Pain Practice最新文献

Introduction: Pain is a very common complaint among patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSDs). Often challenging to treat, insights into the underpinnings of pain in this population have been fleeting. Central sensitization (CS) has been postulated as a potential etiological factor.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 82 consecutive patients with hEDS/HSDs were reviewed. Demographic information and Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) results were collected.

Results: 71 of 82 (86.5%) patients demonstrated CS. Scores ranged from 12 to 94 with a median of 56. Pain scores as measured on the numerical rating scale (NRS) ranged from 2 to 10 with a mean and median of 6.

Conclusion: A large percentage of patients with pain and a diagnosis of hEDS/HSDs demonstrated evidence of central sensitization as measured using the CSI. The CSI is simple to administer. The CSI may provide clinical insights that are key to successfully managing patients with hEDS/HSDs. Further research is needed to explore the ability to classify pain phenotypes in this patient population and the impact on precision medicine.

Background: Although long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic pain has declined, it remains common in the U.S. Providers do not have clinical practice guidelines for vulnerable LTOT patients, in whom both LTOT continuation and tapering to discontinuation pose risks of harm and in whom opioid use disorder (OUD) is absent.

Methods: To begin to meet the gap in guidelines, the study used a multiple case study approach. Five cases were constructed to systematically vary key elements of LTOT continuation and discontinuation harms among patients reporting LTOT's lack of efficacy (experience of pain and poor function). For each, treatment approaches were collected from 28 opioid safety experts identified through their participation in a national policy panel (19 were physicians) and analyzed using template analysis.

Results: For patients receiving LTOT with harms of continuation and discontinuation, experts recommended attempting a slow taper (even with a prior unsuccessful taper, possibly with adjuvant medications to manage withdrawal) and not maintaining opioid therapy. Experts considered switching to buprenorphine, especially if the patient had aberrant behaviors. They also considered adding non-opioid pain therapies (especially re-trying such therapies if they were unhelpful before) and engaging in shared decisionmaking, although with little consensus on specific approaches. Some experts would address co-occurring conditions related to patient safety (alcohol use, mental health symptoms, opioid side effects). Few experts referenced assessing or addressing OUD or overdose risk. In quantitative data, 36% of experts agreed LTOT is beneficial, 36% agreed most LTOT patients should be discontinued, and 57% agreed patients experience harm from tapering and from discontinuation.

Discussion: Evidence is needed to build on and test these experts' recommendations to attempt tapering and add non-opioid pain therapies for patients reporting harms of continued LTOT who may experience harms from tapering. Such evidence informs the development of clinical practice guidelines that provide comprehensive protocols to support the safety and functioning of this group of patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of outpatient celiac plexus block on acute pain reduction in patients with suspected median arcuate ligament syndrome.

Methods: This is an Institutional Review Board approved, retrospective chart review. Data were collected and analyzed from patients who received celiac plexus blocks from November 1, 2021 through April 6, 2023. The primary outcome was pain reduction, determined by the change in numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) from pre-procedure to post-procedure. Additional data collected include patient demographics, comorbidities, preoperative symptoms and duration of symptoms.

Results: There were 33 patients identified in this study. Thirty-one patients were included in the data analysis. The median age of the cohort was 29 years, and the median BMI was 20.4. 94% of the cohort was female. These patients were referred as part of an evaluation for symptomatic vascular compression disorders. For many patients, positive response to celiac plexus block was used as an indication to proceed with surgical MALS resection. We provide a diagnostic algorithm for MALs. All patients endorsed preoperative symptoms. Patients experienced a median pain reduction of -4 from baseline to immediately post-procedure.

Conclusions: Celiac plexus blocks continue to be a tool for ruling out neurogenic median arcuate ligament syndrome in patients who have undergone extensive previous imaging and assessments for vascular compression disorders. Our data suggest that patients with suspected MALS may experience substantial immediate pain relief from temporary blocks of the celiac ganglion as guided by fluoroscopy in an outpatient setting.

Introduction: To determine the frequency of superior cluneal nerve entrapment (SCN-E) in patients who applied to our outpatient clinic with low back pain.

Methods: Two hundred patients with mechanical low back pain persisting more than 3 months were included in our study. All patients were evaluated with detailed clinical history and physical examination. Ultrasound-guided diagnostic injection was performed in patients who had tenderness on the posterior iliac crest and whose main complaint emerged by pressing on this point. Patients with 70% or greater pain relief 1 h after the injection were considered as SCN-E. The frequency and clinical features of SCN-E were determined and compared with other mechanical low back pain.

Results: The mean age of the patients included in our study was 48.56 ± 14.11 years, with 138 female and 62 male patients. The diagnostic injection was performed on 31 patients and considered positive in 24 of them. The frequency of SCN-E was determined as 12%. The Hip-Knee Flexion Test was determined to be more specific for SCN-E than other causes of low back pain, the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 41.67% and 88.64% (p = 0.001; p < 0.01). In addition, all demographic and clinical features in patients diagnosed with SCN-E were found to be similar to other mechanical low back pain cases.

Conclusions: In patients with chronic low back pain, SCN-E is not a rare cause and is often overlooked. Increasing the awareness and experience of physicians on SCN-E will prevent patients from being exposed to unnecessary surgical or non-surgical treatments.

Background: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for managing chronic neuropathic pain.

Aims: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of 4-20 Hz DRG-S through a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 28 patients with various neuropathic pain etiologies and pain locations.

Materials and methods: Patient responses to both stimulation frequencies were examined using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) assessments. Factors such as patient preference and satisfaction were also evaluated.

Results: The results indicate that 4 Hz DRG-S is not only as effective as 20 Hz stimulation but may also surpass it. Among the 28 patients, 26 assessed 4 Hz stimulation to be at least as effective as 20 Hz, with the majority (22 out of 26) considering 4 Hz stimulation superior. After trying 4 Hz stimulation, 24 out of 28 patients chose it over 20 Hz, while two patients opted for a combination of both settings. Only two patients reverted to their original 20 Hz stimulation program. A statistically significant pain reduction of 24% was observed when comparing the effects of 4 Hz versus 20 Hz.

Discussion: The study highlights the broader applicability of low-frequency DRG-S, extending its benefits beyond the realm of low back pain. Patients with diverse pain etiologies and locations experienced comparable positive outcomes, suggesting that the advantages of low-frequency stimulation are not confined to specific pain types or locations.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the potential of 4 Hz DRG-S as a valuable alternative to the standard 20 Hz stimulation. Although the exact mechanisms require further investigation, the observed clinical benefits and patient preferences for low-frequency stimulation suggest its viability across diverse pain indications and locations. Additional research is necessary to substantiate these findings and assess the durability and economic implications of low-frequency DRG-S.

Background: Pain in cancer patients is a complex clinical problem. Pain is systematically assessed and treated during palliative care, but little is known about how it is addressed before starting palliative care.

Aim: This study primarily analyzed pain, symptoms, ongoing therapy at patients' admittance to the palliative care unit, and the relationships between pain and tumor, comorbidities, performance status and quality of life (QoL). Notably, patient satisfaction with the received antalgic therapy was assessed.

Methods: A multicentric, prospective, observational study was conducted in seven Italian palliative centers. The population consisted of adult cancer patients admitted to specialist palliative care units in hospice and home care.

Results: The sample consisted of 476 patients. Ninety-three patients reported moderate pain of 4.0 and worst pain of 5.9 at the initial medical examination. The pain was high, and QoL was lower in breakthrough pain. The pain was lower in older subjects when it was discontinuous and when it was also treated with corticosteroids. A total of 61% of the patients were unsatisfied with the prescribed pain therapy.

Conclusions: Before the beginning of palliative care, physicians do not manage pain adequately. We support the idea that palliative care is not only intended for the last days of life but must be started early and simultaneously with oncological treatments. All that, in our opinion, is often ignored, and we hope that our study could have a positive influence and that the study results stimulate further research in this area with in-depth studies.

Background: Facet joint septic arthritis (FJSA) is an uncommon cause of neck pain, most frequently occurring in the lumbosacral spine. Cervical facet joint septic arthritis is particularly rare. Symptoms typically include spinal or paraspinal pain and tenderness, with severe infections potentially causing neurological impairments. This condition can progress to discitis and osteomyelitis. High clinical suspicion is required for accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.

Objective: To present the first known case of cervical spine FJSA caused by Moraxella species and provide an updated narrative review of cervical spine FJSA.

Methods: A case study of a 66-year-old male with cervical spine FJSA caused by Moraxella osloensis is detailed. Additionally, a librarian-assisted literature search was conducted on MEDLINE Pubmed, filtering for adult human trials and including various study types, resulting in the inclusion of 9 relevant manuscripts.

Results: The patient's symptoms included neck, right upper thoracic, and periscapular pain, with episodes of numbness and tingling. MRI revealed septic arthritis at the C7-T1 facet joint and associated osteomyelitis. Cultures identified Moraxella osloensis as the causative agent. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and experienced significant symptom improvement. Literature review highlights that Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative agent of cervical FJSA, with diagnosis typically involving MRI and culture tests. Treatment generally includes long-term antibiotics, with some cases requiring surgical intervention.

Conclusions: This report underscores the need for high clinical suspicion in diagnosing FJSA and highlights the importance of early intervention. It documents the first known case of cervical spine FJSA caused by Moraxella osloensis, contributing valuable information to the limited literature on this rare condition.