The Process of Pain Management in Cancer Patients at Home: Causing the Least Harm - A Grounded Theory Study

Background

Cancer pain management at home is a complicated and multidimensional experience that affects the foundational aspects of patients and their families' lives. Understanding the pain relief process and the outcomes of palliative care at home is essential for designing programs to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Objective

To explore family caregivers and patients' experiences of pain management at home and develop a substantive theory.

Design

The study was carried out using a grounded theory methodology.

Setting/Participants

Twenty patients and 32 family caregivers were recruited from Oncology wards and palliative medicine clinics in the hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences using Purposeful and theoretical sampling.

Results

The core category in this study was "pain relief with the least harm." Other categories were formed around the core category including "pain assessment, determining the severity of pain, using hierarchical approaches to pain relief, assessing the results of applied approaches, determining the range of effectiveness, and barriers and facilitators of pain relief." The substantive theory emerged from these categories was "Pain management process in cancer patients at home: Causing the least harm" that explains the stages of applying hierarchical approaches to pain relief, family care givers try to make decisions in a way that maximize pain relief and minimize damage to the patient. Along with using a hierarchical pattern, the process is featured with a circular pattern at broader perspective, which reflects dynamism of the process.

Conclusion

The inferred categories and theory can expand knowledge and awareness about the stages of pain relief process, the pattern of using pain relief approaches, and the barriers and facilitators of pain relief process at home. Health-care professionals may use these findings to assess the knowledge, skill, capability, problems, and needs of family caregivers and patients and develop supportive and educational programs to improve the efficiency of pain relief process at home and improve the patients' quality of life.

American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine expert panel recommendations on point-of-care ultrasound education and training for regional anesthesiologists and pain physicians-part I: clinical indications

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a critical skill for all regional anesthesiologists and pain physicians to help diagnose relevant complications related to routine practice and guide perioperative management. In an effort to inform the regional anesthesia and pain community as well as address a need for structured education and training, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) commissioned this narrative review to provide recommendations for POCUS. The guidelines were written by content and educational experts and approved by the Guidelines Committee and the Board of Directors of the ASRA. In part I of this two-part series, clinical indications for POCUS in the perioperative and chronic pain setting are described. The clinical review addresses airway ultrasound, lung ultrasound, gastric ultrasound, the focus assessment with sonography for trauma examination and focused cardiac ultrasound for the regional anesthesiologist and pain physician. It also provides foundational knowledge regarding ultrasound physics, discusses the impact of handheld devices and finally, offers insight into the role of POCUS in the pediatric population.

Pharmacist-led intervention on chronic pain management: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Pharmacists have been contributing to the management of chronic pain, ensuring the quality use of medicine. However, there is diversity in the interventions provided by pharmacists and their impact.

METHODS

Six electronic databases were searched from inception until June 2020 for articles published in English examining the intervention provided by the pharmacist in chronic pain management. Studies investigating the impact of pharmacist intervention individually or multidisciplinary teams including pharmacists for chronic pain management were included.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies (2365 participants) were included in the current review. Six studies were randomized controlled trials while the remainder were observational studies in which pharmacists provided intervention individually or in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Medication review was the most common intervention provided by the pharmacist. The pooled analysis found that pharmacist-led interventions reduced the pain intensity (-0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.35 to -0.09; moderate certainty) among participants with chronic pain. Opiate stewardship provided by pharmacists was effective; however, mixed results were noted on the impact of the intervention on physical functioning, anxiety, depression and quality of life. Pharmacist intervention was more expensive than treatment as usual.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacists contribute substantially to chronic pain management, ensuring the quality use of medicine, resulting in reduced pain intensity. Further studies with rigorous design are needed to measure the impact of pharmacist-provided intervention individually or in a multidisciplinary team on the economic benefit and other health outcomes.

Foreign Medical Students in Eastern Europe: Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs about Medical Cannabis for Pain Management

OBJECTIVE

To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of foreign students toward the use of medical cannabis (MC) for pain management.

METHODS

This study uses data collected from 549 foreign students from India (n = 289) and Middle Eastern countries mostly from Egypt, Iran, Syria, and Jordan (n = 260) studying medicine in Russia and Belarus. Data collected from Russian and Belarusian origin medical students (n = 796) were used for comparison purposes. Pearson's chi-squared and t-test were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Foreign students' country of origin and gender statuses do not tend to be correlated with medical student responses toward medical cannabis use. Students from Russia and Belarus who identified as secular, compared to those who were religious, reported more positive attitudes toward medical cannabis and policy change.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to examine the attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs toward medical cannabis among foreign students from India and Middle Eastern countries studying in Russia and Belarus, two countries who oppose its recreational and medicine use. Indian and Middle Eastern students, as a group, tend to be more supportive of MC than their Russian and Belarusian counterparts. These results may be linked to cultural and historical reasons. This study provides useful information for possible medical and allied health curriculum and education purposes.

Anatomical study of the innervation of different parts of the posterior ligamentous region of the sacroiliac joint

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The periarticular sacroiliac joint (SIJ) technique has become an important area of focus, and the quartering of the SIJ posterior ligamentous region has been proposed as a way to refine this technique. However, detailed nerve distribution combined with the division of the SIJ posterior ligamentous region is lacking. We aimed to explore the innervation of the SIJ posteriorly based on the quartering of the SIJ posterior ligamentous region.

METHODS

Sixteen SIJs from eight embalmed cadavers were studied. Each SIJ posterior ligamentous region was equally divided into areas 0-3 from top to bottom. The origin, distribution, quantity, transverse diameter, spatial orientation, relation with bony structures, and the number of identifiable terminal nerve branches in each area were examined.

RESULTS

Areas 0-1 were innervated by the lateral branches of the dorsal rami of L4-L5 directly in all specimens. Areas 2-3 were innervated by that of both lumbar and sacral nerves via the posterior sacral network (PSN), with L5 contributing to the PSN in all specimens and L4 in 68.75%. The number of identifiable terminal nerve branches were significantly higher in areas 2-3 than in areas 0-1.

CONCLUSIONS

The inferior part of the SIJ posterior ligamentous region seems to be the main source of SIJ-related pain and is innervated by lumbar and sacral nerves via the PSN. However, the superior part directly innervated by lumbar nerves should not be neglected, and further clinical verification is needed.

Long-Term Efficacy of Physical Therapy for Localized Provoked Vulvodynia

Purpose

The origin of provoked vulvodynia (PV), the main cause of entry dyspareunia, remains unclear, and the treatment is empiric. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term effects of physical therapy on PV in subjects using questionnaire concerning PV symptoms immediately after physical therapy and at least 10 years later.

Patients and Methods

This study included a total of 24 women diagnosed with PV and referred by their primary physicians to Maccabi Physical Therapy Clinic for pelvic floor rehabilitation between 2004 and 2008. Criteria such as pain relief, sexual functioning, and treatment satisfaction were assessed.

Results

The average pain scores of the 24 participants reduced significantly after therapy, and 42% had no pain between treatment and the time of survey. Eighty-three percent did not undergo additional treatment after the initial physical therapy and reported high or very extremely high levels of pain reduction following treatment. Multiple regression analysis found that onset type of PV and age were not associated with the treatment outcome (p = 1.0).

Conclusion

Physical therapy is an effective long-term treatment for primary or secondary PV, resulting in pain reduction and improved sexual function.

Preemptive analgesia using selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors alleviates postoperative pain in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: A protocol for PRISMA guided meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The postoperative pain associated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is severe for most patients. The analgesic efficacy and safety of preoperative use of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors for patients undergoing TKA are unclear.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether the use of selective COX-2 inhibitors before TKA decreases the postoperative pain intensity.

METHODS

Data sources: The PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials databases from inception to January 2020.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which the intervention treatment was preoperative selective COX-2 vs placebo in patients undergoing TKA and that had at least one of the quantitative outcomes mentioned in the following section of this paper were included. Letters, review articles, case reports, editorials, animal experimental studies, and retrospective studies were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

All RCTs in which the intervention treatment was preoperative selective COX-2 vs placebo in patients undergoing TKA.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

The quality of the RCTs was quantified using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Six RCTs that had enrolled a total of 574 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The visual analog scale pain score at rest was significantly different between the experimental group and control group at 24 hours (P < .05) and 72 hours (P < .05) postoperatively. The experimental group exhibited a significant visual analog scale pain score during flexion at 24 hours postoperatively (P < .05), and it was not different at 72 hours postoperatively (P = .08). There was a significant difference in opioid consumption (P < .05), but there was no difference in the operation time (P = .24) or postoperative nausea/vomiting (P = .64) between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of preoperative administration of selective COX-2 inhibitors to reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption after TKA is validated.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY202090101.

Epidural blood patch for post-dural puncture headaches in adult and paediatric patients with malignancies: a review

Many anaesthetists are hesitant to perform epidural blood patch in patients with cancer because of the potential risk of seeding the CNS with malignant cells. Recent evidence suggests that anaesthetists may view malignancy as a relative contraindication to epidural blood patch rather than an absolute contraindication. This review article summarises the clinical dilemma, reviews the existing literature, and proposes a treatment algorithm that includes the utilisation of for the management of post-dural puncture headache in the oncology population.

Community-based non-pharmacological interventions for improving pain, disability and quality of life in pregnant women with musculoskeletal conditions: protocol for a systematic review with meta-analyses

INTRODUCTION

Twenty five per cent of pregnant women with musculoskeletal pain have disabling symptoms that negatively influence quality of life. Studies have reported varying effects of non-pharmacological interventions including exercise, manipulation and pelvic belts for pregnant women with musculoskeletal problems. The overall effectiveness and acceptability of these interventions is uncertain due to lack of synthesised evidence. This protocol is for the first systematic review of community-based non-pharmacological interventions for improving pain, disability and quality of life in pregnant women with musculoskeletal conditions from studies published until August 2020.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A detailed search of PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Global Index Medicus, African Index Medicus, African Journal Online, Western Pacific Region Index Medicus, Latin American and Caribbean Centre on Health Science Information, Index Medicus for South-East Asia Region, IRIS (WHO digital publications), British Library for Development Studies and Google Scholar. Additional studies will be located from the reference list of identified studies and relevant systematic reviews. The databases will be searched from inception to August 2020. Appraisal of study quality will be performed with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data will be synthesised using a mixed-studies synthesis design-the convergent synthesis. The description of interventions in all study designs will be summarised narratively. Meta-analyses will be used to statistically summarise the effectiveness of interventions in randomised controlled trials and the factors that influence these. Other quantitative studies will be summarised narratively to answer the objectives. Thematic synthesis will be used to summarise results of qualitative studies. The outcomes of interest include pain, disability and quality of life. This paper is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 guidelines.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical clearance is not required. Findings will be presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020189535.

Treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain with electron modulation procedure

Aim: To assess the efficacy of the electron modulation procedure (EMP) in reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain acutely over distinct anatomical areas. Materials & methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 223 patients who received a single EMP treatment for various chronic musculoskeletal pain issues. Pain levels, recorded before and after receiving EMP, were analyzed at distinct anatomical musculoskeletal areas. Results & conclusion: The effect of the EMP treatments in reducing musculoskeletal pain was statistically significant at the 5% level. Those with hip/gluteal and ankle pain had the highest (92%) and lowest (58%) pain elimination rate, respectively. Statistical evidence supported the idea that EMP treatment can quickly reduce musculoskeletal pain. Distinct anatomical musculoskeletal areas responded differently to EMP treatment.

The feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of parent-targeted interventions in vaccination pain management of infants: a pilot randomized control trial (RCT)

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of parent interventions for improving the use of pain management strategies during vaccination of infants, a two-armed pilot randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted. Materials & methods: 151 parents were randomized in two groups: Group 1) 'Be Sweet to Babies' videos and a tip sheet (n = 76); Group 2) As per Group 1 plus a motivational interviewing informed Affirmative Statements and Questions (AS&Q) (n = 75). Results & conclusion: Feasibility was evaluated by success of the recruitment (151 people in a week), rates of completed consent forms (85%), and surveys (59%). Over 94% satisfaction with interventions, processes and 88% intention to recommend the strategies to others determined the acceptability. Preliminary efficacy was evident by over 95% use of pain management strategies following the interventions. Clinical trial registration number: NCT03968432.

Epidemiology of chronic pain in children and adolescents: a protocol for a systematic review update

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pain, defined as persistent or recurring pain or pain lasting longer than 3 months, is a common childhood problem and can profoundly impact children's physical, psychological and social functioning. The last comprehensive systematic review estimating the prevalence of chronic pain in children and adolescents was published in 2011. Since then, the literature on paediatric chronic pain has grown substantially. This manuscript outlines a protocol for an updated systematic review to provide updated estimates of the prevalence of various forms of chronic pain in children and adolescence. The review will also examine the relationship between sociodemographic and psychosocial factors related to chronic pain prevalence.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This review will follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We will search EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO for observational studies published in English between 2009 and 2020 reporting population-based estimates of chronic non-disease-related pain prevalence in children or adolescents (age ≤19 years). Two independent reviewers will screen the titles and abstracts retrieved from the search based on predefined eligibility criteria. The full texts of relevant studies will then be assessed by two reviewers. Studies meeting inclusion criteria will be categorised according to the type of pain investigated: headache only, abdominal pain only, back pain only, musculoskeletal pain, combined pain, general pain and other pain. Data will be extracted using customised forms and studies will be assessed for risk of bias using a 10-item tool developed by Hoy et al (2012). A narrative synthesis will summarise the prevalence estimates of paediatric chronic pain and associated sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates. Meta-analyses and meta-regressions will be performed if the data permit.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through publication in an academic journal, presentations at conferences and in various media.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020198690.

Association of musculoskeletal pain in other body parts with new-onset shoulder pain: a longitudinal study among survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake

OBJECTIVE

Shoulder pain is a common health problem coexisting with other musculoskeletal pain. However, the effects of pre-existing musculoskeletal pain on the development of shoulder pain are not clear. The present study aimed to elucidate the association between coexisting musculoskeletal pain at other body sites and new-onset shoulder pain among survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE).

DESIGN

This is a longitudinal study.

SETTING

The study was conducted at the severely damaged coastal areas in Ishinomaki and Sendai cities.

PARTICIPANTS

The survivors who did not have shoulder pain at 3 years after the GEJE were followed up 1 year later (n=2131).

INTERVENTIONS

Musculoskeletal pain (low back, hand and/or foot, knee, shoulder and neck pain) was assessed using self-reported questionnaires.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcome of interest was new-onset shoulder pain, which was defined as shoulder pain absent at 3 years but present at 4 years after the disaster. The main predictive factor for new-onset shoulder pain was musculoskeletal pain in other body parts at 3 years after the GEJE; this was categorised according to the number of pain sites (0, 1, ≥2). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for new-onset shoulder pain due to musculoskeletal pain in other body parts.

RESULTS

The incidence of new-onset shoulder pain was 6.7% (143/2131). Musculoskeletal pain in other body parts was significantly associated with new-onset shoulder pain. Using the survivors without other musculoskeletal pain as reference, the adjusted OR and 95% CI for new-onset shoulder pain were 1.86 (1.18 to 2.94) for those with one body part and 3.22 (2.08 to 4.98) for those with ≥2 body parts presenting with musculoskeletal pain (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-existing musculoskeletal pain in other body parts was significantly associated with new-onset shoulder pain among survivors; this provides useful information for clinical and public health policies.

Description of content, structure and theoretical model of a group-based pain management programme in the treatment of patients with persistent non-specific low back pain and psychological risk factors in a secondary sector setting

OBJECTIVE

To present the theoretical foundation and methodological considerations for a group-based pain management programme for patients with persistent non-specific low back pain and psychosocial risk factors.

METHOD

The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist was used as a framework for describing the content, structure and context of the program. The theoretical rationale underlying the pain management programme was described using the first three steps of the Intervention Mapping framework. The Fear-avoidance model and the Self-efficacy Theory were identified as the two main theories. These were used to establish specific factors addressed by the pain management programme as well as expected outcomes.

INTERVENTION DESCRIPTION

A multidisciplinary, group-based programme using a cognitive-behavioural approach was developed. The programme consisting of six sessions of two hours duration, took place at a spine clinic at a regional hospital in Denmark. Psychoeducation and cognitive restructuring were specific strategies hypothesised to induce changes in outcome measures. The outcomes expected to change as a result of the intervention were disability, quality of life, sick leave and physical activity. A pilot study was performed, subsequent adjustments made and the final content and educational materials completed by January 2017.

CONCLUSION

The theoretical foundation and underlying evidence for the hypothesised change mechanisms in the use of a cognitive-behavioural approach was presented. A theoretically sound and practically feasible intervention has been developed and its effectiveness is being determined in a randomised controlled trial, including 130 low back pain patients, which is currently underway.

Measures and Effects of Pain Management for Wound Dressing Change in Outpatient Children in Western China

Purpose

The present study investigated the pain management of wound dressing change in outpatient children in western China, and the results may provide a reference to improve the pain management of wound dressing change.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was performed to investigate the pain management of wound dressing change in outpatient children in western China. A total of 47 hospitals were selected via convenience sampling, and the pain management organization systems, concrete measures and barriers to adequate pain management of these hospitals were investigated.

Results

More than 70% of these hospitals had established pain management systems, analgesic drug management norms and wound care teams. Nurses were the primary providers for wound dressing change in 48.94% of the hospitals. The assessment, documentation or health education of the pain was not standard in 46.81% of the hospitals. Drug and non-drug analgesia measures were used in most hospitals, however, children did not receive adequate analgesia in 70% of the hospitals. Ibuprofen (30.49%) and lidocaine (29.27%) were commonly used analgesic drugs, and distraction (43.01%) was commonly used as a non-drug analgesia measure. The top three barriers to adequate pain management were medical staff lacking analgesic knowledge (82.98%), family members refusing to use analgesics (61.70%) and low compliance of children (55.32%).

Conclusion

The concrete measures for the management of wound dressing pain in children are not standardized, and the analgesic effect is poor. In order to improve the pain management of children, Standardized procedures for pain management (pain assessment, analgesia measures, pain documentation and health education) should be strictly followed during wound dressing change, and the identified barriers should be addressed.

Evaluating the association of preoperative parecoxib with acute pain trajectories after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a single-centre cohort study in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE

The efficacy of parecoxib as pre-emptive analgesia still remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate how pre-emptive analgesia with parecoxib affected postoperative pain trajectories over time in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

A single medical centre in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

We collected 515 patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at a tertiary medical centre between September 2016 and August 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

Pre-emptive parecoxib before surgery.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Daily numeric rating pain scores in the first postoperative week.

RESULTS

A total of 196 (38.1%) of the recruited patients received parecoxib preoperatively. The latent curve analysis revealed that woman, higher body weight and postoperative use of parecoxib were associated with increased baseline level of pain scores over time (p=0.035, 0.005 and 0.048, respectively) but epidural analgesia and preoperative use of parecoxib were inclined to decrease it (both p<0.001). Regarding the decreasing trends of changes in daily pain scores, older age and epidural analgesia tended to steepen the slope (p=0.014 and <0.001, respectively). Preoperative use of parecoxib were also related to decreased frequency of rescue morphine medication (HR=0.4; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.65).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-emptive analgesia with parecoxib was associated with decreased baseline pain scores but had no connection with pain decreasing trends over time. Latent curve analysis provided insights into the dynamic relationships among the analgesic modalities, patient characteristics and postoperative pain trajectories.

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) on Postoperative Recovery in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is an innovative choice for postoperative pain management. However, the safety and effectiveness of this traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for patients who underwent gastrectomy is largely unknown. So, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of TEAS for patients who underwent gastrectomy.

Patients and Methods

We recruited 96 patients with gastric cancer from May 2019 to November 2019; 82 patients were enrolled, and 81 patients completed. Patients were randomly assigned to TEAS group (TG) received TEAS on postoperative day (POD) 1–3 or control group (CG) at a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcomes were pain score and consumption of analgesics. The secondary were the time of first postoperative flatus and defecation, frequency of postoperative nausea, vomiting, distention, diarrhea, comfort of semi-fluid diet, Clavien-Dindo grade (C-D grade) and length of postoperative day. We performed hematological analysis to explore the possible mechanisms.

Results

Overall, 81 patients were enrolled included in the analysis. Compared with CG, pain scores in TG were lower on POD 1–5 (average: 2.55±0.21 vs 3.10±0.42, P<0.001), and the use rate of opioids was lower (43.9 vs 75.0, P=0.004); time of first postoperative flatus (55.63±16.74 vs 72.60±20.92, P<0.001) and defecation (72.20±16.24 vs 95.78±17.75, P<0.001) were shorter; the frequency of nausea were fewer (1.88±1.09 vs 2.58±0.77, P=0.029) and patients were more comfortable with semi-fluid diet (7.63±0.63 vs 6.93±0.69, P<0.001); among the hematologic results, β-endorphin (β-End), interleukin-2 (IL-2), motilin (MTL) on POD 3, POD 5 were lower, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were higher. And no adverse event was reported.

Conclusion

TEAS can relieve postoperative pain and promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function. Consequently, it can be an adjunctive therapy to enhance postoperative recovery for patients after gastrectomy.

Diagnostic block and radiofrequency ablation of the acromial branches of the lateral pectoral and suprascapular nerves for shoulder pain: a 3D cadaveric study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Acromial branches of the lateral pectoral and suprascapular nerves have been proposed as targets for diagnostic block and radiofrequency ablation to treat superior shoulder pain; however, the nerve capture rates of these procedures have not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to use dissection and 3D modeling technology to determine the course of these acromial branches, relative to anatomical landmarks, and to evaluate nerve capture rates using ultrasound-guided dye injection and lesion simulation.

METHODS

Ultrasound-guided dye injections, targeting the superior surface of coracoid process and floor of supraspinous fossa, were performed (n=5). Furthermore, needles targeting the superior and posterior surfaces of the coracoid process were placed under ultrasound guidance to simulate needle electrode position (n=5). Specimens were dissected, digitized, and modeled to determine capture rates of acromial branches of lateral pectoral and suprascapular nerves.

RESULTS

The course of acromial branches of lateral pectoral and suprascapular nerves were documented. Dye spread capture rates: acromial branches of lateral pectoral and suprascapular nerves were captured in all specimens. Lesion simulation capture rates: (1) when targeting superior surface of coracoid process, the entire acromial branch of lateral pectoral nerve was captured in all specimens and (2) when targeting posterior surface of coracoid process, the acromioclavicular and bursal branches of acromial branch of suprascapular nerve were captured in all specimens; coracoclavicular branch was captured in 3/5 specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the anatomical feasibility of ultrasound-guided targeting of the acromial branches of lateral pectoral and suprascapular nerves. Further clinical investigation is required.

Medical and surgical treatment of meralgia paresthetica

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a painful mononeuropathy that causes paresthesia, tingling, stinging or a burning sensation in the thigh's anterolateral part due to the entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve under the inguinal ligament. The treatment options for MP include conservative or interventional management and must follow an algorithm. The objective is to eliminate the underlying cause if known. In the present study, four patients with MP who were successfully treated with either conservative or interventional management are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of neurolysis (decompression and transposition) and neurectomy procedures for surgical treatments are discussed.

Herbal Medicine for Pain Management: Efficacy and Drug Interactions

Complementary and alternative medicines such as herbal medicines are not currently part of the conventional medical system. As the popularity of and global market for herbal medicine grows among all age groups, with supporting scientific data and clinical trials, specific alternative treatments such as herbal medicine can be reclassified as a practice of conventional medicine. One of the most common conditions for which adults use herbal medicine is pain. However, herbal medicines carry safety concerns and may impact the efficacy of conventional therapies. Unfortunately, mechanisms of action are poorly understood, and their use is unregulated and often underreported to medical professionals. This review aims to compile common and available herbal medicines which can be used as an alternative to or in combination with conventional pain management approaches. Efficacy and safety are assessed through clinical studies on pain relief. Ensuing herb–drug interactions such as cytochrome modulation, additive and synergistic effects, and contraindications are discussed. While self-management has been recognized as part of the overall treatment strategy for patients suffering from chronic pain, it is important for practitioners to be able to also optimize and integrate herbal medicine and, if warranted, other complementary and alternative medicines into their care.

Bilateral mandibular block improves pain relief and morphine consumption in mandibular osteotomies: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The sensory innervation of the lower jaw mainly depends on the third root of the trigeminal nerve, the mandibular nerve (V3). The aim of this single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bilateral V3 block for postoperative analgesia management in mandibular osteotomies.

METHODS

107 patients undergoing mandibular surgery (75 scheduled osteotomies and 32 mandible fractures) were randomized in two groups. A bilateral V3 block was performed in each group, either with ropivacaine 0.75% (block group, n=50) or with a placebo (placebo group, n=57). A postoperative multimodal analgesia was equally provided to both groups. The primary outcome was the cumulative morphine consumption at 24 hours. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of severe pain and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the first 24 hours. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

The cumulative morphine consumption at 24 hours was significantly lower in the block group (median 8.0 mg (IQR 2.0-21.3) vs 12.0 mg (IQR 8.0-22.0), p=0.03), as well as the incidence of severe pain during the 24 hours of follow-up (4.0% vs 22.8%, p<0.01). The mandibular block had no impact on the incidence of PONV.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral V3 block for mandibular osteotomies is an effective opioid-sparing procedure. It provided better postoperative analgesia in the first 24 hours, and it did not affect PONV incidence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02618993.