Pain physician
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Block Versus Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block for Pain Relief in Patients With Acute Thoracic Herpes Zoster: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Severe acute pain is a significant risk factor for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The importance of early management in alleviating zoster pain cannot be overstated. ⋯ Both ESB and PVB were effective in controlling acute pain and persistent herpetic pain after 6 months (which was evident by lower NRS for pain and doses of pregabalin and acetaminophen), but ESB is safer (no reported pneumothorax and hypotension).
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Approximately 70% of Americans use social media platforms, and use of specific platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok, is especially common among adults under 30. The presence of social media accounts among residency and fellowship programs in academic medicine has been used to connect with other specialties, highlight achievements and research, disseminate information to the general public, and as a recruiting tool for applicants. ⋯ Less than 20% of the pain fellowship programs are currently utilizing Twitter and/or Instagram. When compared to primary anesthesiology residencies, social media presence among pain fellowships is much lower. By utilizing basic social media strategies, including image-based content posting, hashtags, and videos, programs can increase their engagement with the social media community, and increase their overall number of followers, thus expanding their potential reach to prospective applicants. Although social media can be an effective tool for branding purposes, it is vital to address the safe use of social media among all trainees.
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Observational Study
Radiofrequency Treatment of Iliac and Paravertebral Cluneal Nerves for Low Back Pain.
Paravertebral cluneal nerves are constrained within a tunnel consisting of the thoracolumbar fascia and the iliac crest's superior rim as they pass over the iliac crest. Their involvement in low back pain has not been presented previously. ⋯ Cluneal trigger points should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pain in the lower back, flank, lower abdominal, buttock, trochanteric, groin, and thigh area. It is one form of so-called "pseudo-sciatica." The authors' diagnostic injection protocol suggests that most patients with cluneal trigger points may successfully be treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation.
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Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) of the trigeminal ganglion is an excellent treatment option for medically intractable trigeminal neuralgia. However, this procedure can manifest abrupt changes in cardiovascular responses. With abrupt cardiovascular changes, a sudden trigeminocardiac reflex can occur during RFT of the trigeminal ganglion. ⋯ FO puncturing, electrical stimulation, and thermal heating demonstrated an abrupt increase in heart rate and mean arterial pressure. The incidence of sudden bradycardia during RFT of the trigeminal ganglion was 25%. Most cases of bradycardia were observed during FO puncturing.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of Intravascular Uptake and Technical Ease Between Anteroposterior and Oblique Views During Lumbar Medial Branch Block.
Inadvertent intravascular injection of local anesthetics can lead to false-negative results following lumbar medial branch block (MBB) performed to diagnose facet joint origin pain. A previous study demonstrated that the type of approach method could affect the incidence of intravascular injections and technical ease of the procedure. ⋯ The overall incidence rate of intravascular injection during lumbar MBB showed nearly 20% in both approach methods groups. The OB approach and left side MBBs were associated with a longer total procedure time and a higher radiation dose.