Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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To investigate and characterize the incidence of needlestick injuries (NSI) in a sample of practicing pain medicine physicians, with the ultimate goal of aiding to prevent these injuries by raising awareness of their prevalence. ⋯ This study characterizes NSIs in a population of pain medicine physicians. These data warrant caution and will hopefully raise awareness amongst providers.
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Meta Analysis
Pregabalin in Patients with Post-Traumatic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
The aim of the study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of pregabalin versus placebo in post-traumatic peripheral neuropathic pain (PTNP). ⋯ Compared with placebo, pregabalin showed better efficacy in reducing PTNP and improving sleep interference. However, it was associated with higher adverse events. Further RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
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Whether ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with chronic migraine (CM) is worth exploring. If SGB is proven to be effective for CM, the identification of potential predictors for the effectiveness of SGB warrants further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of SGB in patients with CM and to explore the predictive factors for its treatment effectiveness. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided SGB was an effective and safe treatment for CM patients. The majority of responsive patients with CM benefited from repeated SGBs. CM patients who needed repeated SGBs may obtain good and sustained analgesic effect after receiving a greater number of SGBs. Patients without comorbidities such as anxiety or depression were more likely to benefit from SGB treatments.
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Time elapsed since pain onset might affect the likelihood of neuropathic component in low back pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between neuropathic pain component and pain duration in patients with low back pain and to identify factors associated with neuropathic pain component. ⋯ Time elapsed since current pain onset did not correlate with neuropathic pain component in patients with low back pain. Therefore, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this condition should be based on a multidimensional evaluation at assessment and not on pain duration alone.
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Case Reports
Ogilvie's Syndrome After Paddle Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: An Experience Report.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an emerging technology to treat chronic pain from complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS) neuropathy and post-laminectomy syndrome. A rarely reported postoperative complication of SCS paddle implantation is abdominal pain that can result from thoracic radiculopathy. ⋯ Here, we describe the case of a 70-year-old male who developed OS after SCS paddle implantation resulting in cecal perforation and multi-system organ failure with lethal outcome. We discuss the pathophysiology, present a method measuring the spinal canal to cord ratio (CCR) to prevent the risk of thoracic radiculopathy and OS after paddle SCS implantation, and propose suggestions for management and treatment of this condition.