Pain physician
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Meckel's Cave Size Measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Prognosis of Percutaneous Balloon Compression for Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) is a safe and effective method to treat trigeminal neuralgia. Despite it is known that intraoperative balloon volume is crucial in the prognosis of PBC patients and correlates with Meckel's cave (MC) size, it is a lack of objective and valid criteria for intraoperative balloon volume of PBC. ⋯ The equation [balloon volume (cm3) = 0.110 cm3 + 1.274*MC size] yields an appropriate value at which the patient has a low recurrence rate and a low degree of facial numbness. Preoperative measurement of MC size can be used to guide the intraoperative balloon volume and to predict the patient's prognosis.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a lowered immune response to infection, potentially due to the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Predictors of severe COVID-19 outcomes within the RA population have not yet been explored in a real-world setting. ⋯ Predictive baseline comorbidities and risk factors can be leveraged for early detection of RA patients at risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Further research should be conducted on modifiable factors in the RA population, such as physical therapy.
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Amputees commonly feel an intermittent tingling, piercing, or burning sensation in the region of the missing portion of the amputated limb, a phenomenon known as phantom limb pain. Current treatment modalities include medications, mirror therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and more recently neuromodulation through spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation. ⋯ The cumulative evidence at present suggests DRG stimulation may be a potentially effective treatment for phantom limb pain, however, a powered prospective randomized controlled trial is needed to assess the long-term benefits of this treatment modality. Given the increasing population of military veterans who are living with limb amputations, finding a modality for adequate long-term pain control is crucial.
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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic debilitating neuropathic pain condition characterized by autonomic and inflammatory features that typically occurs after a traumatic event. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic CRPS refractory to conventional treatment modalities. The collective evidence of novel parameters of SCS for treating CRPS has not been characterized extensively. ⋯ LF-SCS is superior to conventional therapy/placebo SCS stimulation. However, more evidence is required to demonstrate that novel SCS parameters are superior to LF-SCS in improving pain scores and functional outcomes.
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Single-injection regional analgesia techniques can provide effective analgesia for abdominal hysterectomy. However, few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have directly compared these techniques for total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), and the best strategy remains unknown. ⋯ Single-injection blocks are effective analgesic techniques for TAH. Among them, the erector spinae plane block and quadratus lumborum block seem to have superior effects. Further studies should evaluate techniques other than TAPB and wound infiltration to draw definitive conclusions.