Pain physician
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Case Reports
Squamous cell carcinoma occurring within incision of recently implanted spinal cord stimulator.
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a treatment option for chronic pain patients. Spinal cord stimulation has been employed in the treatment of chronic pain for more than 30 years. The most common indication for SCS is the failed back syndrome with leg pain. ⋯ It was determined that the carcinoma did not extend below the dermis, and that there was no involvement of the underlying fascia. The device was tested for proper functioning, and the leads were thus left in place. While the development of skin malignancies in surgical wounds has been described in the literature, to our knowledge there have been no reports of a cutaneous neoplasm developing early in the postoperative period after spinal cord stimulator implantation.
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Myofascial pain is defined as pain that originates from myofascial trigger points in skeletal muscle. It is prevalent in regional musculoskeletal pain syndromes, either alone or in combination with other pain generators. The myofascial pain syndrome is one of the largest groups of under-diagnosed and under-treated medical problems encountered in clinical practice. Trigger points are commonly seen in patients with myofascial pain that can be responsible for localized pain in the affected muscles as well as referred pain patterns. Correct needle placement in a myofascial trigger point is vital to prevent complications and improve efficacy of the trigger point injection to help reduce or relieve myofascial pain. In the obese patients, these injections may not reach the target tissue. In the cervicothoracic spine, a misguided or misplaced injection can result in a pneumothorax. Here, we review an electromyographically guided trigger point injection technique to avoid this potential pitfall. ⋯ This technique helps confirm proper needle placement within the cervicothoracic musculature in an obese patient in whom the musculature is not readily palpated. This, thus, reduces the potential for a pneumothorax by an improperly placed injection.
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Despite recent refinements in the technique of hypogastric plexus blockade, the lower pelvic organs and genitalia are innervated by fibers from the pre-sacral inferior hypogastric plexus and these fibers are not readily blocked using paravertebral or transdiscal approaches. ⋯ This block can be performed safely and effectively if the interventionalist has a high degree of familiarity with sacral anatomy, refined needle steering technique, and expertise in fluoroscopy. Properly performed, transsacral blockade of the inferior hypogastric plexus is a safe technique for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain conditions involving the lower pelvic viscera.
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In this article, we describe a case report of using real-time, high-resolution ultrasound guidance to facilitate blockade of the suprascapular nerve. We describe a case report and technique for using a portable ultrasound scanner (38 mm broadband (13-6 MHz) linear array transducer (SonoSite Micromaxx SonoSite, Inc. 21919 30th Drive SE Bothwell W. A..)) to guide suprascapular nerve block. ⋯ Ultrasound guidance does not expose patients and personnel to radiation. It is also less expensive than other imaging modalities. This technique has applications in both acute and chronic pain management.
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The United States spends more of its wealth on healthcare than any other developed country, and that share is rising. Supporters of the free market system point to the regulatory burden on the healthcare industry. Estimates of the regulatory costs of US healthcare range from dollars 58 billion to dollars 339 billion. ⋯ Penalties for violating the Stark laws are severe, including fines of up to dollars 15,000 per service and the economic threat of exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs, which may result in exclusion of any type of healthcare program and loss of privileges at hospitals and surgery centers. This manuscript reviews physician practices in general, physician payments, and self-referral patterns in particular, the evolution of the Stark law and regulations and its implications for physician practices. This article is not, and should not be, construed as legal advice or an opinion on specific situations.