Neurol Neurochir Pol
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Neurol Neurochir Pol · Jan 2015
Case ReportsThe role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis.
Temporal arteritis (TA), also known as giant cell arteritis, is a chronic vasculitis of medium and large-sized blood vessels, in particular the main cervical branches of the aorta, with particular affinity to the temporal arteries and eye-supplying arteries. Temporal artery biopsy is still a gold standard for diagnosis, however in recent years colour duplex ultrasound examination has been proposed as a useful diagnostic screening tool in cases of TA suspicion. We report three cases of TA in which the ultrasonographical examination of the temporal arteries had a decisive role in the diagnosis.
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Neurol Neurochir Pol · Jan 2015
Relationship between the spino-pelvic parameters and the slip grade in isthmic spondylolisthesis.
Analysis of changes in the spino-pelvic alignment, depending on the slip grade in patients with low and high-grade isthmic slip. ⋯ The spino-pelvic alignment changes with the grade of isthmic spondylolisthesis, and the individual spino-pelvic parameters correlate together to form a causal chain in the development of isthmic spondylolisthesis.
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Neurol Neurochir Pol · Jan 2014
ReviewDiagnosis and management of neuropathic pain: review of literature and recommendations of the Polish Association for the Study of Pain and the Polish Neurological Society - Part Two.
Neuropathic pain may be caused by a variety of lesions or diseases of both the peripheral and central nervous system. The most common and best known syndromes of peripheral neuropathic pain are painful diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal and post-herpetic neuralgia, persistent post-operative and post-traumatic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, cancer-related neuropathic pain, HIV-related neuropathic pain and pain after amputation. ⋯ A multidisciplinary team of Polish experts, commissioned by the Polish Association for the Study of Pain and the Polish Neurological Society, has reviewed the literature on various types of neuropathic pain, with special focus on the available international guidelines, and has formulated recommendations on their diagnosis and treatment, in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM). High quality studies on the efficacy of various medicines and medical procedures in many neuropathic pain syndromes are scarce, which makes the recommendations less robust.
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Neurol Neurochir Pol · Jan 2014
ReviewDiagnosis and management of neuropathic pain: review of literature and recommendations of the Polish Association for the study of pain and the Polish Neurological Society - part one.
Neuropathic pain still present a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge despite considerable progress in understanding of its mechanisms and publication of number of studies which assessed the efficacy and safety of drugs used in the symptomatic treatment. In practice, it is diagnosed less frequently than recognised in the epidemiological studies, and many patients do not achieve satisfactory outcomes of treatment. ⋯ The diagnosis of neuropathic pain may be established based on medical history and physical examination including special assessment of the somatosensory system. First-line drugs used in pharmacological management of neuropathic pain are: tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, gabapentin, pregabalin, opioids and lidocaine patches.
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In this paper, we present some impressions and thoughts about CRPS which we found useful in our proceedings with CRPS patients. The clinical sub-types of the CRPS are presented and differences in their characteristics are discussed. The current pathophysiological concepts for CRPS are outlined. ⋯ The "Szczecin" protocol of management of early CRPS is presented in details. Some information about prevention of the syndrome is given. We believe that the information presented may support doctors in resolving their diagnostic dilemmas associated with CRPS.