Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I with neridronate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Comparative Clinical Observation of Arthroscopic Microfracture in the Presence and Absence of a Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative cartilage disease that is characterized by a local inflammatory reaction. Consequently, many studies have been performed to identify suitable prevention and treatment interventions. In recent years, both arthroscopic microfracture (AM) and stem cell therapy have been used clinically to treat OA. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of AM in the presence and absence of a stromal vascular fraction (SVF) injection in the management of patients with OA. Thirty patients with grade 2 or 3 (Lawrence scale) OA of the knee participated in this study. Placebo group patients (n = 15) received AM alone; treatment group patients (n = 15) received AM and an adipose tissue‐derived SVF injection. The SVF was suspended in platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) before injection into the joint. Patient groups were monitored and scored with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Lysholm, Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS), and modified Outerbridge classifications before treatment and at 6, 12, and 18 months post‐treatment. Bone marrow edema was also assessed at these time points. Patients were evaluated for knee activity (joint motion amplitude) and adverse effects relating to surgery and stem cell injection. Treatment efficacy was significantly different between placebo and treatment groups. All treatment group patients had significantly reduced pain and WOMAC scores, and increased Lysholm and VAS scores compared with the placebo group. These findings suggest that the SVF/PRP injection efficiently improved OA for 18 months after treatment. This study will be continuously monitored for additional 24 months. Stem Cells Translational Medicine2017;6:187–195

Management of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) includes different conditions characterized by regional pain and sensory, motor, sudomotor, vasomotor, and/or trophic findings, affecting a peripheral limb usually after a noxious event, such as a trauma or surgery. The pathophysiology is still poorly understood. Limited data are available on the incidence of CRPS-I, and the disease is underestimated and under-diagnosed. The disease shows a female preponderance approximately 3:1 with a peak age of incidence around the 5th and 6th decade. The available diagnostic criteria for CRPS-I rely on clinical criteria that are unfortunately focused on the signs and symptoms of the chronic and late disease, while little emphasis is given to the typical imaging (X-rays, bone scintigraphy, MRI) findings of the early phase. Over the last decades, several therapies have been proposed but the few studies available are often too small to be conclusive and rarely evolved to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). On the basis of the results of a few RCTs, only short courses of high bisphosphonate doses appear to provide substantial benefits. The best results are seen in patients in the early phase of the disease, often with the persistent remission or complete healing of the conditions. Since the only accredited mechanism of action of bisphosphonates is the suppression of osteoclastic bone resorption, it is likely the initial dramatic bone loss plays a role in the maintenance and evolution of CRPS-I. Short courses of high doses of bisphosphonates should be considered the treatment of choice for patients with CRPS-I.

Intravenous Therapies for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) remains a challenging clinical pain condition. Multidisciplinary approaches have been advocated for managing CRPS. Compared with spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal targeted therapy, IV treatments are less invasive and less costly. We aimed to systemically review the literature on IV therapies and determine the level of evidence to guide the management of CRPS. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases for articles published on IV therapies of CRPS up through February 2015. The search yielded 299 articles, of which 101 were deemed relevant by reading the titles and 63 by reading abstracts. All these 63 articles were retrieved for analysis and discussion. We evaluated the relevant studies and provided recommendations according to the level of evidence. We conclude that there is evidence to support the use of IV bisphosphonates, immunoglobulin, ketamine, or lidocaine as valuable interventions in selected patients with CRPS. However, high-quality studies are required to further evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of IV therapies for CRPS.

Bone marrow lesions and subchondral bone pathology of the knee

Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) around the knee are a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding. However, despite the growing interest on BMLs in multiple pathological conditions, they remain controversial not only for the still unknown role in the etiopathological processes, but also in terms of clinical impact and treatment. The differential diagnosis includes a wide range of conditions: traumatic contusion and fractures, cyst formation and erosions, hematopoietic and infiltrated marrow, developmental chondroses, disuse and overuse, transient bone marrow oedema syndrome and, lastly, subchondral insufficiency fractures and true osteonecrosis. Regardless the heterogeneous spectrum of these pathologies, a key factor for patient management is the distinction between reversible and irreversible conditions. To this regard, MRI plays a major role, leading to the correct diagnosis based on recognizable typical patterns that have to be considered together with coexistent abnormalities, age, and clinical history. Several treatment options have been proposed, from conservative to surgical approaches. In this manuscript the main lesion patterns and their management have been analysed to provide the most updated evidence for the differential diagnosis and the most effective treatment.

Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I with bisphosphonates

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is a common and disabling disorder affecting a peripheral limb, usually developing after a trauma to an extremity. CRPS-I is characterised by presence of spontaneous pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia, disproportionate to the inciting event and by a variety of autonomic disturbances and trophic abnormalities. The pathophysiology of CRPS-I has not been fully understood. Experimental models have suggested that an initial triggering event may produce the release of proinflammatory neuropeptides and cytokines, generating a sort of neurogenic inflammation. Thereafter, increased microvascular permeability and intramedullary pressure, reduced oxygen extraction and cellular hypoxia maintain and make the disease worse, producing metabolic tissue acidosis. In this context, it is probable that, far from being a key player, the sympathetic nervous system contributes interacting with these mechanisms and producing vasomotor disturbances. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are potent inhibitors of osteoclastic activity widely used for the management of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. Their primary pharmacological action is the reduction of bone turnover. An enhanced osteoclastic activity has never been clearly demonstrated in CRPS-I. Therefore, it is likely that the positive effects of BPs in this condition are not related to their antiresorptive properties, but to a more complex interaction between these pharmacological agents and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CRPS-I. Results of several clinical trials have suggested the potential beneficial effects of BPs in CRPS-I. In five randomised controlled trials, oral and intravenous alendronate and intravenous clodronate, pamidronate and neridronate demonstrated to be effective in reducing pain and improving physical function in patients presenting with CRPS-I, with a good profile of safety and tolerability. Although these trials have a number of limitations, including the small samples enrolled, there is sufficient evidence to support the use of BPs as agents of choice in the management of CRPS-I.

Complex regional pain syndrome type I: a comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I), formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), is a chronic painful disorder that usually develops after a minor injury to a limb. This topical review gives a synopsis of CRPS I and discusses the current concepts of our understanding of CRPS I in adults, the diagnosis, and treatment options based on the limited evidence found in medical literature. CRPS I is a multifactorial disorder. Possible pathophysiological mechanisms of CRPS I are classic and neurogenic inflammation, and maladaptive neuroplasticity. At the level of the central nervous system, it has been suggested that an increased input from peripheral nociceptors alters the central processing mechanisms.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using, as electronic bibliographic database, Medline from 1980 until 2014.

RESULTS

An early diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment are necessary to prevent permanent disability.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacological treatment of CRPS I is empirical and insufficiently effective. Further research is needed regarding the therapeutic modalities discussed in the guidelines. Physical therapy is widely recommended as a first-line treatment. The efficacy of local anesthetic sympathetic blockade as treatment for CRPS I is questionable.

Intravenous neridronate in the treatment of acute painful knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to assess the efficacy of i.v. neridronate in controlling pain in patients with acute painful knee OA.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients with acute knee pain (<3 months duration) suffering from knee OA with an MRI showing bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were randomized to receive either neridronate 100 mg given four times over 10 days or placebo. After 50 days the patients underwent clinical assessment and a further MRI was performed. Primary outcome was pain changes measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS; range 0-100). Secondary endpoints were WOMAC pain score, McGill pain questionnaire and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. BMLs were evaluated by whole-organ MRI score.

RESULTS

At the day of the last infusion the VAS decreased significantly more in the neridronate group [from 59.0 (s.d. 14.7) to 30.4 (s.d. 15.6); -48.4%; P < 0.001]. Fifty days later the VAS remained unchanged in the placebo group, while a further significant decrease was observed in the neridronate group [from 30.4 (s.d. 15.6) to 9.4 (s.d. 10.8); -69.1%; P < 0.001]. Significant improvements compared with the placebo group were found for most of the other indices of pain and quality of life. The BMLs score in the neridronate group showed significant decreases compared with basal values and those of the placebo-treated patients. Four months after the treatment, 72% of the placebo-treated patients resumed analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs, but only 12.9% resumed treatment in the neridronate group.

CONCLUSION

In patients with acute painful knee OA, four infusions of neridronate are associated with a clinically relevant pain benefit.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov), NCT01803360.

Failure to fire after an electrical injury - a complex syndrome in a soldier

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder characterized by an intractable, disabling pain of the affected limb. It is triggered by various injuries and is often resistant to standard therapy. We report a young soldier with CRPS of the right hand sustained from an electrical injury, who had improvement in resting pain with Zoledronic acid. In this report, we discuss the therapeutic options and the role of bisphosphonates in CRPS.

Algodystrophy (CRPS) in minor orthopedic surgery

Algodystrophy or Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a painful disorder that develops especially at upper or lower extremities of the limbs after a fracture. This syndrome is probably due to bone microvascular changes with subsequent sympathetic nervous system involvement. The pain that characterizes CRPS is spontaneous, disproportionate to the traumatic event and is associated with hyperalgesia, and a variety of autonomic and trophic disorders. This condition has a variable incidence up to 37% of the cases, increasing along with the severity of the fracture. CRPS has a higher chance of developing in women, in older individuals, in smokers, and in patients with reduced bone strength. Early diagnosis is associated with remission in 80-90% of cases. Since the typical onset of the disease is insidious over 2 weeks after surgery, a diagnostic and therapeutic delay may occur. These are the major causes of a high percentage of chronic and disabling complications leading to impaired functional outcomes. In the acute or subacute phase, infusion of bisphosphonates has proven to be the first-choice of treatment with a high percentage of remissions. Moreover, it has been suggested the utility of vitamin C in prevention of CRPS. Furthermore, in the chronic phase electroanalgesia seems to provide promising results.

Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a multifactorial and disabling disorder with complex etiology and pathogenesis. Goals of therapy in CRPS should be pain relief, functional restoration, and psychological stabilization, but early interventions are needed in order to achieve these objectives. Several drugs have been used to reduce pain and to improve functional status in CRPS, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting their use in this scenario. They include anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, anesthetics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, oral muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, calcitonin, bisphosphonates, calcium channel blockers and topical agents. NSAIDs showed no value in treating CRPS. Glucocorticoids are the only anti-inflammatory drugs for which there is direct clinical trial evidence in early stage of CRPS. Opioids are a reasonable second or third-line treatment option, but tolerance and long term toxicity are unresolved issues. The use of anticonvulsants and tricyclic antidepressants has not been well investigated for pain management in CRPS. During the last years, bisphosphonates have been the mostly studied pharmacologic agents in CRPS treatment and there are good evidence to support their use in this condition. Recently, the efficacy of intravenous (IV) administration of neridronate has been reported in a randomized controlled trial. Significant improvements in VAS score and other indices of pain and quality of life in patients who received four 100 mg IV doses of neridronate versus placebo were reported. These findings were confirmed in the open-extension phase of the study, when patients formerly enrolled in the placebo group received neridronate at the same dosage, and these results were maintained at 1 year follow-up. The current literature concerning sympathetic blocks and sympathectomy techniques lacks evidence of efficacy. Low evidence was recorded for a free radical scavenger, dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) cream (50%). The same level of efficacy was noted for vitamin C (500 mg per day for 50 days) in prevention of CRPS in patients affected by wrist fracture. In conclusion, the best available therapeutic approach to CRPS is multimodal and is based on the use of several classes of drugs, associated to early physiotherapy. Neridronate at appropriate doses is associated with clinically relevant and persistent benefits in CRPS patients.

Effects of intra-articular clodronate in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: results of a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial

Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of intra-articular (IA) clodronate, compared to saline solution, in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In this double-blind phase 3 randomized clinical trial, patients were randomized to receive once weekly IA injection of 2 mg clodronate or placebo for 4 weeks with 12 weeks of follow-up. The primary objective was the sum of spontaneous, on passive movement, and at digital pressing pain relief assessed by visual analogue score (VAS) of 0-100 at 5 weeks after the final injection. Improving in Western Ontario MacMaster (WOMAC) scale, Lequesne index, consumption of acetaminophen, and physician or patient overall judgment were secondary objectives. Study population included 80 patients, 67 women and 13 men aged 66 ± 6 (SD) years. A significant improvement for all efficacy parameters was observed at all-time points in both groups. A significant difference in favor to clodronate in VAS for pain was observed 5 weeks after the last injection (-114.6 vs. -87.2 for clodronate and placebo group, respectively; p < 0.05). The improvements in Lequesne index, global KOA evaluation from both patients and investigators, and the WOMAC pain subscale were significantly greater in the clodronate group. The proportion of patients that did not require acetaminophen was significantly greater in the clodronate group (about 10 vs. 30 % for clodronate and placebo group, respectively; p < 0.05). IA 2 mg clodronate is associated with small and transient symptomatic and functional benefits and it is safe in KOA patients.

Management of chronic pain following nerve injuries/CRPS type II

Chronic pain affects quality of life and adversely affects functional outcomes. Chronic postoperative pain is a frustrating problem for the surgeon because it ruins a technically perfect procedure, and the surgeon may be unsure of treatment strategies. There is much information on chronic pain and its treatment, but it is often published outside of surgery and diffusion of this information across disciplines is slow. This article synthesizes some of this literature and provides a systematic presentation of the evidence on pain associated with peripheral nerve injury. It highlights the use of perioperative and early intervention to decrease this debilitating problem.

Clinical development of neridronate: potential for new applications

Neridronate is an aminobisphosphonate, licensed in Italy for the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and Paget's disease of bone (PDB). A characteristic property of neridronate is that it can be administered both intravenously and intramuscularly, providing a useful system for administration in homecare. In this review, we discuss the latest clinical results of neridronate administration in OI and PDB, as well as in osteoporosis and other conditions. We will focus in particular on the latest evidence of the effect of neridronate on treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I.