Efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency on the suprascapular and axillary-circumflex nerve for shoulder pain: A randomised controlled trial.

Background and Aims: Painful shoulder is one of the most frequent consultation causes. Multiple treatments have been described to relieve pain, restore range of motion and improve functionality. Methods: This randomised clinical trial was conducted in 60 patients. The treatment group received combined pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) on suprascapular nerve (SN) and axillary-circumflex nerve (ACN). The control group received PRF on SN only. The primary outcome was pain intensity measured by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The secondary outcomes were the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), the Constant-Murley range of motion scale and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scale. The patients were monitored at the baseline visit and at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months. A mixed ordinal regression model was estimated to evaluate the association between the study group and pain measured with NRS. Results: A global decrease in pain at the end of the study was noted. The global baseline NRS was 8.4, and the global final NRS at 9 months of follow-up was 6.2. Combined PRF on SN and ACN was not associated with lower NRS pain scores compared to single SN PRF [odds ratio (OR) =1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91-1.20, P = 0.507]. Secondary outcomes showed no significant differences: SPADI (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.92-1.18), Constant-Murley (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.90-1.14), DASH (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.92-1.17). Conclusion: Combined PRF applied to SN and ACN was not superior to PRF applied to SN alone.

Brain MRI features of postdural puncture headache.

BACKGROUND: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a relatively common acute complication that occurs following regional anesthesia and is among the clinical features of secondary intracranial hypotension syndrome (IHS).The aim of this study was to document the radiological findings specific to PDPH with brain MRI and to determine whether these findings differed from those described in the third edition of the International Headache Society's International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3). METHODS: Thirty patients who were diagnosed with PDPH based on the ICHD-3 clinical criteria were enrolled in the study and signed the informed consent form approved by our hospital ethics committee. Their symptoms were recorded and they underwent brain MRI before and after the administration of a gadolinium-based contrast agent within 48-72 hours after the onset of their orthostatic headache. RESULTS: All patients with PDPH presented with MRI features of pachymeningeal enhancement. The thickness of the pachymeningeal enhancement varied from 0.6 mm to 4.1 mm, with a mean of 1.6 mm+0.8.No cases of brain sagging were observed. 4 of the 30 patients presented with intracranial subdural fluid collections, 7 presented with pneumocephalus and 7 pituitary gland enlargement. CONCLUSIONS: The radiological characteristics of IHS and PDPH are most likely the result of compensatory mechanisms in response to decreased cerebrospinal fluid pressure. The acute nature of PDPH probably causes its radiological MRI characteristics to differ from those of IHS, given that no brain sagging could be demonstrated.

Real-world outcomes of single-stage spinal cord stimulation in chronic pain patients: A multicentre, European case series.

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is effective in treating chronic neuropathic pain. A screening trial is typically conducted prior to implantation to evaluate whether a patient is a good candidate for SCS. However, the need for a screening trial has been debated. We evaluated real-world clinical outcomes in patients who underwent a single-stage procedure to receive SCS therapy (i.e., no screening trial period) (SS-SCS). Methods: This observational, multicentre, real-world consecutive case series evaluated SS-SCS chronic pain patients. Pain and other functional outcomes were collected as part of standard care by site personnel with no sponsor involvement. Assessments included Numerical rating scale (NRS), Percent Pain Relief (PPR) and EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol 5 Dimensions-5L), recorded prior to SCS and following implantation. Results: A total of 171 chronic pain patients (mean age: 59.4; 53.2% females) underwent a single-stage procedure (mean last follow-up, 408 days) and were included in the analysis. A 5.0 â€‹± â€‹2.1-point improvement in overall pain was reported at 3 months and sustained until the last follow-up post-implantation (p â€‹< â€‹0.0001). At last follow-up, 50.3% (86/171) of patients reported an NRS pain score ≤3. Additionally, quality of life also improved (46.1-point change, from 70.2 to 25) at the last follow-up, based on EQ-5D-5L scores. Conclusions: In routine clinical practice, SS-SCS can provide significant long-term pain relief and improve quality of life in chronic pain patients. Our results suggest that effective long-term outcomes and success may be achieved without a trial period prior to permanent implantation of an SCS system.

Influence of hospital adverse events and previous diagnoses on hospital care cost of patients with hip fracture.

Previous diagnoses of patients with hip fracture influence the hospitalization cost of these patients, either directly or by increasing the risk of in-hospital adverse events associated with increased costs. PURPOSE: To investigate how previous diagnoses influence the occurrence of in-hospital adverse events and how both factors impact on hospital costs. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the hospital Minimum Basic Data Set. Patients aged 70 years or older admitted for hip fracture (HF) at a single University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016. Both, previous diagnoses and adverse events, were defined according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9/ICD-10). The anticipated cost of each admission was calculated based on diagnosis-related groups and using the "all patients refined" method (APR-DRG). The occurrence of adverse events during hospital stay was assessed by excluding all diagnoses present on admission. RESULTS: The record included 1571 patients with a mean (SD) age of 84 years. The most frequent previous diagnoses were diabetes (n = 432, 27.5%) and dementia (n = 251, 16.0%), and the most frequent adverse events were delirium (n = 238, 15.1%) and anemia (n = 188, 12.0%). The mean (SD) total acute care costs per patient were €8752.1 (1864.4). The presence of heart failure, COPD, and kidney disease at admission significantly increased the hospitalization cost. In-hospital adverse events of delirium, cardiac events, anemia, urinary tract infection, and digestive events significantly increased costs. The multivariate analyses identified kidney disease as a previous diagnosis significantly contributing to explain an increase in hospitalization costs, and delirium, cardiac disease, anemia, urinary infection, respiratory event, and respiratory infection as in-hospital adverse events significantly contributing to an increase of hospitalization costs. CONCLUSIONS: Although few baseline comorbidities have a direct impact on hospitalization costs, most previous diagnoses increase the risk of in-hospital adverse events, which ultimately influence the hospitalization cost.