Der Schmerz
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The Mainz Pain Staging System (MPSS), which has been validated primarily in middle-aged and chronic low back pain patients, is designed to predict prognosis and control the use of resources at baseline. In multi-morbid and functionally impaired patients (geriatric patients) with multiple causes of pain, it is unclear whether this instrument can be implemented at all and whether it permits statements to be made on the severity of pain chronification. ⋯ MPSS can be used in multi-morbid and functionally impaired elderly patients undergoing inpatient treatment. Chronification features are more pronounced at higher stages than at lower levels. Only one category of the MPSS cannot be collected by self-assessment. The possibilities of prognosis estimation and resource control using the MPSS should be further investigated for these patients.
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Cannabis is the most frequently used recreational drug worldwide. Moreover, the use of cannabinoids for medical purposes is also constantly growing and medical cannabis products are legalised by an increasing number of countries. ⋯ Besides the significantly increased requirement for propofol and fentanyl during anesthesia and for postoperative analgesia, a higher risk for tachycardia, pulmonary and cardiovascular complications was observed. With respect to these data, the authors recommend asking patients pre-operatively about recreational or medical cannabis use or cannabinoid-based medication.
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The corona pandemic has led to a number of restrictions and prohibitions, which in turn place large psychosocial or spiritual burdens on patients with COVID-19, their families and relatives and the treating personnel in the healthcare system. Patients with COVID-19 are not allowed to receive visitors and many hospitals and nursing homes have completely banned visitors. Many support services have been reduced or stopped completely. ⋯ Families should also be enabled to say goodbye to the deceased with adequate protective equipment or should be offered alternative real or virtual options for remembrance and commemoration. Health care professionals coping with the exceptional stress should be continuously supported. This requires clear communication and leadership structures, communication training, psychosocial support, but most of all optimal framework conditions for the clinical work.
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Pain caused by the sacroiliac joint (SIG) makes up a relevant proportion of lumbar back pain and can have a variety of specific and non-specific causes. The SIG represents the central link between the spine and the lower extremity. It is characterized by high stability and low mobility. ⋯ More specifically, movement and provocation tests as well as infiltrations are carried out. General information and conservative therapeutic methods represent the first-line therapies. Interventional and surgical procedures can help in the case of chronification.