Antagonismo NMDA en el tratamiento de la cefalea en racimos / NMDA antagonism in the treatment of cluster headache

El tratamiento estándar de la cefalea en racimos consiste en un tratamiento abortivo con oxígeno, triptanes, alcaloides ergóticos y/o anestésico local nasal tópico durante los episodios agudos y un tratamiento preventivo, como infiltraciones con esteroides, antagonistas de los canales del calcio y litio. Aunque la fisiopatología exacta de la cefalea en racimos no se conoce bien, se han demostrado niveles reducidos de metabolitos de quinurenina, los cuales gozan de propiedades anti-NMDA (N-metil-D-aspartato). La ketamina y el magnesio, que tienen una potente actividad antagonista NMDA, se han usado en múltiples síndromes de dolor refractario. Describimos un caso de cefalea en racimos que no respondió al tratamiento estándar y se trató de forma efectiva con infusión intravenosa de magnesio y ketamina

Standard treatment for cluster headache consists of abortive treatment with oxygen, triptans, ergot alkaloids and/or topical nasal local anesthetic during acute episodes and preventive treatment such as steroid injections, calcium channel blockers and lithium. Although the exact pathophysiology of cluster headache is not well understood, reduced serum levels of kynurenine metabolites with anti-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) properties have been demonstrated. Ketamine and magnesium, which both have potent anti-NMDA receptor activity, have been used in multiple refractory pain syndromes. We describe a case of cluster headache that was non-responsive to standard therapy and treated effectively with intravenous infusion of magnesium and ketamine

Amputación por úlcera de pie diabético con dolor incoercible, evitada con sevoflurano tópico / Painful diabetic foot ulcer amputation avoided thanks to topical sevoflurane

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Síndrome de dolor miofascial como causa de dolor agudo postoperatorio en la cirugía de cadera / Myofascial pain syndrome as a cause of postoperative acute pain in hip surgery

El síndrome de dolor miofascial (SDM) es un cuadro de dolor regional de origen muscular. Normalmente se presenta como una causa de dolor crónico, siendo una patología no poco frecuente en las consultas de la Unidad de Dolor. El presente trabajo hace referencia al caso de un paciente intervenido de artroplastia de cadera que desarrolló un SDM en el postoperatorio inmediato, generando así una situación de dolor agudo postoperatorio. En este caso clínico se hace referencia a la gran importancia que tiene un correcto diagnóstico diferencial de cara al tratamiento de un síndrome doloroso. Como es sabido, los pacientes sometidos a cirugía de reemplazo articular experimentan un dolor postoperatorio intenso y sostenido si no se lleva a cabo una adecuada analgesia perioperatoria. El mal control del dolor impediría la recuperación precoz y el alta hospitalaria del paciente. En el caso que nos ocupa, el control del dolor perioperatorio fue llevado a cabo de forma satisfactoria, y no fue hasta el tercer día postintervención cuando apareció un dolor inguinal irradiado a muslo y rodilla que se acompañaba de espasmos musculares a la movilización, coincidiendo este hecho con el inicio de la rehabilitación del miembro. Hasta llegar al diagnóstico final, se descartó en primer lugar las causas atribuibles a la propia prótesis (luxación, fricción, mal posición...). Posteriormente se descartó una posible lesión nerviosa que pudiera haber tenido lugar durante el acto quirúrgico y, finalmente, tras la valoración por la Unidad del Dolor se sospechó un posible síndrome miofascial con afectación del músculo psoas derecho y se trató como tal. Para el tratamiento del cuadro se realizó una infiltración muscular con 40 mg de triamcinilona y 5 ml de levobupivacaína al 0,25 %. La localización se realizó mediante fluoroscopia y contraste hidrosoluble. Tras el procedimiento se obtuvo una clara mejoría sintomatológica, pudiendo comenzar el paciente nuevamente la rehabilitación del miembro. A los cuatro días de la infiltración con anestésico local y corticoides, el paciente volvió a presentar dolor de características similares al previo, por lo que se decidió realizar infiltraciones del músculo psoas derecho con 100 UI de toxina botulínica, además de repetir la dosis de anestésico local y corticoides ya realizada previamente, con el objetivo de controlar el dolor en el periodo ventana que se requiere hasta que la toxina botulínica surte efecto, obteniéndose resultados satisfactorios. Como ya hemos dicho, el dolor atribuido al síndrome miofascial suele presentarse como un dolor crónico, aunque en el caso que nos ocupa debutó en el postoperatorio inmediato, presentándose de forma aguda. En la literatura revisada solamente hay descrito un caso de SM en el postoperatorio de artroplastia de cadera, siendo más frecuente la aparición de este síndrome en la artroplastia de rodilla. No existe una causa clara que explique el motivo desencadenante del síndrome. En artroplastia de rodilla se habla de la isquemia intraoperatoria como posible factor desencadenante del PG, aunque esto no está demostrado

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a regional pain of muscular origin, usually presents as a cause of chronic pain, being a pathology not uncommon in the consultations of the Pain Unit. The present work refers to the case of a patient undergoing hip arthroplasty who developed an MDS in the immediate postoperative period, thus generating a situation of acute postoperative pain. In this clinical case reference is made to the great importance of a correct differential diagnosis for the treatment of a painful syndrome. As is known, patients undergoing joint replacement surgery experience intense and sustained postoperative pain if adequate perioperative analgesia is not carried out. Poor pain control would prevent early recovery and discharge from the patient. In the case in question, the control of perioperative pain was carried out satisfactorily, and it was not until the third day postintervention when an inguinal pain irradiated to the thigh and knee appeared that it was accompanied by muscular spasms to the mobilization. Coinciding this fact with the beginning of the rehabilitation of the member. Until the final diagnosis was reached, first the causes attributable to the prosthesis itself (dislocation, friction, malposition...) were discarded, later a possible nerve injury that could have occurred during the surgical act was ruled out and finally, after the evaluation for the Pain Unit, a possible myofascial syndrome with involvement of the right psoas muscle was suspected and treated as such. For the treatment of the condition, a muscle infiltration was performed with 40 mg of Triamcinilone and 5 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine. The location was made by fluoroscopy and water-soluble contrast. After the procedure, a clear symptomatic improvement was obtained, and the patient could begin the rehabilitation of the limb again. After 4 days of infiltration with local anesthetic and corticosteroids, the patient presented pain similar to the previous one, so it was decided to perform infiltrations of the right psoas muscle with 100 IU of botulinum toxin, in addition to repeating the dose of local anesthetic and corticosteroids already done previously, with the aim of controlling the pain in the window period that is required until the botulinum toxin takes effect, obtaining satisfactory results. As we have already said, the pain attributed to the myofascial syndrome usually presents as a chronic pain, although in the present case it debuted in the immediate postoperative period, presenting itself acutely. In the literature reviewed, only one case of MS has been described in the postoperative period of hip arthroplasty, the occurrence of this syndrome being more frequent in knee arthroplasty. There is no clear cause to explain the reason for the syndrome. In knee arthroplasty, intraoperative ischemia is discussed as a possible triggering factor for PG, although this is not proven

A Comparison of Genicular Nerve Treatment Using Either Radiofrequency or Analgesic Block with Corticosteroid for Pain after a Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis is a disease that affects a third of the population over 65 years of age, and it is increasingly becoming a motive for consultation and a source of pain and disability. The gold standard surgical treatment is a total knee arthroplasty; however, 15% to 30% of patients who have undergone surgery continue to experience pain and functional limitation. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized clinical study compared neurolysis using traditional radiofrequency (RF) to local anesthetic and corticosteroid block of the superolateral, superomedial, and inferomedial branches of the knee genicular nerves in patients who had total knee arthroplasty but still experience pain. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients, 14 on each treatment arm, were followed for over a 1-year period. A reduction in pain and significant joint function improvement during the first 3 to 6 months was shown, with similar results using both techniques. No adverse effects were noted. An improvement in both disability and quality of life was observed, as well as a reduction in the need for analgesics in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Further clinical trials need to be undertaken, with a larger sample size, in order to demonstrate the efficacy of this technique and to detect the possible appearance of any long-term adverse effects.