Acute Back Pain Following Surgery under Spinal Anesthesia

Incidence and Associated Factors of Postoperative Undesirable Anesthetic Outcomes Among Surgical Patients at Referral Hospitals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Multi-Center Study

Background

Patients undergoing surgery frequently experience unfavorable anesthetic outcomes. They may have an impact on body systems and result in more serious postoperative morbidities. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of postoperative undesirable anesthetic outcomes among surgical patients at referral hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Methods

A total of 412 patients, who underwent surgical procedures between August 1 and October 30 of 2022, were included in this study. The Leiden Perioperative Care Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire's (LPPSq) dimension "discomfort and needs" was used to collect data on the first postoperative day. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS version 20. To assess how risk factors affected the outcome variable, logistic regression analysis was utilized. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, a variable with a P-value of less than 0.05 was statistically considered as significant.

Results

The proportion of those who had "at least a little bit" of unfavorable outcomes was calculated to estimate their overall prevalence, and the prevalence of those who had "more than moderate" levels of unfavorable outcomes was determined to appreciate how severe these outcomes were. The percentages of postoperative pain, the most common undesired result, for "at least a little bit" and "more than moderate" were 87.7% and 32.3%, respectively. In this study, postoperative cold was the least prevalent (51.4%) undesirable anesthetic outcome. The remaining undesirable postoperative outcomes were reported less frequently.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Undesirable postoperative anesthetic outcomes were still common. The most frequent unfavorable result was postoperative pain. Adequate postoperative patient follow-up and quality service are paramount.

Comparison of postoperative back pain between paramedian and midline approach for thoracic epidural anesthesia

Background: The development of back pain following epidural analgesia is one reason for patient refusal of neuraxial analgesia. The primary endpoint of this study was to compare the incidence and severity of back pain following midline and paramedian epidural technique. The secondary endpoint was to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of back pain.Methods: This prospective randomized study included 114 patients receiving thoracic epidural catheterization for pain management following upper abdominal or thoracic surgery. Patients were allocated to either the midline or the paramedian group by computer-generated randomization. An investigator who was blinded to the patient group interviewed patients at 24, and 48 h, and 3–5 days after surgery about the existence of back pain and its severity.Results: The total incidence of back pain following epidural anesthesia was 23.8% in the midline group and 7.8% in the paramedian group. The numerical rating scale of back pain was not different between the two groups at 24 h and 4 days after surgery. The paramdian technique was associated with a lower incidence of back pain than the midline technique (95% confidence interval 0.05–0.74, odds ratio 0.2, P < 0.01). However, the number of attempts, surgical position, body mass index, and duration of surgery were not associated with back pain.Conclusions: This study showed that the midline group of thoracic epidural analgesia demonstrated higher incidence of back pain than the paramedian group. However, the pain was mild in intensity and decreased with time in both groups.

Prophylactic use of platelet-rich plasma for post-spinal low back pain following gynecological surgery: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Post-spinal back pain is suggested to occur as a result of a localized inflammatory response that is often associated with some degree of muscle spasm. We aimed to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in reducing the incidence of post-spinal back pain.

METHODS

One hundred patients were randomly enrolled and scheduled for elective gynecological surgery under spinal anesthesia. After the subarachnoid block, group A (placebo) received 2 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% injected into the track of spinal needle during its withdrawal (2 mm after outward withdrawal in muscles and subcutaneous tissues). While patients in group B (PRP); received 2 ml of PRP injected into the track of the spinal needle during its withdrawal. The primary outcome was the number of patients who developed post-spinal low back pain within the first week following the subarachnoid block. Secondary outcomes included the time of the first analgesic request and total meperidine consumption during the first 24 h postoperatively.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients in the PRP group developed low back pain during the first week following subarachnoid block compared to 26 patients in the placebo group (p = 0.037). There was a significant decrease in the mean meperidine consumption during first 24 h postoperatively in PRP group (174 ± 14 mg) compared to placebo group (210 ± 22 mg) (p < 0.0001). Also, the first analgesic request was significantly delayed in PRP group (243 ± 21 min.) compared to placebo group (185 ± 31 min.) (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the positive effects of platelet-rich plasma on the prevention of post-spinal backache.

The effects of preoperative reactions of emotional distress on headache and acute low back pain after spinal anesthesia: A prospective study

OBJECTIVES

To address the effect of preoperative symptoms of depression and anxiety on headache and low back pain after spinal anesthesia.

METHODS

This prospective observational cohort study included 370 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia before elective surgeries at a university hospital. The patients were evaluated in terms of symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Scale) while in their wards. The patients were evaluated via telephone calls for headache and low back pain after the operation.

RESULTS

Eighty-two (82/362) (23%) patients were determined as having headache and 28 (28/362) (7.8%) were determined as having low back pain. There was a significant association between preoperative depression scores and anxiety scores and VAS scores of headache (respectively, eta-squared = 0.19, p < .001; eta-squared = 0.14, p < .001). There was a significant association between preoperative depression scores and anxiety scores and VAS scores of low back pain (respectively, eta-squared = 0.02, p = .08; eta-squared = 0.03, p = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative symptoms of anxiety and symptoms of depression affect headache after spinal anesthesia. Preoperative symptoms of depression affect acute low back pain after spinal anesthesia. This trial was also registered at http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. (Protocol Registration Receipt NCT03427372).

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Back Pain among Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, North West Ethiopia: An Institutional Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Back pain is often reported as a common complaint after surgery. Many studies showed that the prevalence of back pain after spinal anesthesia is high and its magnitude is considerable in developing countries. It is highly related to reduced quality of life, loss of work productivity, burden of health care costs, and satisfaction regarding health care service; therefore, measures should be taken to reduce or prevented postspinal back. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with back pain among patients undergoing spinal anesthesia at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methodology. An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2020. A total of 215 participants were enrolled in this study. A convenience sampling technique was used to get the study participants. Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with postspinal back pain. Variables with a p value less than <0.2 in the bivariable analysis were fitted into the multivariable analysis. In the multivariable analysis, a variable with a p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of postspinal back pain was 40.5% (95% CI: 34.0, 47.4). Being overweight (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.47, 9.96) and obese (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.19, 20.4), using big spinal needles (AOR = 5.9; 95% CI: 1.04, 33.4), two attempts of lumbar puncture (AOR = 5.5; 95% CI: 1.74, 17.59), more than three attempts of lumbar puncture (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.63, 15.2), and the number of bone contacts during spinal anesthesia procedure (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.14, 8.45) were positively associated with postspinal back pain. Conclusion and Recommendation. The overall incidence of back pain is high. Body mass index, size of spinal needle, number of attempts, and number of bone contacts are significantly associated with the incidence of back pain following spinal anesthesia. Thus, it is better to minimize the number of lumbar puncture attempts and bone contacts during spinal anesthesia to reduce postspinal back pain. In addition, using smaller size spinal needle is a good choice.

Incidence of newly developed postoperative low back pain with median versus paramedian approach for spinal anesthesia

Background

The effects of anesthetic techniques on postdural puncture backache (PDPB) have not been specifically evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence and severity of PDPB between median and paramedian techniques.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive spinal anesthesia by either a median (Group M, n = 50) or paramedian (Group P, n = 50) approach.We recorded each patient’s personal number of puncture attempts, surgical position, and operation duration. We investigated the incidence and intensity of back pain 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 2, and 3 months postoperatively.

Results

The overall incidence of PDPB was higher in the Group M (18/50, 36%) than in the Group P (8/50, 16%) (P = 0.023). Twenty-four hours after surgery, 8 patients in Group M and 6 patients in Group P complained of back pain. Seven days after the surgery, 16 patients in the Group M and 5 patients in the Group P complained of pain (P = 0.007). After 1 month, 5 patients in the Group M and 1 patient in the Group P complained of pain. Only one patient in each group complained of pain after 3 months. No significant differences were noted in NRSs between the groups during study period.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that spinal anesthesia using the paramedian approach reduces the incidence of PDPB during the early postoperative period.

Incidence and Factors Contributing to Low Back Pain in the Nonobstetrical Patients Operated Under Spinal Anesthesia: A Prospective 1-Year Follow-Up Study

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence and factors contributing to postspinal anesthesia (SPA) low back pain (LBP) in patients undergoing nonobstetrical surgeries.

DESIGN

A prospective 1-year follow-up study.

METHODS

Patients having nonobstetrical surgery using SPA were included. The patients were followed up through phone calls and interviews every postoperative day for the first week, weekly for a month, and then monthly for a year after SPA. Patients' duration of LBP, duration of surgery, and need for LBP treatment were recorded.

FINDINGS

Of 410 patients, 5.8% (24 patients) experienced LBP. The incidence of LBP did not have a significant correlation with the recorded variables (P > .05). There was a negative significant correlation between duration of LBP and duration of surgery (r = -0.5096; P = .001). Of the 24 patients experiencing LBP, 16.7% (four patients) experienced it for less than 1 day, 66.7% (16 patients) 1 to 7 days, 16.7% (four patients) more than 7 days, and only one patient (4.2%) for up to 17 days. Special LBP treatment was not needed in any of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of LBP was very low, and those patients undergoing nonobstetrical surgery and receiving SPA did not experience persistent LBP.