ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A growing number of meta-analyses (MA) have investigated the use of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as a treatment modality for chronic pain. The quality of these MAs has not been assessed by validated appraisal tools. OBJECTIVE: To examine the methodological characteristics and quality of MAs related to the use of SCS for chronic pain syndromes. EVIDENCE REVIEW: An online literature search was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE(R), Ovid EMBASE, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus databases (January 1, 2000 through June 30, 2023) to identify MAs that investigated changes in pain intensity, opioid consumption, and/or physical function after SCS for the treatment of chronic pain. MA quality was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2) critical appraisal tool. FINDINGS: Twenty-five MAs were appraised in the final analysis. Three were considered "high" quality, three "low" quality, and 19 "critically low" quality, per the AMSTAR-2 criteria. There was no association between the publication year and AMSTAR-2 overall quality (ß 0.043; 95% CI -0.008 to 0.095; p=0.097). There was an association between the impact factor and AMSTAR-2 overall quality (ß 0.108; 95% CI 0.044 to 0.172; p=0.002), such that studies published in journals with higher impact factors were associated with higher overall quality. There was no association between the effect size and AMSTAR-2 overall quality (ß -0.168; 95% CI -0.518 to 0.183; p=0.320).According to our power analysis, three studies were adequately powered (>80%) to reject the null hypothesis, while the remaining studies were underpowered (<80%). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates a critically low AMSTAR-2 quality for most MAs published on the use of SCS for treating chronic pain. Future MAs should improve study quality by implementing the AMSTAR-2 checklist items. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023431155.
ABSTRACT
Osteomyelitis of the carpal bones is rare and usually occurs in the setting of penetrating trauma. Here, to our knowledge, we report the first known documented case of carpal osteomyelitis in a spinal cord injury (SCI) patient and discuss the medical management of this patient. A 62-year-old male with a remote history of traumatic SCI at T5 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) A and a history of IV polysubstance abuse presented to an acute care hospital for acute non-traumatic right dorsal wrist pain. Initial hand and wrist X-rays were negative for acute findings. After eight weeks of continued symptoms, severely impaired activities of daily living, and decreased independence, the patient was admitted to acute rehabilitation. MRI showed bone edema changes involving the distal radius, scaphoid, lunate, majority of the capitate, and hamate, concerning possible osteomyelitis. A CT-guided biopsy of the scaphoid confirmed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis. He completed a seven-day course of IV vancomycin followed by 12 weeks of oral doxycycline. A follow-up positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed no evidence of osteomyelitis, and the patient returned to a baseline functional status of modified independence for most activities of daily living. Carpal osteomyelitis in SCI patients is rare and can be challenging to diagnose, given that it can present with a lack of systemic symptoms and nonspecific laboratory markers. This is the first documented case of carpal osteomyelitis involving an SCI individual. The continuation of diminishing hand mobility, function, and independence should prompt further workup with MRI to rule out uncommon but potentially debilitating diseases such as osteomyelitis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive technique to treat refractory symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. A rare complication called anterior spinal artery syndrome has been documented several times in the literature after the procedure from cement embolism; however, the authors report an unusual case of anterior spinal artery syndrome following kyphoplasty through retropulsion of bone fragmentation. Case presentation: An 83-year-old male was admitted to an acute care hospital for severe low thoracic back pain without neurological symptoms. Computed tomography imaging showed T8 vertebral body compression fracture with 75% height loss. Kyphoplasty was performed four days after the admission without complications. On day nine postoperatively, the patient developed acute onset paraparesis of the lower extremities dissociated sensory deficits involving bilateral loss of temperature and pain, but preserved proprioception and vibratory sense. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed T2 intramedullary hyperintensity spanning from T7-9 and retropulsion of the bone fragments from a refracture of the T8 vertebral body. Conclusion: This study highlights a rare complication from a standard pain procedure through an unusual mechanism of injury. Clinicians who suspect acute myelopathy following vertebral augmentation procedures should obtain a computed tomography angiogram to identify a potential occluded vessel. If negative, individuals should proceed to magnetic resonance imaging to rule out retropulsion of bone fragmentation into the spinal cord.
ABSTRACT
A 56-year-old male with a past medical history significant for a left below-knee amputation and a left total knee replacement presented with knee pain at a non-healing stage 2 prosthesis-related residual limb ulcer. The ulcer at the weight-bearing surface at the anterior patella had not closed despite three years of conservative management; including offloading and wound clinic follow up. To assist with the healing process, the ulcer was treated with autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue therapy. He was injected with 8 mLs of minimally manipulated adipose tissue (Lipogems) underneath the ulcer. Upon the four-week follow-up, his pain had resolved, and the wound was significantly reduced in size with new skin appearing. The goal of this case report is to examine if autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue can represent a feasible and safe treatment option for chronic prosthesis-related residual limb ulcers. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case using micro-fragmented adipose therapy to treat a chronic prosthesis-related residual limb ulcer.