The Ochsner journal
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The Ochsner journal · Jan 2014
ReviewAvailability and utilization of opioids for pain management: global issues.
Pain can significantly influence an individual's health status and can have serious negative consequences: poor nutrition, decreased appetite, abnormal sleep patterns, fatigue, and impairment of daily living activities. Pain can cause psychological impairment and decrease healing and recovery from injuries and illness. A hallmark of many chronic conditions, pain affects more patients' lives than diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and cancer combined. However, many chronic sufferers do not have access to effective pain management for a variety of reasons, including limited access, restrictions, and personal and cultural biases. ⋯ Comprehensive guidelines for goal-directed and patient-friendly chronic opiate therapy will potentially enhance the outlook for future chronic pain management. The improvement of pain education in undergraduate and postgraduate training will benefit patients and clinicians. The promise of new medications, along with the utilization of multimodal approaches, has the potential to provide effective pain relief to future generations of sufferers.
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The Ochsner journal · Jan 2014
Interlaminar epidural steroid injection for degenerative lumbar spinal canal stenosis: does the intervertebral level of performance matter?
Interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ILESIs) are commonly employed in the management of patients with symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal canal stenosis despite little experimental evidence to guide technique optimization. One untested performance parameter is the intervertebral level at which the ILESI should be performed for maximum patient relief. ⋯ Results suggest that patient symptom improvement is optimized when the ILESI is performed at the intervertebral level of maximal stenosis.
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The Ochsner journal · Jan 2014
Lateral lumbar interbody fusion for the correction of spondylolisthesis and adult degenerative scoliosis in high-risk patients: early radiographic results and complications.
Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is not associated with many of the complications seen in other interbody fusion techniques. This study used computed tomography (CT) scans, the radiographic gold standard, to assess interbody fusion rates achieved utilizing the LLIF technique in high-risk patients. ⋯ Several studies have evaluated LLIF fusion and reported fusion rates between 88%-96%. Our results demonstrate high fusion rates using this technique, despite multiple comorbidities in the patient population. Spanning the ring apophysis with large LLIF cages along with supplemental posterior pedicle screw augmentation can enhance stability of the fusion segment and increase fusion rates.
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The Ochsner journal · Jan 2014
Midline minimally invasive placement of spinal cord stimulators: a technical note.
Spinal cord stimulators (SCSs) have conventionally been implanted through open approaches requiring extensive muscle dissection to perform laminectomies and permanently place the paddle lead. This approach could contribute to worsening the pain syndrome in patients who experience chronic pain. In an attempt to reduce operative times, minimize blood loss and postoperative pain, and ease the technical challenges of placing the paddle lead in the midline via a paramedian and off-midline incision, we designed a new minimally invasive surgery (MIS) technique to place the paddle lead using a tubular retractor system through a true midline approach. ⋯ Our technique is safe and effective and carries minimal surgical morbidity compared to standard open techniques for placement of SCSs.
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Degenerative lumbar stenosis associated with spondylolisthesis is common in elderly patients. The most common symptoms are those of neurogenic claudication with leg pain. Surgery is indicated for those who fail conservative management. The generally accepted recommendation is to perform a laminectomy and a fusion at the involved level. ⋯ Minimally invasive decompression alone can be a reasonable alternative to decompression and fusion for patients with spondylolisthetic lumbar stenosis and neurogenic claudication with leg pain. Decompression without fusion should be considered for older patients and for patients who are not ideal fusion candidates.