Soft tissue injury

Soft tissue injury (STI) is damage of the soft tissue of the body. These types of injuries are a major source of pain and disability. The four fundamental tissues that are affected are the epithelial, muscular, nervous and connective tissues.

Soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, subluxation, repetitive stress injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.

The standard approach to managing soft tissue injuries is to obtain a good medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. X-ray investigation can be used to assess the possibility of fracture or dislocation.

Nerve conduction studies may also be used to localize nerve dysfunction (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), assess severity, and help with prognosis. Electrodiagnosis also helps differentiate between myopathy and neuropathy.

Ultimately, the best method of imaging soft tissue is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), though it is cost-prohibitive and carries a high false positive rate.

Management

Management of soft tissue injuries consists of protecting the injured tissue; resting for four weeks, putting it in a braces, or taping it; ice; compression; and elevation and referral. An easy mnemonic for remembering these steps is RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation - see cold compression therapy. Use of a cold compression wrap combines ice and compression.

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