Pain physician
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Radiofrequency Thermoablation of the Gasserian Ganglion Versus the Peripheral Branches of the Trigeminal Nerve for Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Randomized, Control Trial.
Trigeminal neuralgia is the most painful condition of facial pain leading to impairment of routine activities. Although radiofrequency thermoablation (RFT) of the Gasserian ganglion is widely used for the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia in patients having ineffective pain relief with medical therapy, the incidence of complications like hypoesthesia, neuroparalytic keratitis, and masticatory muscles weakness is high. Recent case reports have shown the effectiveness of RFT of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve for relief of refractory chronic facial pain conditions including trigeminal neuralgia. ⋯ Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, radiofrequency thermoablation, Gasserian ganglion, peripheral nerve branches, pain, trigeminal nerve.
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Controversy is not uncommon in the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain (DLBP) and in the identification of the location of the pain source for the symptomatic disc in patients with DLBP. Various techniques, from minimally invasive procedures to fusion surgery, are used to treat chronic DLBP, but the clinical outcomes are variable. Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy by transforaminal or interlaminar approach is considered to be an effective method to treat DLBP, but the evidence is limited; the lack of clear evidence may be associated with patient selection and surgical technique. ⋯ Transforaminal, interlaminar, outside-in technique, endoscopic discectomy, discogenic low back pain.
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The sacroiliac joint complex (SIJC) is considered a major sources of chronic low back pain. Interventional procedures for sacroiliac (SI) joint pain tend to be short-lived and surgical treatment usually involves a fusion procedure. ⋯ Endoscopic spine surgery, minimally invasive, low back pain, sacroiliac joint, radiofrequency treatment.
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Despite the existence of several screening tools for neuropathic pain, none of these are specific to surgery. We have developed a simple questionnaire tool, the Neuropathic Pain scale for Postsurgical patients (NeuPPS), to measure neuropathic pain in postsurgical patients. ⋯ Scale validation, Rasch analysis, item response model, persistent postoperative pain, intercostobrachial nerve, neuropathy, neuropathic pain, quantitative sensory testing, breast cancer.
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The facet joints contribute to chronic cervical spine pain in an estimated 55% of chronic neck pain cases and can be treated with percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy (PRN). Damage to surrounding structures during treatment or successful treatment of the primary pain source leading to unmasking could lead to new onset of pain, including cervicogenic headache (CGH). In this study, we aimed to define the incidence of headache in patients who have been previously treated with PRN for lower cervical facet pain. ⋯ Cervical spine, facetogenic pain, percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy, cervicogenic headache, chronic pain, zygapophysial joints, innervation convergence, retrospective chart review.