Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of transdiscal radiofrequency, biacuplasty for treatment of discogenic lower back pain.
The aim was to compare the efficacy of intradiscal biacuplasty (IDB) with that of placebo treatment for discogenic low back pain. ⋯ The results suggest that the clinical benefits observed in this study are the result of non-placebo treatment effects afforded by IDB. IDB should be recommended to select the patients with chronic discogenic low back pain. (Clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT00750191.).
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Neuropathic pain is a challenge in children with burn sequelae. Although relatively infrequent, the intensity and chronicity of neuropathic pain negatively impact functionality and quality of life. The use of 5% lidocaine medicated plaster has not previously been reported in children. We explored the effectiveness and safety of 5% lidocaine medicated plaster to treat neuropathic pain in children with burn sequelae. ⋯ These are the first published data suggesting that 5% lidocaine medicated plaster improves patient functionality, and is effective and safe for the treatment of neuropathic pain in pediatric patients with burn sequelae.
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Comparative Study
Cost comparisons of various diagnostic medial branch block protocols and medial branch neurotomy in a private practice setting.
We calculated the average total facility and professional cost of medial branch neurotomy (MBN) procedure and diagnostic medial branch blocks (MBBs), based on increments of MBB results (50-100% cutoff values), to determine the most cost-effective protocol that correlates with positive MBN outcome. ⋯ Diagnostic MBB using progressively stringent MBB cutoff values incrementally excluded patients without posterior element pain as evidenced by incremental increase in positive outcomes following MBN. The exclusion of patients from MBN due to failure to report 70% or greater pain relief following MBB resulted in cost savings in favor of performing diagnostic MBB.
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Comparative Study
Pulsed and conventional radiofrequency treatment: which is effective for dental procedure-related symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia?
Many patients develop dental treatment-related symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia. However, the effectiveness of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment and conventional radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC) for treatment of this disorder has not been determined. This retrospective study was conducted to compare the effectiveness and complications of PRF and RFTC in these patients. ⋯ Although the RFTC group had more complications than the PRF group, most were minor and transient, and the patient satisfaction rate with RFTC was very high. Therefore, RFTC is an effective tool for the treatment of dental procedure-induced trigeminal neuralgia.