Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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There are several treatment options for patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis, including surgical and conservative care. Interspinous spacer decompression using the Superion device offers a less invasive procedure for patients who fail conservative treatment before traditional decompression surgery. This review assesses the current cost-effectiveness, safety, and performance of lumbar spinal stenosis treatment modalities compared with the Superion interspinous spacer procedure. ⋯ Superion interspinous lumbar decompression is a minimally invasive procedure for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who have failed conservative treatment. Compared with extending conservative treatment or traditional spinal surgery, interspinous lumbar decompression reduces the direct and indirect costs associated with lumbar spinal stenosis.
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Observational Study
Level of Low Back Pain-Related Disability Is Associated with Risk of Subsequent Falls in an Older Population: Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS).
To examine the longitudinal association between baseline disability due to low back pain (LBP) and future risk of falls, particularly significant falls requiring treatment, in a community-dwelling older population. ⋯ Level of LBP-related disability was associated with an increased risk of serious falls in a general population of community-living older adults. These findings can alert health care providers involved in fall prevention efforts to the important issue of activity-related disability due to LBP.
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Although depression and chronic pain often coexist, few studies have examined antidepressant use among people with pain. This study examines the prevalence and characteristics associated with antidepressant use among people prescribed opioids for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). ⋯ Antidepressant use is common among people with CNCP prescribed opioids. Those using antidepressants were more likely to use other psychotropic medicines concurrently, highlighting that they are a high-risk population requiring comprehensive assessment to optimize outcomes and reduce potential harms from polypharmacy.
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About 50% of patients with cancer who have undergone surgery suffer from cancer-related pain (CP). The use of opioids for postoperative pain management presents the potential for overdose, especially among these patients. ⋯ CP is an independent risk factor for opioid overdose, increased length of stay, and increased total hospital charges.