Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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This study aimed to assess the analgesic effect of kilohertz alternating current applied to the severed nerves in amputees afflicted by intractable limb pain. ⋯ This pilot study generated preliminary evidence on the efficacy and safety of kilohertz electrical nerve block for postamputation pain, justifying a pivotal study for regulatory approval.
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Although sleep disorder is one of the most serious comorbidities of refractory chronic pain, it is usually assessed only from the patients' subjective point of view. Therefore, we aimed to objectively evaluate the sleep efficiency of patients with chronic pain. ⋯ With the use of an actigraph, improvements in sleep of patients with chronic pain undergoing SCS were demonstrated. One case showing improvement in sleep despite pain palliation may suggest that SCS might have independently affected the sleep system, although further studies are necessary.
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Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump implantation for cerebral palsy (CP) patients is usually performed in the lateral position; however, it might be difficult for some patients with severe deformity to take a lateral position during surgery. ⋯ Our findings suggest that ITB therapy may be useful for CP patients with uncontrollable spasticity, dystonia, or opisthotonus who are not able to take a lateral position for pump implantation due to deformities of their extremities and spine.
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Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is theorized to alter the neural pathways that mediate bladder and urethral sensation. We hypothesize that SNM affects current perception thresholds (CPTs) of afferent sensory nerve pathways. ⋯ With a measurable change in CPT values for Aδ-fibers and Aβ-fibers, these findings suggest that SNM modulates large myelinated afferent fibers in the bladder. Notably, little or no changes were found in the C-fiber CPT measurements. More research is needed with a larger sample size to determine the significance of these findings.
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Models that simulate clinical conditions are needed to gain an understanding of the mechanism involved during spinal cord stimulation (SCS) treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. An animal model has been developed for continuous SCS in which animals that have been injured to develop neuropathic pain behavior were allowed to carry on with regular daily activities while being stimulated for 72 hours. ⋯ A continuous SCS model has been developed. Animals with neuropathic pain behavior that were continuously stimulated showed significant increase in withdrawal thresholds proportional to stimulation time.