Treatment of the post-mastectomy pain syndrome with topical capsaicin.

Twenty-one patients with post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) were entered in an open-label trial of topical 0.025% capsaicin treatment (3 daily applications for 2 months). Out of 19 evaluable patients, 2 (10.5%) reported complete disappearance of all symptoms, and 11 (57.9%) had a reduction of pain which was never worse than mild at the end of treatment. Three months after cessation of treatment, 11 of 13 of the responding patients continued to have good pain relief, with only 1 continuing to use capsaicin. Treatment was well tolerated with no drop-out due to side effects. This is the first independent confirmation of the usefulness of capsaicin in the PMPS, following the recent publication of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study showing significant pain relief with 0.075% capsaicin but not with vehicle cream. Further experimental and clinical research on the properties of capsaicin in other painful peripheral neuropathies is desirable.

The use of platelet-rich plasma gel in patients with mixed tumour undergoing superficial parotidectomy: a randomized study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Salivary gland tumors are mostly benign tumors. Whether a more conservative surgical approach at greater risk of recurrence, or a more radical intervention with an increased risk of facial paralysis is warranted is still under discussion. Our study addresses the opportunity for improving surgical outcome by employing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel at the surgical site. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients undergoing superficial parotidectomy were randomized and assigned to two groups, one with and one without PRP gel. Many parameters were evaluated after surgery and during follow-up, such as the duration of hospitalization, facial nerve deficit, onset of Frey's syndrome, relapse, cosmetic results, presence of keloid or scar depressions, behavior of several facial muscles. RESULTS: Our explorative analysis suggests a positive effect of PRP on surgical outcome in patients undergoing parotidectomy, whereas no negative effects were detected. CONCLUSION: This work suggests that administration of PRP in patients undergoing parotidectomy is beneficial.