Pain physician
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Unilateral and bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) have been widely adopted to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Unilateral PKP has a shorter operation time and less radiation exposure time compared with bilateral PKP, but the anatomical distinctions of unilateral PKP are not identical in all cases. ⋯ Lumbar, osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, unilateral, percutaneous kyphoplasty, transverse process.
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Controversy is not uncommon in the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain (DLBP) and in the identification of the location of the pain source for the symptomatic disc in patients with DLBP. Various techniques, from minimally invasive procedures to fusion surgery, are used to treat chronic DLBP, but the clinical outcomes are variable. Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy by transforaminal or interlaminar approach is considered to be an effective method to treat DLBP, but the evidence is limited; the lack of clear evidence may be associated with patient selection and surgical technique. ⋯ Transforaminal, interlaminar, outside-in technique, endoscopic discectomy, discogenic low back pain.
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Despite the existence of several screening tools for neuropathic pain, none of these are specific to surgery. We have developed a simple questionnaire tool, the Neuropathic Pain scale for Postsurgical patients (NeuPPS), to measure neuropathic pain in postsurgical patients. ⋯ Scale validation, Rasch analysis, item response model, persistent postoperative pain, intercostobrachial nerve, neuropathy, neuropathic pain, quantitative sensory testing, breast cancer.
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Observational Study
Uncinate Process Area as a New Sensitive Morphological Parameter to Predict Cervical Neural Foraminal Stenosis.
Hypertrophy of the uncovertebral joint has been considered as a major cause of cervical neural foraminal stenosis (CNFS). The cross-sectional area of the uncinate process is a key morphologic parameter in the identification of uncovertebral joint hypertrophy. To evaluate the connection between CNFS and the uncinate process, we devised a new morphological parameter, the uncinate process area (UPA). ⋯ The newly devised UPA is a sensitive parameter for assessing CNFS. A hypertrophied UPA is associated with an increased risk of CNFS. We think that this result will be helpful for diagnostic radiology in evaluating patients with CNFS.Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval number: IS16RISI0002KEY WORDS: Uncinate process area, cervical neural foraminal stenosis, Uncovertebral joint hypertrophy, optimal cut-off point, cross- sectional area.