with acute knee and ankle symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Medical evidence largely supports PTs in expanded roles, however, healthcare policy within the United States (USA) typically restricts PTs from ordering musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging. It is unknown how MSK imaging policy in the USA compares to other World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) member nations. The primary objective of our study was to investigate the authority of PTs to order MSK imaging. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with the authority for PTs to order MSK imaging.
METHODS: 111 WCPT member nations were surveyed over a 2-month period on the authority of PTs ordering MSK imaging within their nation. A secondary analysis utilizing a step-wise binary regression compared member nation demographic statistics to MSK imaging authority.
RESULTS: 81 member nations responded to the survey. 31 (38.3%) of member nations reported having some level of PT MSK imaging authority while 50 (61.7%) did not. Member nations with lower per capita healthcare costs were significantly more likely to allow PTs to order MSK imaging (p = 0.02). Those with direct access authority were 7.4 times more likely to authorize PTs to order MSK imaging (p < 0.01). Entry-level clinical degree and years of entry-level collegiate credit were not associated with imaging authority.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report MSK imaging policy within the WCPT member nations. While many nations within the WCPT allow PTs to order MSK imaging, the majority of nations still restrict PTs from such practice. Lower per capita healthcare costs and direct access authority were significant predictors of MSK imaging authority, however, causation cannot be established within the confines of this study. Future studies should consider issues such as restrictive policy origin (i.e. governmental vs. institutional), insurance reimbursement (i.e. private vs. public sector policy), and limitations on imaging modality.

Endoscopic surgery for infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy has been widely accepted. Two major approaches, \"transperitoneal\" and \"extraperitoneal\", are generally used; however, they have several disadvantages. A \"transperitoneal\" approach to the left para-aortic region is usually indirect, often performed after wide extension of the right para-aortic region. An \"extraperitoneal\" approach is unsuitable when a peritoneal tear exists after a prior surgical procedure such as hysterectomy. Here, we propose a modified transperitoneal technique, \"Left dome formation (LDF),\" which directly provides a surgical field for left infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy even after hysterectomy.
The LDF procedure comprised three processes: (1) setting, (2) dissection of inframesenteric lymph nodes (step 1), and (3) dissection of infrarenal lymph nodes (step 2).
two trocars were added 4 cm bilateral to the low-mid abdominal trocar that was used in prior hysterectomy. Step 1: The posterior layer of the renal fascia along with the left ureter and left ovarian vessel were separated from the left common iliac artery and iliopsoas. Left inframesentric nodes were removed from the surgical field. Step 2: The left ureter was isolated from the posterior renal fascia, and the dome was expanded cranially to the left renal vein, with the ovarian vein always visualizable at the dome ceiling. Left infrarenal nodes were removed.
We applied LDF to ten endometrial cancer patients, recommended for additional dissection of para-aortic nodes based on intraoperative evaluation using the laparoscopically removed uterus. The operative time and number of removed lymph nodes in Step 1 and Step 2 were 28.8 (20-49) min and 5.3 (2-10) and 54.6 (52-70) min and 6.5 (1-11), respectively. Blood loss was below 50 ml. No serious organ injury occurred during procedures.
Since the left ureter is always observable, LDF procedure facilitates effective surgery to overcome the anatomical complexity of the left para-aortic region and is potentially useful for sentinel node sampling.