Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2014
Case ReportsDislocation of a Femur Fracture After Femoral Nerve Block.
Femoral nerve block (FNB) is increasingly used as an analgesic modality in patients with femoral fracture both in the emergency department and preoperatively. We describe an occurrence of unexpected dislocation of the fracture after FNB. ⋯ Femoral nerve block confers effective analgesia for femur fracture. However, relaxation of the quadriceps femoris muscle may destabilize the fracture because of an unopposed tone of the hamstrings and/or thigh adductors.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2014
Case ReportsDyskinesia Caused by Ziconotide-Baclofen Combination in an Adolescent Affected by Cerebral Palsy.
To report on the first case of ziconotide-induced dyskinesia. Ziconotide, a synthetic peptide analogue of the ω-conotoxin MVIIA that blocks selectively N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels, has been used in intrathecal administration for 30 years. Ziconotide is a drug of choice for chronic pain because of its efficacy and flexibility because it can substitute or complement other intrathecal therapies including morphine or baclofen. Whereas substantial information is available regarding its efficacy, systematic data regarding the safety of ziconotide remain scant. The adverse reactions to ziconotide described so far regard only the coordination and execution of intentional movements. ⋯ An analysis of the signaling pathways of baclofen and ziconotide revealed a possible drug interaction that allowed ziconotide to trigger dyskinesia.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2014
Prolonged Amelioration of Experimental Postoperative Pain by Bupivacaine Released From Microsphere-Coated Hernia Mesh.
Postoperative pain alters physiological functions and delays discharge. Perioperative local anesthetics are effective analgesics in the immediate 1- to 2-day postoperative period, but acute pain often lasts longer. The goal of this work was to develop a local anesthetic formulation adhering to an intraoperative implanted device that reduces pain for at least 3 days after surgery. ⋯ Bupivacaine slowly released for 72 hours from microspheres adsorbed to the hernia mesh significantly suppresses evoked postoperative hypersensitivity for at least 1 week and is more effective than a suspension of these microspheres or preoperative single-shot infiltration of bupivacaine.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2014
A Prospective Validation of Biplanar Ultrasound Imaging for C5-C6 Cervical Medial Branch Blocks.
Ultrasound (US) guidance offers an alternative to fluoroscopy for medial branch blocks of the upper cervical spine, but it may be less accurate for blocks at the C5 and C6 levels. We hypothesized that a modified technique using biplanar US imaging would facilitate level identification and provide greater accuracy for the lower cervical spine. ⋯ Ultrasound guidance using a biplanar approach is a reliable imaging modality for C5 and C6 medial branch blocks.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEndogenous opioid inhibition of chronic low-back pain influences degree of back pain relief after morphine administration.
Factors underlying differential responsiveness to opioid analgesic medications used in chronic pain management are poorly understood. We tested whether individual differences in endogenous opioid inhibition of chronic low-back pain were associated with the magnitude of acute reductions in back pain ratings after morphine administration. ⋯ Morphine appears to provide better acute relief of chronic back pain in individuals with lower natural opioidergic inhibition of chronic pain intensity. Possible implications for personalized medicine are discussed.