Interventional pain management practices in Pakistan: The role of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR).

Chronic pain represents a complex, multifaceted challenge that surpasses the prevalence of commonly encountered disorders such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. This condition exerts a substantial burden on healthcare systems due to its pervasive impact. While pain interventions and procedures constitute a crucial facet, they alone do not constitute a comprehensive solution. Nevertheless, the strategic and precise application of these procedures by well-trained and proficient physicians offers patients a swift route to resuming their normal activities, sparing them from protracted reliance on medications. Within the realm of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), Interventional Pain Management (IPM) adopts a multidisciplinary rehabilitative approach, addressing all dimensions of pain syndromes. This approach culminates in enhanced functional outcomes and an improved quality of life. This concise review underscores the significance of this integrated approach, shedding light on various pain procedures routinely employed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Within this context, we briefly explore the application of ultrasound and C-arm guided procedures. In conclusion, this review underscores the imperative nature of embracing a multidimensional approach to pain management, essential for seamlessly incorporating interventional pain management techniques into the broader domain of rehabilitation medicine.

Response to Referral Profile of Developmental Disabilities at a Tertiary Care Hospital in a Resource-limited Country.

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The Relationship Between Sarcopenic Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis: The SARCOB Study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether sarcopenic obesity may contribute to knee osteoarthritis or not. METHODS: In this study, we assessed 140 community-dwelling adult patients. Their demographic data were recorded along with comorbidities. Anterior mid-thigh muscle thickness in the axial plane was measured on the dominant leg using ultrasound midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper end of patella in millimeter. Then, the sonographic thigh adjustment ratio was calcu- lated by dividing this thickness by body mass index. ISarcoPRM algorithm was used for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Kellgren-Lawrence grading was used for knee osteoarthritis . Functional evaluation was performed using chair stand test, gait speed, and grip strength. RESULTS: There were 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis and 90 age- and gender-similar control sub- jects. When compared with controls, anterior thigh muscle thickness, gait speed, and grip strength were found to be similar between the groups, whereas body mass index and chair stand test val- ues were higher in the knee osteoarthritis group (both P < .05). In addition, sarcopenic obesity was observed in 12 (13.3%) of control subjects and in 14 (28%) of osteoarthritis patients. When age, gen- der, exercise, smoking, and body composition type (i.e., nonsarcopenic nonobese, sarcopenic only, obese only, and sarcopenic obesity) were taken into binary logistic regression analyses, only sarcope- nic obesity [relative risk ratio = 2.705 (95% CI: 1.079-6.779)] was independently related with the knee osteoarthritis (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study has shown that neither sarcopenia nor obesity but sarcopenic obe- sity seems to be independently related to the knee osteoarthritis. Further longitudinal studies with larger samples are required for investigating the effects of obesity and sarcopenia on the develop- ment of knee osteoarthritis.

The Relationship Between Sarcopenic Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis: The SARCOB Study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether sarcopenic obesity may contribute to knee osteoarthritis or not. METHODS: In this study, we assessed 140 community-dwelling adult patients. Their demographic data were recorded along with comorbidities. Anterior mid-thigh muscle thickness in the axial plane was measured on the dominant leg using ultrasound midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper end of patella in millimeter. Then, the sonographic thigh adjustment ratio was calcu- lated by dividing this thickness by body mass index. ISarcoPRM algorithm was used for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Kellgren-Lawrence grading was used for knee osteoarthritis . Functional evaluation was performed using chair stand test, gait speed, and grip strength. RESULTS: There were 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis and 90 age- and gender-similar control sub- jects. When compared with controls, anterior thigh muscle thickness, gait speed, and grip strength were found to be similar between the groups, whereas body mass index and chair stand test val- ues were higher in the knee osteoarthritis group (both P < .05). In addition, sarcopenic obesity was observed in 12 (13.3%) of control subjects and in 14 (28%) of osteoarthritis patients. When age, gen- der, exercise, smoking, and body composition type (i.e., nonsarcopenic nonobese, sarcopenic only, obese only, and sarcopenic obesity) were taken into binary logistic regression analyses, only sarcope- nic obesity [relative risk ratio = 2.705 (95% CI: 1.079-6.779)] was independently related with the knee osteoarthritis (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study has shown that neither sarcopenia nor obesity but sarcopenic obe- sity seems to be independently related to the knee osteoarthritis. Further longitudinal studies with larger samples are required for investigating the effects of obesity and sarcopenia on the develop- ment of knee osteoarthritis.

Need for Development and Validation of Sarcopenia Screening Tools in Pakistan.

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SARcopenia Assessment in Hypertension: The SARAH Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to investigate the relationship between sarcopenia and renin-angiotensin system-related disorders and to explore the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers on muscle mass/function and physical performance. DESIGN: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed using ISarcoPRM algorithm for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. RESULTS: Of the 2613 participants (mean age = 61.0 ± 9.5 yrs), 1775 (67.9%) were hypertensive. All sarcopenia-related parameters (except chair stand test in males) were worse in hypertensive group than in normotensive group (all P < 0.05). When clinical/potential confounders were adjusted, hypertension was found to be an independent predictor of sarcopenia in males (odds ratio = 2.403 [95% confidence interval = 1.514-3.813]) and females (odds ratio = 1.906 [95% confidence interval = 1.328-2.734], both P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, we found that all sarcopenia-related parameters (except grip strength and chair stand test in males) were independently/negatively related to hypertension (all P < 0.05). In females, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors users had higher grip strength and chair stand test performance values but had lower anterior thigh muscle thickness and gait speed values, as compared with those using angiotensin II receptor blockers (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension was associated with increased risk of sarcopenia at least 2 times. Among antihypertensives, while angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors had higher muscle function values, angiotensin II receptor blockers had higher muscle mass and physical performance values only in females.

Diagnosis, management strategies and research horizons in sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia was first described by Rosenberg as the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass. The early operational definitions of sarcopenia were based on low muscle mass alone. However, research has suggested a strong predictive relationship between measures of muscle quality i.e., strength and/or physical performance, and health outcomes. Therefore, the definition has been revised to "age-related loss of muscle mass and muscle function". The etiology of sarcopenia is multifactorial and diagnostic recommendations published to date have addressed the total or appendicular muscle mass. Measurement of anterior thigh muscle mass has better correlations with functional tests and all-cause mortality when compared with appendicular or total muscle mass measurements. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of sarcopenia as an emerging public health issue, diagnostic evaluation with muscle mass and functional performance evaluations and appropriate interventions for management.

Regional (but strategic) assessment for a generalized disorder (Sarcopenia).

None.

Interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation of acquired brain injury - Part II - a proposed model of care for Pakistan.

Rehabilitation of acquired brain injury (ABI) is a complex and costly intervention in which the comprehensive rehabilitation services should be integrated with neurosciences units to provide best possible opportunities of recovery to the patients. Keeping in view the diversity and chronicity of impairments, the follow up needs to be well planned in terms of duration and patient convenience. These types of services need to be run by the government and funded by government, with parallel efforts to make national guidelines and registry to keep a track of patients suffering from ABI. In Pakistan, the burden of people with ABI is increasing. This can be attributed to the acts of terrorism and bomb blasts, rapid urbanization and increase in number of motor vehicles resulting in increased frequency of roadside accidents, lack of adequate medical and evacuation services and the absence of hyper acute neurosurgical units. We have proposed an ABI rehabilitation plan considering the local health care system, socio-cultural context and resources. The proposed ABI rehabilitation pathway will not only improve the clinical care and continued support delivered by health services to adults with ABI but will also facilitate community reintegration and support their families and care givers.

Interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation of acquired brain injury - Part-1: impairment based assessment and rehabilitation.

The objective of this review is to describe the major impairments resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI) and their rehabilitation interventions resulting in better functional outcomes. Because of the nature of deficits and treatment cost, these patients may be lost to follow up. Comprehensive rehabilitation services integrated with neurosciences units are scarce in Pakistan. Keeping in view the diversity and chronicity of impairments, the follow up needs to be well planned in terms of duration and patient convenience. The rehabilitation needs of these patients go beyond physiotherapy alone, which is considered as the only form of rehabilitation in Pakistan. We focus only on the major impairments most seen after ABI. The rehabilitation team members providing their services and the possibilities are comprehensively explained in the review. These types of services need to be run by government and funded by government, with parallel efforts to make national guidelines and registry to keep a track of patients suffering from ABI. The proposed ABI rehabilitation pathway will not only improve the clinical care and continued support delivered by health services to adults with ABI but will also facilitate community reintegration and support their families and care givers.