Where does spinal cord stimulation fit into the international guidelines for refractory painful diabetic neuropathy? a consensus statement.

BACKGROUND: Although pharmacotherapy with anticonvulsants and/or antidepressants can be effective for many people with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), albeit with frequent side-effects, a critical juncture occurs when neuropathic pain no longer responds to standard first- and second-step mono- and dual therapy and becomes refractory. Subsequent to these pharmacotherapeutic approaches, third-line treatment options for PDN may include opioids (short-term), capsaicin 8% patches, and spinal cord stimulation (SCS). AIM: This document summarizes consensus recommendations regarding appropriate treatment for refractory peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN), based on outcomes from an expert panel convened on December 10, 2022, as part of the Worldwide Initiative for Diabetes Education Virtual Global Summit, "Advances in the Management of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy." PARTICIPANTS: Nine attendees, eminent physicians and academics, comprising six diabetes specialists, two pain specialists, and one health services expert. EVIDENCE: For individuals with refractory PDN, opioids are a high-risk option that do not provide a long-term solution and should not be used. For appropriately selected individuals, SCS is an effective, safe, and durable treatment option. In particular, high-frequency (HF) SCS (10 kHz) shows strong efficacy and improves quality of life. To ensure treatment success, strict screening criteria should be used to prioritize candidates for SCS. CONSENSUS PROCESS: Each participant voiced their opinion after reviewing available data, and a verbal consensus was reached during the meeting. CONCLUSION: Globally, the use of opioids should rarely be recommended for refractory, severe PDN. Based on increasing clinical evidence, SCS, especially HF-SCS, should be considered as a treatment for PDN that is not responsive to first- or second-line monotherapy/dual therapy.

Sensory and motor axonal excitability testing in early diabetic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the pathophysiology of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and examine the diagnostic value of sensory and motor axonal excitability testing. METHODS: One hundred and eleven type 2 diabetics with and without DPN (disease duration: 6.36 ±â€¯0.25 years) and 60 controls were included. All participants received a thorough clinical examination including Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) score, nerve conduction studies (NCS), and sensory and motor excitability tests. Patients were compared by the likelihood of neuropathy presence, ranging from no DPN (17), possible/probable DPN (46) to NCS-confirmed DPN (48). RESULTS: Motor excitability tests showed differences in rheobase and depolarizing threshold electrotonus measures between NCS-confirmed DPN group and controls but no changes in hyperpolarising threshold electrotonus or recovery cycle parameters. Sensory excitability showed even less changes despite pronounced sensory NCS abnormalities. There were only weak correlations between the above motor excitability parameters and clinical scores. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in excitability in the examined patient group were subtle, perhaps because of the relatively short disease duration. SIGNIFICANCE: Less pronounced excitability changes than NCS suggest that axonal excitability testing is not of diagnostic value for early DPN and does not provide information on the mechanisms.

Assessing lumbar paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area and fat composition with T1 versus T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: Reliability and concurrent validity.

PURPOSE: Studies using magnetic resonance imaging to assess lumbar multifidus cross-sectional area frequently utilize T1 or T2-weighted sequences, but seldom provide the rationale for their sequence choice. However, technical considerations between their acquisition protocols could impact on the ability to assess lumbar multifidus anatomy or its fat/muscle distinction. Our objectives were to examine the concurrent validity of lumbar multifidus morphology measures of T2 compared to T1-weighted sequences, and to assess the reliability of repeated lumbar multifidus measures. METHODS: The lumbar multifidus total cross-sectional area of 45 patients was measured bilaterally at L4 and L5, with histogram analysis determining the muscle/fat threshold values per muscle. Images were later re-randomized and re-assessed for intra-rater reliability. Matched images were visually rated for consistency of outlining between both image sequences. Bland-Altman bias, limits of agreement, and plots were calculated for differences in total cross-sectional area and percentage fat between and within sequences, and intra-rater reliability analysed. RESULTS: T1-weighted total cross-sectional area measures were systematically larger than T2 (0.2 cm2), with limits of agreement <±10% at both spinal levels. For percentage fat, no systematic bias occurred, but limits of agreement approached ±15%. Visually, muscle outlining was consistent between sequences, with substantial mismatches occurring in <5% of cases. Intra-rater reliability was excellent (ICC: 0.981-0.998); with bias and limits of agreement less than 1% and ±5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Total cross-sectional area measures and outlining of muscle boundaries were consistent between sequences, and intra-rater reliability for total cross-sectional area and percentage fat was high indicating that either MRI sequence could be used interchangeably for this purpose. However, further studies comparing the accuracy of various methods for distinguishing fat from muscle are recommended.

Diagnosis and prevalence of diabetic polyneuropathy: a cross-sectional study of Danish patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes. Using the Toronto criteria for diabetic polyneuropathy and the grading system for neuropathic pain, the performance of neuropathy scales and questionnaires were assessed by comparing them to a clinical gold standard diagnosis of DPN and painful DPN in a cohort of patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A questionnaire on neuropathy and pain was sent to a cohort of 5514 Danish type 2 diabetes patients. A sample of 389 patients underwent a detailed clinical examination and completed neuropathy questionnaires and scales. RESULTS: Of the 389 patients with a median diabetes duration of 5.9 years, 126 had definite DPN (including 53 with painful DPN), 88 had probable DPN and 53 had possible DPN. There were 49 patients with other causes of polyneuropathy, neuropathy symptoms or pain, 10 with subclinical DPN and 63 without DPN. The sensitivity of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire to detect DPN was 25.7% and the specificity 84.6%. The sensitivity of the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Scoring System, including questionnaire and clinical examination, was 62.9% and the specificity was 74.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic polyneuropathy affects approximately one in five Danish patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes but neuropathic pain is not as common as previously reported. Neuropathy scales with clinical examination perform better compared with questionnaires alone, but better scales are needed for future epidemiological studies.

MScanFit motor unit number estimation and muscle velocity recovery cycle recordings in diabetic polyneuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE) methods may be valuable in tracking motor unit loss in diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). Muscle Velocity Recovery Cycles (MVRCs) provide information about muscle membrane properties. This study aimed to examine the utility of the MScanFit MUNE in detecting motor unit loss and to test whether the MVRCs could improve understanding of DPN pathophysiology. METHODS: Seventy-nine type-2 diabetic patients were compared to 32 control subjects. All participants were examined with MScanFit MUNE and MVRCs in anterior tibial muscle. Lower limb nerve conduction studies (NCS) in peroneal, tibial and sural nerves were applied to diagnose large fiber neuropathy. RESULTS: NCS confirmed DPN for 47 patients (DPN + ), with 32 not showing DPN (DPN-). MScanFit showed significantly decreased MUNE values and increased motor unit sizes, when comparing DPN + patients with controls (MUNE = 71.3 ± 4.7 vs 122.7 ± 3.8), and also when comparing DPN- patients (MUNE = 103.2 ± 5.1) with controls. MVRCs did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: MScanFit is more sensitive in showing motor unit loss than NCS in type-2 diabetic patients, whereas MVRCs do not provide additional information. SIGNIFICANCE: The MScanFit results suggest that motor changes are seen as early as sensory, and the role of axonal membrane properties in DPN pathophysiology should be revisited.

Systematic review of current randomised control trials in chronic subdural haematoma and proposal for an international collaborative approach.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is a pathology that is frequently encountered by neurosurgeons. Nevertheless, there is a lack of guidelines based on solid evidence. There has been a recent and considerable increase in the interest on management and outcomes for CSDH. Therefore, we systematically reviewed all currently running randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in chronic subdural haematoma to understand the areas under investigation and plan future collaborative trials. METHODS: Clinical trials databases (Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, WHO ICTRP and clinical trials.gov) were searched for trials relevant to chronic subdural haematoma. It was then established which trials were currently running and fulfilled robust research methodology for a RCT. RESULTS: There are 26 currently running RCTs in CSDH, with the most common topics covering application of steroids (7), surgical techniques (5) and tranexamic acid (5). Further to this, there are trials running on other pharmacological agents (4), middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolisation (2) and peri-operative management (3). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological agents are a particular focus of CSDH management currently, and a wealth of studies on steroids will hopefully lead to more harmonised, evidence-based practice regarding this in the near future. Surgical techniques and new procedures such as MMA embolisation are also important focuses for improving patient outcomes. There is an on-going need for future RCTs and evidence-based guidelines in CSDH, particularly including low- and middle-income countries, and it is hoped that the establishment of the iCORIC (International COllaborative Research Initiative on Chronic Subdural Haematoma) will help address this.

Detection of early motor involvement in diabetic polyneuropathy using a novel MUNE method - MScanFit MUNE.

OBJECTIVE: Detection of motor involvement in diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) by nerve conduction studies (NCS) does not occur until there is substantial loss of motor units, because collateral reinnervation maintains compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude. Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) methods may therefore be more sensitive. This study was undertaken to test whether the novel method, MScanFit MUNE (MScan) can detect motor involvement in DPN despite normal NCS. METHODS: Fifty-two type-2 diabetic patients and 38 healthy controls were included. The median nerve was examined in all participants using standard NCS and a detailed CMAP scan, used for MScan. Additional lower extremity NCS in patients were used for DPN diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 52 diabetic patients, 21 had NCS-defined DPN while lower extremity NCS were normal in 31 patients. MScan motor unit number and size showed higher sensitivity and incidence of abnormality than motor NCS parameters, and a similar sensitivity to sensory NCS. CONCLUSIONS: MScan is able to detect motor axonal damage at times when collateral reinnervation limits NCS changes. SIGNIFICANCE: MScan is a sensitive method to detect motor involvement in DPN, which our data suggests is present as early as sensory.

European Academy of Neurology guideline on trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an extremely painful condition which can be difficult to diagnose and treat. In Europe, TN patients are managed by many different specialities. Therefore, there is a great need for comprehensive European guidelines for the management of TN. The European Academy of Neurology asked an expert panel to develop recommendations for a series of questions that are essential for daily clinical management of patients with TN. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed and recommendations was developed based on GRADE, where feasible; if not, a good practice statement was given. RESULTS: The use of the most recent classification system is recommended, which diagnoses TN as primary TN, either classical or idiopathic depending on the degree of neurovascular contact, or as secondary TN caused by pathology other than neurovascular contact. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using a combination of three high-resolution sequences, should be performed as part of the work-up in TN patients, because no clinical characteristics can exclude secondary TN. If MRI is not possible, trigeminal reflexes can be used. Neurovascular contact plays an important role in primary TN, but demonstration of a neurovascular contact should not be used to confirm the diagnosis of TN. Rather, it may help to decide if and when a patient should be referred for microvascular decompression. In acute exacerbations of pain, intravenous infusion of fosphenytoin or lidocaine can be used. For long-term treatment, carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine are recommended as drugs of first choice. Lamotrigine, gabapentin, botulinum toxin type A, pregabalin, baclofen and phenytoin may be used either alone or as add-on therapy. It is recommended that patients should be offered surgery if pain is not sufficiently controlled medically or if medical treatment is poorly tolerated. Microvascular decompression is recommended as first-line surgery in patients with classical TN. No recommendation can be given for choice between any neuroablative treatments or between them and microvascular decompression in patients with idiopathic TN. Neuroablative treatments should be the preferred choice if MRI does not demonstrate any neurovascular contact. Treatment for patients with secondary TN should in general follow the same principles as for primary TN. In addition to medical and surgical management, it is recommended that patients are offered psychological and nursing support. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with previous TN guidelines, there are important changes regarding diagnosis and imaging. These allow better characterization of patients and help in decision making regarding the planning of medical and surgical management. Recommendations on pharmacological and surgical management have been updated. There is a great need for future research on all aspects of TN, including pathophysiology and management.

Trigeminal nociceptive function and oral somatosensory functional and structural assessment in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

This case-control study primarily compared the trigeminal nociceptive function, the intraoral somatosensory profile and possible structural nerve changes between diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN, n = 12) patients and healthy participants (n = 12). The nociceptive blink reflex (nBR) was recorded applying an electrical stimulation over the entry zone of the right supraorbital (V1R), infraorbital (V2R) and mental (V3R) and left infraorbital (V2L) nerves. The outcomes were: individual electrical sensory (I0) and pain thresholds (IP); root mean square (RMS), area-under-the-curve (AUC) and onset latencies of R2 component of the nBR. Furthermore, a standardized full battery of quantitative sensory testing (QST) and intraepidermal nerve fibre density (IENFD) or  nerve fibre length density (NFLD) assessment were performed, respectively, on the distal leg and oral mucosa. As expected, all patients had altered somatosensory sensitivity and lower IENFD in the lower limb. DPN patients presented higher I0, IP, RMS and AUC values (p < 0.050), lower warm detection thresholds (WDT) (p = 0.004), higher occurrence of paradoxical heat sensation (PHS) (p = 0.040), and a lower intraoral NFLD (p = 0.048) than the healthy participants. In addition, the presence of any abnormal intraoral somatosensory finding was more frequent in the DPN patients when compared to the reference group (p = 0.013). Early signs of trigeminal nociceptive facilitation, intraoral somatosensory abnormalities and loss of intraoral neuronal tissue can be detected in DPN patients.

Pain-relieving effectiveness, quality of life and tolerability of repeated capsaicin 8% patch treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in Scandinavian clinical practice.

CONTEXT: Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the capsaicin 8% patch in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP); however, few studies have assessed this treatment in a clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment and re-treatment with the capsaicin 8% patch reduce PNP intensity in clinical practice. METHODS: Three non-interventional, observational studies were concurrently conducted in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Patients with probable or definite PNP received one or two treatments with the capsaicin 8% patch according to usual clinical practice. All analyses were performed on combined data. RESULTS: Overall, 382 and 181 patients received treatment and re-treatment, respectively, with the capsaicin 8% patch. At the group level, a significant reduction in mean level of 'usual pain' intensity (Numerical Pain Rating Scale) over the last 24 h' score was observed from baseline to Weeks 2 through 8 [-1.05 (95% confidence interval: -1.27, 0.82); p < 0.001] with 28% and 31% of patients reporting a ≥30% reduction in pain after first treatment and re-treatment, respectively. Improvements in health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L index) and overall health status (Patient Global Impression of Change) were observed early (Week 1) and throughout the treatment periods. Most application site reactions subsided within a week after treatment. Following treatment and re-treatment, 57% and 71% of patients, respectively, were willing to undergo further treatment with the capsaicin 8% patch. CONCLUSION: In Scandinavian clinical practice, capsaicin 8% patch treatment was associated with significant reductions in pain intensity and was well tolerated with over half of patients willing to undergo re-treatment.

Does conditioned pain modulation predict the magnitude of placebo effects in patients with neuropathic pain?

BACKGROUND: Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is a validated measure of the function of endogenous pain inhibitory pathways. Placebo effects reflect top-down inhibitory modulation of pain. CPM and placebo effects are both influenced by expectations, albeit to varying degrees, and are related to neurotransmitter systems such as the endogenous opioid system, and it can be speculated that CPM responses are positively associated with the magnitude of placebo effects. Yet, no studies have tested this. METHODS: The study included 19 patients with neuropathic pain. CPM was quantified as the difference in pressure pain threshold (PPT) as measured at the middle deltoid muscle before and after 5-min exposure to the cold pressor test (CPT) (conditioning pain stimulus). Placebo effects were tested via open and hidden applications of the pain-relieving agent lidocaine (2 mL) using a disinfection napkin controlled for no treatment. RESULTS: The mean (SD) PPT was 668.7 (295.7) kPa before and 742.3 (370.8) kPa after the CPT. The mean (SD) CPM response was -73.6 (214.0) kPa corresponding to an 11% increase in PPT, reflecting a normally functioning endogenous pain modulatory system. Large and significant placebo effects were observed in ongoing neuropathic pain intensity (p = 0.002). The CPM response did not predict the magnitude of the placebo effect (p = 0.765). Moreover, there were no interaction effects for the moderator variables: clinical pain level (p = 0.136), age (p = 0.347) and gender (p = 0.691). CONCLUSIONS: Conditioned pain modulation and placebo effects do not seem to be associated in patients with neuropathic pain. SIGNIFICANCE: Conditioned pain modulation and placebo effects are endogenous pain-modulating phenomena that are influenced by some of the same mechanisms. This study suggests that CPM and placebo effects in neuropathic pain are independent phenomena that may be mediated by different mechanisms.

Prospective Comparison of Changes in Lumbar Spine MRI Findings over Time between Individuals with Acute Low Back Pain and Controls: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The clinical importance of lumbar MR imaging findings is unclear. This study was an exploratory investigation of whether lumbar spine MR imaging findings change more commonly during a 12-week period in individuals with acute low back pain compared with pain-free controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty individuals with recent-onset low back pain and 10 pain-free controls were recruited into an exploratory prospective cohort study. All participants had a lumbar spine MR imaging at baseline and repeat MR imaging scans at 1, 2, 6, and 12 weeks. The proportion of individuals who had MR imaging findings that changed during the 12-week period was compared with the same proportion in the controls. RESULTS: In 85% of subjects, we identified a change in at least 1 MR imaging finding during the 12 weeks; however, the proportion was similar in the controls (80%). A change in disc herniation, annular fissure, and nerve root compromise was reported more than twice as commonly in the subjects as in controls (65% versus 30%, 25% versus 10%, and 15% versus 0%, respectively). Caution is required in interpreting these findings due to wide confidence intervals, including no statistical difference. For all other MR imaging findings, the proportions of subjects and controls in whom MR imaging findings were reported to change during 12 weeks were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in MR imaging findings were observed in a similar proportion of the low back pain and control groups, except for herniations, annular fissures, and nerve root compromise, which were twice as common in subjects with low back pain.

Impact of etiology and duration of pain on pharmacological treatment effects in painful polyneuropathy.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacological treatments for painful polyneuropathy have not changed much for more than a decade, and less than half of the patients obtain adequate pain relief with first line treatments. Therefore, patient-specific factors which could predict drug response are searched for. METHODS: We analysed data from four published, randomized, controlled trials of drugs in painful polyneuropathy to see if diabetic etiology and duration of neuropathic pain had an impact on drug efficacy. The studies had a cross-over design, and had nearly similar outcome recordings as well as a thorough baseline registration of symptoms, signs and quantitative sensory testing. 244 patient records of drug effect distributed over treatments with three antidepressants (imipramine, venlafaxine, escitalopram) and two anticonvulsants (pregabalin, oxcarbazepine) were analysed. RESULTS: Diabetes as etiology of polyneuropathy had no impact on the effect of antidepressants (imipramine, venlafaxine, escitalopram), but there was a significant interaction with treatment effect on anticonvulsants with better effects in diabetics (0.86 NRS points, p = 0.021) with most pronounced interaction for oxcarbazepine (1.47 NRS points, p = 0.032). There was an interaction between duration of neuropathic pain and treatment with antidepressants with better effect with duration less than 3 years (0.62 NRS points, p = 0.036), whereas anticonvulsants tended to work best with duration of pain for more than 3 years. CONCLUSION: Despite the small sample size and limited number of drugs included this study suggests that diabetic etiology of polyneuropathy may impact on the efficacy of anticonvulsants, and duration of neuropathic pain may impact on the efficacy of antidepressants. SIGNIFICANCE: This study found that duration of pain appears to have an impact on the effect of antidepressants in neuropathic pain and that diabetes as etiology for painful polyneuropathy appears to influence pain relief obtained with anticonvulsants.

Functional and structural assessment of patients with and without persistent pain after thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Persistent pain is frequent after thoracotomy, with a reported prevalence of up to 60%. It remains unclear why some patients develop pain, whereas others do not. We therefore examined patients with and without pain after thoracotomy to identify pathophysiological contributors to persistent pain. METHODS: Twenty patients with persistent pain, 12 patients without pain and 20 healthy controls underwent detailed functional and structural assessment including psychometric and neuropathic pain questionnaires, bedside examination for pinprick hyperalgesia and brush allodynia, quantitative sensory testing according to the protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain, measurement of capsaicin-evoked flare response, intradermal nerve density as determined by skin biopsies and laser- and heat-evoked potentials. RESULTS: Bedside testing revealed evoked pain in 16 of 20 patients with pain, but only in 2 of 12 patients without pain (p < 0.001). Quantitative sensory testing showed increased mechanical pain sensitivity (p = 0.018) on the operated side in patients with pain, but there were no differences between the two patient groups with regard to intradermal nerve fibre density, area and flux following capsaicin application and laser- and heat-evoked potentials. CONCLUSION: Different and individual pathophysiological mechanisms of pain may obscure the clinical picture and thus preclude identification of a specific pain profile in patients with persistent post-thoracotomy pain. SIGNIFICANCE: Evoked pain is more frequent in patients with pain. Assessment of intradermal nerve density, capsaicin-induced flare response and contact and laser heat-evoked potentials revealed no differences between pain patients and pain-free patients.

The diagnostic value of three sacroiliac joint pain provocation tests for sacroiliitis identified by magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to investigate the diagnostic value of three sacroiliac (SI) joint pain provocation tests for sacroiliitis identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and stratified by gender. METHOD: Patients without clinical signs of nerve root compression were selected from a cohort of patients with persistent low back pain referred to an outpatient spine clinic. Data from Gaenslen's test, the thigh thrust test, and the long dorsal sacroilia ligament test and sacroiliitis identified by MRI were analysed. RESULTS: The median age of the 454 included patients was 33 (range 18-40) years and 241 (53%) were women. The prevalence of SI joints with sacroiliitis was 5%. In the whole study group, only the thigh trust test was associated with sacroiliitis, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.65], sensitivity 31% (95% CI 18-47), and specificity 85% (95% CI 82-87). In men, sacroiliitis was associated with all the SI joint tests assessed and multi-test regimens, with the greatest AUC found for at least one positive out of three tests [AUC 0.68 (95% CI 0.56-0.80), sensitivity 56% (95% CI 31-79), and specificity 81% (95% CI 77-85)]. In women, no significant associations were observed between the SI joint tests and sacroiliitis. CONCLUSIONS: Only in men were the SI joint tests found to be associated with sacroiliitis identified by MRI. Although, the diagnostic value was relatively low, the results indicate that the use of SI joint tests for sacroiliitis may be optimized by gender-separate analyses.

The discriminative value of inflammatory back pain in patients with persistent low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of inflammatory back pain (IBP) characteristics and analyse the discriminative value of IBP relative to axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria. METHOD: Patients who had low back pain for > 3 months were selected from a cohort of secondary care patients aged 18-40 years. Data included information on SpA features, human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 typing, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints, and self-reported IBP questions covering the pain characteristics included in the Calin, Berlin, and ASAS IBP definitions. RESULTS: Of the 759 included patients, 99% [95% confidence interval (CI) 98-100] had at least one IBP characteristic. The prevalence of the single IBP characteristics ranged from 10% (95% CI 7-12) for 'pain worst in the morning' to 79% (95% CI 76-82) for 'morning stiffness'. Two-thirds of the patients (67%, 95% CI 63-70), met at least one of the three IBP definitions. In all, 86 (11%) were classified as 'SpA according to ASAS'. All three IBP definitions were significantly associated with 'SpA according to ASAS'; however, the discriminative value was low, with sensitivity, specificity, and balanced accuracy values of 64, 50, and 57% for Calin, 59, 60, and 60% for Berlin, and 35, 79, and 57% for ASAS IBP definitions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study population, IBP characteristics were in general common and the discriminative value was low, as IBP could not differentiate patients with SpA according to ASAS criteria from patients with other causes of back pain.

A prospective study of pain and psychological functioning following traumatic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal study. OBJECTIVES: To study prospectively pain characteristics, change in pain over time and the associations between pain and psychological functioning in adults with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Neurosurgical departments, SCI rehabilitation centres and the community. METHODS: Adults with traumatic SCI admitted over a 3-year period to two neurosurgical departments underwent clinical examination and questionnaires within 3 months after injury (baseline) and at 6, 12 and 42 months following SCI. Pain intensity and interference within the last 7 days, a global quality of life (QoL) item, the 5-item Mental Health Index and the 6-item Catastrophizing scale were used. RESULTS: Ninety individuals were recruited, of which 81 completed a telephone interview on average 3.5 (s.d., 0.6) years after the SCI. Pain was present in 75% at 3.5 years. Baseline pain catastrophizing scores did not predict pain intensity at 3.5 years. Both psychological functioning and QoL increased over time. QoL scores increased less in participants who reported an increase in pain intensity from baseline to the 3.5-year follow-up, and the change in QoL score correlated with the change in pain interference. Neuropathic pain had an onset within the first 12 months and tended to become persistent, whereas musculoskeletal pain more often had a late onset or resolved in cases of early onset. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of SCI participants continue to experience pain many years after SCI. Teaching individuals with SCI skills to minimise pain's impact on function as soon as possible following injury may prove beneficial.

Assessment of acute oxaliplatin-induced cold allodynia: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Following oxaliplatin treatment, acute neurotoxicity symptoms are suggested to be correlated with both the development and degree of chronic neuropathy. AIMS: The aim of this clinical commentary was to examine different methods to assess acute cold allodynia and dysesthesia in patients treated with adjuvant oxaliplatin. METHODS: Nine patients over the age of 18 years scheduled for standard adjuvant treatment with capecitabine and oxaliplatin were included. Patients were asked to come for two visits: a baseline visit before and a follow-up visit within 5 days after treatment. Patients were examined with questionnaires, thermal tests, and the thermal grill. RESULTS: All patients reported neurotoxicity, and they all had abnormal cold sensitivity. The only significant changes observed were increased ratings of pain, unpleasantness, and pricking sensations to holding a ~8°C metal cylinder for 10 s and an increased intensity of unpleasantness and pricking sensation to the 20-s contact with the 10°C plates of the thermal grill on the palmar hand. CONCLUSIONS: he results showed that the palm of the hand is the most sensitive part of the body when detecting oxaliplatin-induced cold allodynia, and the use of a cold metal cylinder seems as a promising sensitive method.

Pain following blood donation: a questionnaire study of long-term morbidity (LTM) in blood donors.

BACKGROUND: Nerve injury is a main cause of long-term morbidity following blood donation, but little is known about symptoms, impact, prognosis and underlying cause. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire, designed to characterize pain and estimate the prevalence of neuropathic pain, was sent to all blood donors registered with a complication related to 3 297 674 blood donations in Denmark from 2000-2009, with a local complication mainly characterized by pain, with severity grade 'long-term morbidity' and imputability grade 'definite' or 'probably'. RESULTS: The questionnaire was sent to 152 donors (4·6 per 100 000 donations). Response rate was 88/152 (57·9%). At the time of the questionnaire, which was between 12 months and 10 years after the blood donation, 69/88, who responded (78·4%) still experienced symptoms. Of the 69 donors with persistent symptom, pain occurred in 51 donors (74%) was moderate to severe in 24/69 donors (35%) and had an impact on daily activity in 17/69 (25%). Neuropathic pain was estimated to be the underlying cause of symptom in 30-52% of the 69 donors with persistent symptoms, using three different systems for estimation, corresponding to 0·6-1·1/100 000 donations. DISCUSSION: Although a rare complication, nerve injury after blood donation may lead to long-term morbidity and may become chronic in a small proportion of donors. The most common symptoms are pain, and we estimate that neuropathic pain can be the underlying cause.