Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a frequently occurring disease with unknown etiology, which makes treatment a challenge. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of dexamethasone on LDH and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. ⋯ Dexamethasone relieves LDH-mediated radicular pain by exerting anti-inflammatory effects and reducing the suppression of L-PGDS induced by LDH. Meanwhile, the activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway was decreased, possibly due to the attenuated inflammation induced by dexamethasone. Our results revealed the underlying mechanism of dexamethasone, which might be helpful in reducing the side effects of dexamethasone and provide more focused therapy in LDH.
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Review Comparative Study
Longevity and Utilization Cost of Rechargeable and Non-Rechargeable Spinal Cord Stimulation Implants: A Comparative Study.
Despite major advancements in features and capabilities of the implantable pulse generator (IPG), real-life longevity and cost-effectiveness studies to guide pain specialists to make the appropriate choice between rechargeable and non-rechargeable IPG are limited. Our study aimed to compare the longevity and cost effectiveness of rechargeable vs. non-rechargeable IPG and SCS systems. ⋯ Rechargeable IPG had increased longevity compared to their non-rechargeable counterparts, yet there was no significant difference in the actual longevity due to premature revisions or explantations between both SCS systems. Furthermore, non-rechargeable SCS systems were found to be the more cost-effective option when compared with rechargeable SCS systems.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
10 kHz SCS for chronic postsurgical pain: Results from a 12-month prospective, multicenter study.
Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) can be caused by peripheral nerve injury (PNI) resulting from surgical procedures and has a significant neuropathic component. This prospective, single-arm study was conducted to document the effectiveness of 10-kHz spinal cord stimulation (10-kHz SCS) as a treatment for patients with CPSP. ⋯ 10-kHz SCS is effective and tolerated in patients with CPSP, and further study of its clinical application in this population is warranted.
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Total knee arthroplasty is a common and successful treatment modality for knee arthritis that is refractory to conservative management strategies. Over 600,000 arthroplasties are performed per year in the United States, and this number is expected to increase in the coming years. Unfortunately, 8% to 34% of patients experience chronic pain after having a total knee arthroplasty. ⋯ In this article, we outline the work-up of a painful total knee arthroplasty. Then we provide a thorough review of interventional pain management strategies and highlight the pertinent literature. Lastly, we hypothesize future developments in the field that may provide better outcomes for patients suffering from painful total knee arthroplasty.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized pragmatic pilot trial comparing perpendicular thin electrodes versus parallel thick electrodes approaches for lumbar medial branch neurotomy in facetogenic low back pain.
Although there are different ways of performing medial branch neurotomy on facetogenic low back pain, few studies have compared clinical outcomes of a parallel technique over the medial branch vs. a perpendicular technique. We investigated differences in pain outcome with both techniques. ⋯ There were differences at 6 months in the categorical analysis of the evolution of pain, Oswestry Disability Index score, Roland Morris Questionnaire score, and some functional Likert scale scores, all in favor of the parallel group.