AANA journal
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Review Comparative Study
Pain measurement tools for clinical practice and research.
An important component of effective postoperative pain management is a measure of the patient's pain intensity. This article examines three unidimensional pain measurement instruments and one multidimensional pain measurement instrument used in daily practice and clinical research. The strengths and weaknesses of the numerical rating scale, verbal descriptor scale, visual analogue scale, and the McGill Pain Questionnaire are discussed. Issues of validity and reliability, important in clinical research, are also presented.
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The Mayo block is an extremely efficacious regional anesthetic technique used to provide anesthesia of the forefoot. Patients requiring surgical correction of hallux deformity, bunionectomy, and first metatarsal surgery may benefit from this technique. The Mayo block is a field block that anesthetizes the specific nerves of the forefoot that innervate the surgical field. ⋯ This technique has been used at one military hospital on more than 275 patients. The failure rate of the block is less than 1%. Learning this technique adds to the anesthetist's armamentarium of regional anesthesia, aids in rapid case turnover, and avoids the risks associated with major conduction and general anesthesia.