Pain physician
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Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proved to be effective in treating certain neuropathic pain conditions. The mechanisms of pain relief by EA are not fully understood. There have been sporadic reports of damage in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and regions of the central nervous system (CNS) at the ultrastructural level following peripheral nerve injury. However, information about possible systemic changes in the PNS and CNS after nerve injury is scarce. ⋯ Sciatic neuralgia, cobra venom, demyelination, electroacupuncture, pregabalin, rat model.
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Meta Analysis
Prevalence of Recurrent Herniation Following Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: A Meta-Analysis.
Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with a smaller incision, decreased damage to soft tissues, faster recovery, and fewer postoperative complications. However, the exactly epidemiological prevalence of recurrent herniation after PELD remains unclear. ⋯ Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, prevalence, recurrent herniation, meta-analysis.
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Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a common cause of pain and disability. Patients not responding to conservative management often cannot undergo joint replacement due to the presence of multiple comorbidities, while some other patients prefer to postpone surgery as long as possible. Radiofrequency denervation of articular branches of the femoral and obturator nerves, which supply innervation of the joint, is a novel technique to reduce hip joint pain. Previous studies reported positive results after application of continuous radiofrequency to the target nerves; however, this approach carries the potential risk of neuritis and neuroma formation. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a safer alternative to continuous radiofrequency not creating necrosis but a complex neuromodulatory effect on target nerves. There is no published evidence of PRF efficacy after 3 month follow-up. ⋯ Hip joint pain, pulsed radiofrequency, obturator nerve, femoral nerve, interventional pain management, radiofrequency.
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Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) has become an increasingly popular minimally invasive spinal surgery. Due to the technical evolution of PELD, the focus of decompression has shifted from the central nucleus to the subannular-protruded disc herniation, which allows direct neural decompression. Surgical entry into the spinal canal leads to the greater possibility of bony structure obstruction, thus the location and direction of the working channel are crucial. The existing preoperative measuring methods mainly rely on 2-dimensional (2D) x-ray images or MRI cross-sections. Because the bony structure and the trajectory are 3-dimensional (3D), the relationship between the anatomical lumbar structure and the working channel cannot be precisely evaluated. ⋯ Lumbar disc herniation, percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), transforaminal, trajectory, 3D method, quantitative measurement, angulation, bony structure obstruction.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Clinical Outcomes of Posterolateral Fusion vs. Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Degenerative Instability.
Degenerative lumbar spine disease can lead to lumbar spine instability. Lumbar spine instability is defined as an abnormal response to applied loads characterized kinematically by abnormal movement in the motion segment beyond normal constraints. Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) typically present with low back pain (LBP), cramping, cauda equine syndrome, and signs of nerve root compression associated by weakness, numbness and tingling in their legs that are worsened with standing and walking. This degenerative condition severely restricts function, walking ability, and quality of life (QOL). ⋯ Lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative instability, posterolateral fusion, posterior lumbar interbody fusion, low back pain, quality of life, cobb angle, fusion rate, modic changes, sagittal balance.