Pain physician
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Ultrasound-Guided Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment of the Saphenous Nerve for Refractory Osteoarthritis-Associated Knee Pain.
While the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) for shoulder pain has been demonstrated, its efficacy on the saphenous nerves for knee osteoarthritis (OA)-associated pain has only been reported in observational studies. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve PRF proved to be effective for at least 12 weeks in patients with knee OA and showed no adverse events.
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Perineural (PN) dexamethasone (DEX) administration can prolong the analgesic time of a brachial plexus block. However, its efficacy and safety are controversial due to its off-label use and different routes of administration. ⋯ PN dexamethasone can prolong the duration of analgesia, sensory block, and motor block, when compared with IV dexamethasone. In a subgroup analysis without epinephrine, the 2 routes of administration were equivalent to topical anesthesia. There were no differences in secondary outcomes, except for adverse effects, which could be altered if a sensitivity analysis was conducted. Therefore, despite the advantages of PN dexamethasone, caution is needed due to its off-label character. While the results of this study are promising, additional large and well-designed RCTs are needed to validate these initial findings and their implications.
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Multicenter Study
Cross-Cultural Adaption and Psychometric Evaluation of the German Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory (CF-PDI).
The Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory (CF-PDI) is a cross-culturally adapted instrument designed from a biopsychosocial perspective to measure pain, disability, and function in orofacial head and neck pain with shown psychometric properties; however, the German cross-cultural adaption is lacking. ⋯ The CF-PDI-G represents valid and reliable instrument to assess pain and disability in patients with orofacial pain and headache suitable for research and clinical practice.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
24-month Real-World Study of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Failed Back Surgery Patients with Refractory Pain.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) causes disability and lowers health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients. Many patients become refractory to Conventional Medical Management (CMM) and Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is advised. However, comparative effectiveness research of both clinical approaches still lacks further evidence. ⋯ SCS may improve the HRQoL and functionality of FBSS patients with refractory pain in the long-term compared to CMM alone.