Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Clinical Trial
A virtual reality system combined with biofeedback for treating pediatric chronic headache--a pilot study.
Pediatric headache is highly widespread and is associated with distress and reduced quality of life. Pharmacological treatment of chronic headache in children has been only partially effective and, as in medication-overuse headache, can sometimes be counterproductive. Therefore, there is a substantial need to develop other effective methods of treatment. Here we present the rationale, feasibility, and preliminary results of a pilot study applying a novel system, combining virtual reality and biofeedback, aimed as an abortive treatment of pediatric chronic headache. ⋯ This novel system, combining biofeedback and virtual reality, is feasible for pediatric use. Randomized controlled studies in larger populations are needed in order to determine the utility of the system in reducing headache, improving daily functioning, and elevating quality of life.
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To compare health care resource utilization before and after minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) procedure. ⋯ Not only is MILD a reliable method to treat LSS, MILD also appears to reduce the consumption of limited health care resources.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect on pain relief and inflammatory response following addition of tenoxicam to intravenous patient-controlled morphine analgesia: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study in patients undergoing spine fusion surgery.
This study tested the hypothesis that adding tenoxicam (T) to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) with morphine (M) would improve postoperative pain relief and wound inflammatory responses compared with M alone after spine surgery. ⋯ The combination of T and M for IV-PCA was not more efficacious than IV-PCA with M alone in reducing postoperative pain after spine surgery but reduced PCA demand and suppressed local inflammation at the surgical site. Administration of T before wound closure may ameliorate IV-PCA M-induced skin itching.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy in New Zealand.
This study aims to determine the effectiveness of lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) performed by two practitioners trained according to rigorous guidelines. ⋯ Lumbar RFN can be very effective when performed in a rigorous manner in appropriately selected patients. Chronic back pain, mediated by the lumbar medial branches, can be stopped and patients fully restored to normal living, if treated with RFN.