Pain Patterns of the Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and Implications of Stress-Related Behaviors: A Pilot Study / Patrones de Dolor de la Disfunción de la Articulación Temporomandibular e Implicaciones de los Comportamientos Relacionados con el Estrés: Un Estudio Piloto

SUMMARY: Temporomandibular joint dysfunction interferes with the quality of life and activities of daily living among patients. The symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction, including pain and clicking and popping sounds, are worsened during stressful events, and patients report increased pain around the temporomandibular joint. Stress-related behaviors, such as teeth clenching and teeth grinding, are commonly reported as increasing during stress. The prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction and stress-related behaviors is reported differently in the literature. Stress in higher education is common. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and stress-related behaviors among staff members at a local University. The study also sought to explore pain patterns described by people experiencing temporomandibular joint dysfunction and the relationship between stress-related behaviors and pain symptoms experienced. Further, the impact of stress on symptoms experienced by people with temporomandibular dysfunction was investigated in this pilot study.

La disfunción de la articulación temporomandibular interfiere con la calidad de vida y las actividades de la vida diaria entre los pacientes. Los síntomas de la disfunción temporomandibular, incluidos el dolor y los chasquidos, empeoran durante los eventos estresantes, y los pacientes informan un aumento del dolor alrededor de la articulación temporomandibular. Los comportamientos relacionados con el estrés, como apretar y rechinar los dientes, suelen aumentar durante el estrés. La prevalencia de la disfunción temporomandibular y los comportamientos relacionados con el estrés se informa de manera diferente en la literatura. El estrés en la educación superior es común. El propósito de este estudio piloto fue investigar la prevalencia de la disfunción de la articulación temporomandibular y los comportamientos relacionados con el estrés entre los miembros del personal de una universidad local. El objetivo del estudio además fue explorar los patrones de dolor descritos por personas que experimentan disfunción de la articulación temporomandibular y la relación entre los comportamientos relacionados con el estrés y los síntomas de dolor experimentados. Además, en este estudio piloto se investigó el impacto del estrés en los síntomas que experimentan las personas con disfunción temporomandibular.

Evolución del dolor en pacientes con sensibilización central y artrosis tras artroplastia de rodilla / Pain evolution in patients with central sensitization and osteoarthritis after knee arthroplasty

Introducción: En pacientes con artrosis de rodilla se ha identificado un 30% de asociación de dolor de sensibilización central (DSC). El objetivo es analizar la persistencia de DSC en pacientes tras artroplastia de rodilla y su correlación con la intensidad del dolor, funcionalidad y los factores determinantes asociados, además de evaluar la exploración física como instrumento de valoración. Material y métodos: Estudio cuasiexperimental antes-después de pacientes intervenidos de artroplastia total de rodilla. Se analiza la evolución de variables subjetivas (características del dolor, cuestionarios painDETECT, WOMAC y escala visual numérica) y de exploración física (hiperalgesia térmica, alodinia, hipoestesia, algometría y goniometría), tres meses antes y tres y seis meses después de la cirugía mediante el test de ANOVA de medidas repetidas para las cuantitativas y el Q de Cochran para las cualitativas. Se utilizó la prueba de Spearman para la correlación de los cuestionarios, del PD-Q y variables de exploración y para el modelo multivariante del PD-Q con determinantes clínicos. Resultados: Sesenta y siete pacientes completaron el estudio. La evolución de las variables cuantitativas y cualitativas fue significativa, con correlación entre cuestionarios. En el modelo multivariante lineal de PD-Q se obtuvo relación significativa de antecedentes de limitación movilidad en flexión, dolor musculoesquelético crónico y la asociación de depresión y tiempo. Conclusiones: Un porcentaje significativo de pacientes con artrosis de rodilla tras artroplastia persistieron con probable DSC, correlacionándose con intensidad y funcionalidad. La limitación de movilidad y comorbilidad crónica previas podrían ser determinantes de DSC, siendo la exploración y anamnesis, herramientas útiles en consulta.(AU)

IntroductionIn patients with knee osteoarthritis, a group of 30% has been identified with central pain sensitization (CPS). The aim is to analyze the persistence of CPS in patients after knee arthroplasty and its correlation with pain intensity, functionality, determining factors and to evaluate physical examination as an assessment instrument.Material and methodsQuasi-experimental before–after study of patients operated on total knee arthroplasty. The evolution of subjective variables (pain characteristics, painDETECT questionnaire, WOMAC and Numerical Rating Scale) and physical examination (thermal hyperalgesia, allodynia, hypoesthesia, algometry and goniometry) 3 months before and 3 and 6 months after surgery are analysed using repeated measures ANOVA test for the quantitative ones and Cochran's Q for the qualitative ones. Spearmen test was used for the correlation of the questionnaires, the PD-Q and exploration variables and for the multivariate model of the PD-Q with clinical determinants. Results: Sixty-seven patients completed the study. The evolution of the quantitative and qualitative variables was significant, with a correlation between questionnaires. In the linear multivariate model of PD-Q, a significant relationship was obtained from personal history of flexion limitation, chronic musculoskeletal pain and the association between depression and time. Conclusions: A significant percentage of patients with knee osteoarthritis after arthroplasty persisted with probable CPS, correlating with intensity and functionality. The limitation of mobility and previous chronic comorbidity could be determinants of CPS, with anamnesis and exploration being useful tools in consultation.(AU)

[Pain evolution in patients with central sensitization and osteoarthritis after knee arthroplasty]. / Evolución del dolor en pacientes con sensibilización central y artrosis tras artroplastia de rodilla.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with knee osteoarthritis, a group of 30% has been identified with central pain sensitization (CPS). The aim is to analyze the persistence of CPS in patients after knee arthroplasty and its correlation with pain intensity, functionality, determining factors and to evaluate physical examination as an assessment instrument. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental before-after study of patients operated on total knee arthroplasty. The evolution of subjective variables (pain characteristics, painDETECT questionnaire, WOMAC and Numerical Rating Scale) and physical examination (thermal hyperalgesia, allodynia, hypoesthesia, algometry and goniometry) 3 months before and 3 and 6 months after surgery are analysed using repeated measures ANOVA test for the quantitative ones and Cochran's Q for the qualitative ones. Spearmen test was used for the correlation of the questionnaires, the PD-Q and exploration variables and for the multivariate model of the PD-Q with clinical determinants. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients completed the study. The evolution of the quantitative and qualitative variables was significant, with a correlation between questionnaires. In the linear multivariate model of PD-Q, a significant relationship was obtained from personal history of flexion limitation, chronic musculoskeletal pain and the association between depression and time. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of patients with knee osteoarthritis after arthroplasty persisted with probable CPS, correlating with intensity and functionality. The limitation of mobility and previous chronic comorbidity could be determinants of CPS, with anamnesis and exploration being useful tools in consultation.

Sensibilización central en la artrosis / Central sensitization in osteoarthritis

El dolor de los pacientes con artrosis es un problema sociosanitario de primera magnitud y es el responsable de la importante limitación funcional y pérdida de calidad de vida en esta enfermedad.A pesar de haberse producido avances importantes en el conocimiento de los mecanismos fisiopatológicos del dolor, son muchos los interrogantes del dolor artrósico que todavía quedan por contestar.Uno de los aspectos menos estudiados del dolor crónico en la artrosis es el fenómeno de sensibilización central.La resonancia magnética nuclear funcional se ha mostrado como una técnica útil para el abordaje de este fenómeno.Diferentes estudios realizados a pacientes afectos de artrosis con distintos grados de sensibilización ponen de manifiesto que la incidencia de este fenómeno es elevada, que los pacientes sensibilizados y no sensibilizados muestran patrones diferentes en cuanto a la magnitud de la repuesta cerebral al dolor y que los patrones de conectividad difieren de una enfermedad a otra.Finalmente, en los pacientes candidatos a artroplastia de rodilla es importante evaluar el grado de sensibilización previo a la cirugía, puesto que son los pacientes con mayor grado de sensibilización los que presentarán evoluciones más tórpidas y mayores niveles de dolor posquirúrgico.(AU)

Pain in patients with osteoarthritis is a social and health problem of great magnitude and is responsible for the significant functional limitation and loss of quality of life in this disease.Despite the important advances made in the knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms of pain, many questions about arthritic pain remain unanswered.One of the least studied aspects of chronic pain in osteoarthritis is the phenomenon of central sensitization.Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging has shown to be a useful technique for addressing this phenomenon.Many studies carried out in patients with osteoarthritis with different degrees of sensitization show that the incidence of this phenomenon is high, that sensitized and non-sensitized patients show different patterns in terms of the magnitude of the cerebral response to pain and that the connectivity patterns differ from one disease to another.Finally, in patients who are candidates for knee arthroplasty, it is important to evaluate the degree of sensitization prior to surgery, since it is the patients with the highest degree of sensitization who will present more torpid evolutions and higher levels of post-surgical pain.(AU)

[What scientific evidence do the current classifications have in order to assess occupational disability in patients with central sensitisation syndrome?] / ¿Qué evidencia científica tienen los métodos propuestos para valorar la discapacidad laboral de los pacientes con síndrome de sensibilización central?

Central sensitisation syndrome includes disorders such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and electromagnetic sensitivity syndrome. These disorders have been acquiring both medical and social relevance due to the increase in prevalence, the absence of a curative treatment, the limitations they cause, and the high healthcare costs they involve. Furthermore, all of them share an unknown aetiology and the absence of objective parameters to establish their diagnosis and severity. Multiple methods and classifications have been proposed to graduate the disability of these patients, but currently none of them have obtained sufficient evidence.

[Analgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in patients with fibromyalgia: A systematic review]. / Efectos analgésicos de la estimulación eléctrica nerviosa transcutánea en pacientes con fibromialgia: una revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has an analgesic effect greater than placebo or other treatments in patients with fibromyalgia. Furthermore, it was intended to analyze the optimal application parameters to achieve a greater reduction of pain. DESIGN: A systematic review. DATA SOURCE: Randomized clinical trials on the effect of TENS on fibromyalgia in the databases Pubmed, Cochrane and PEDro until November 2016. SELECTION OF STUDIES: 8 studies out of a total of 62 were selected. Controlled clinical trials in which TENS was applied in patients with fibromyalgia were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Pain was analyzed as the main variable, although other variables such as fatigue, quality of life and impact, range of motion and depression were also included. RESULTS: 6 out of 8 studies obtained a significant decrease of pain. In 2 studies, TENS was applied as complementary treatment to therapeutic exercise with results evidencing a decrease in pain. The rest of the variables studied presented a great variability and conclusive results could not be established. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with TENS is effective for reducing pain in people with fibromyalgia. In addition, the inclusion of TENS in therapeutic exercise programs seems to have a greater effect than practicing therapeutic exercise in isolation. However, no efficacy has been demonstrated in other variables different to pain. Further studies are needed to investigate the optimization of the parameters of the TENS and a greater consensus among the variables used.

Síndrome de fatiga / Fatigue syndrome

ResumenEl síndrome de fatiga crónica es una patología que se caracteriza por fatiga intensa de como mínimo seis meses de duración, que se acompaña de otros síntomas y que en ocasiones podría ser tan intenso que causa la disminución de las actividades cotidianas del individuo que lo padece. El comienzo de los síntomas puede ser repentino o también de forma paulatina, muchas veces las personas recuerdan el momento en que comenzó y el principio de estos puede ser un cuadro similar a una gripe. A continuación, se hará una revisión bibliográfica sobre los principales aspectos de esta enfermedad, causa, criterios diagnósticos y tratamiento.

AbstractChronic fatigue syndrome is a pathology characterized by intense fatigue of at least six months duration, which is accompanied by other symptoms and which at times could be so intense that it causes the daily activities of the individual suffering from it to diminish. The onset of symptoms may be sudden or also gradually, many times people remember the time they started and the beginning of these can be a flu-like four. Next, a bibliographic review will be done on the main aspects of this disease, cause, diagnostic criteria and treatment.

Dolor agudo postoperatorio: cómo el proceso quirúrgico induce neuroplasticidad / Accute postoperative pain: how the surgical process leads to neuroplasticity

El dolor agudo postoperatorio constituye un importante desafío para el anestesiólogo y un derecho para los pacientes. No obstante, en la actualidad éste continúa presente en un alto porcentaje de pacientes, a pesar de los esfuerzoz en la difusión de su evaluación y en el uso de diferentes terapias. una importante e interesante forma de cambiar estas cifras puede ser la investigación de la fisiopatología del dolor agudo postoperatorio y la difusión de los resultados. En los últimos años se ha profundizado en el conocimiento de la fisiopatología del dolor agudo postoperatorio, donde se ha determinado que existen cambios capaces de enfrentar la noxa quirúrgica, conocidos como neuroplasticidad, una de cuyas principales expresiones es el mecanismo de sensibilización. Se presenta a continuación una revisión de los principales mecanismos involucrados en el desarrollo y mantención de esta neuroplasticidad.

Accute postoperative pain is a great challenge for anesthesiologists and a right for patients. However, there is still an important percentage of patients with accute postoperative pain, despite all the efforts that have been made to divulge the existing evaluation methods and the use of different therapies. Research of physiopathology of accute postoperative pain might be a relevant and interesting way to change such percentage as well as the publication of the results from that research. In the last years, researchers have gained deeper knowledge in the field of physiopathology of accute postoperative pain and found there are some changes with the capacity to face the surgical noxa known as neuroplasticity, being one of the most important expressions the sensitizazation mechanism. A review of the most important mechanisms that play a part in the development and maintenance of this neuroplasticity is presented below.