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Cureus May 2024Major amputation of a lower limb is a traumatic experience that causes physical and psychosocial disabilities. This study set out to ascertain how anxiety and depression...
OBJECTIVE
Major amputation of a lower limb is a traumatic experience that causes physical and psychosocial disabilities. This study set out to ascertain how anxiety and depression symptoms changed during the three months following the amputation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted between October 1, 2019, and January 1, 2021, in the Department of Vascular Surgery and the Department of Orthopedic Traumatology of the Ibn Sina Hospital Center in Rabat, Morocco. The study assesses symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients who have undergone a major lower limb amputation over a three-month interval.
RESULTS
In patients who had undergone a major lower limb amputation, the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms was very high immediately postoperatively (47.4% and 79.2%, respectively), with a significant decrease in these symptoms. Three months later, anxiety was reported in 24.4% of cases, and depressive symptoms in 65.1% of cases. Age, amputation level, stump pain, phantom limb pain, re-amputation, and emergency amputation were all associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression. The patient's psychological preparation prior to the amputation, the anesthetic technique used during the procedure, the patient's mobility, and the patient's post-amputation professional status were all protective factors.
CONCLUSION
Our research findings bolster the necessity of promptly evaluating and managing anxiety and depression in the initial three months following major lower limb amputation. Thus, we believe that amputee patients ought to receive a formal psychological evaluation, which could be helpful, particularly for those whose anxiety or depression symptoms did not improve after three months.
PubMed: 38872678
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60284 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024
PubMed: 38868542
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1426481 -
Journal of Pain Research 2024This multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, active sham-controlled pivotal study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of high-frequency nerve block treatment... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
Primary 3-Month Outcomes of a Double-Blind Randomized Prospective Study (The QUEST Study) Assessing Effectiveness and Safety of Novel High-Frequency Electric Nerve Block System for Treatment of Post-Amputation Pain.
PURPOSE
This multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, active sham-controlled pivotal study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of high-frequency nerve block treatment for chronic post-amputation and phantom limb pain.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
QUEST enrolled 180 unilateral lower-limb amputees with severe post-amputation pain, 170 of whom were implanted with the Altius device, were randomized 1:1 to active-sham or treatment groups and reached the primary endpoint. Responders were those subjects who received ≥50% pain relief 30 min after treatment in ≥50% of their self-initiated treatment sessions within the 3-month randomized period. Differences between the active treatment and sham control groups as well as numerous secondary outcomes were determined.
RESULTS
At 30-min, (primary outcome), 24.7% of the treatment group were responders compared to 7.1% of the control group (p=0.002). At 120-minutes following treatment, responder rates were 46.8% in the Treatment group and 22.2% in the Control group (p=0.001). Improvement in Brief Pain Inventory interference score of 2.3 ± 0.29 was significantly greater in treatment group than the 1.3 ± 0.26-point change in the Control group (p = 0.01). Opioid usage, although not significantly different, trended towards a greater reduction in the treatment group than in the control group. The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between the treatment and control groups.
CONCLUSION
The primary outcomes of the study were met, and the majority of Treatment patients experienced a substantial improvement in PAP (regardless of meeting the study definition of a responder). The significant in PAP was associated with significantly improved QOL metrics, and a trend towards reduced opioid utilization compared to Control. These data indicate that Altius treatment represents a significant therapeutic advancement for lower-limb amputees suffering from chronic PAP.
PubMed: 38860215
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S463727 -
Acta Medica Philippina 2024Phantom limb pain (PLP) is difficult to control, and patients frequently exhibit inadequate relief from medications or encounter unbearable side effects. We present here...
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is difficult to control, and patients frequently exhibit inadequate relief from medications or encounter unbearable side effects. We present here a novel application of erector spinae plane (ESP) block to manage PLP. Our patient is a 23-year-old, college student, diagnosed with high-grade osteosarcoma of the right humerus who underwent a right shoulder disarticulation. He reported PLP despite multimodal analgesia postoperatively. An ESP block using a high-frequency linear probe ultrasound was performed. A G23 spinal needle was advanced in-plane toward the right T3 transverse process. After negative aspiration, 20 mL of therapeutic solution containing bupivacaine 0.25%, lidocaine 1%, epinephrine 5 mcg/ml, and 40 mg methylprednisolone was injected. After the procedure, the patient reported that his PLP went down to NRS 1/10. He consistently reported to have an NRS score of 0-1/10 on succeeding consultations despite discontinuation of opioid and pregabalin. In literature, ESP block has been used as a regional technique for shoulder disarticulation surgery and other neuropathic pain conditions, but no account has shown its use for PLP treatment. The procedure was successfully done to alleviate the upper extremity phantom limb pain, significantly reduce analgesic requirements, and improve tolerance of physical therapy and overall quality of life.
PubMed: 38836080
DOI: 10.47895/amp.v58i9.8821 -
Deutsches Arzteblatt International Jul 2024Nerve lesions often heal incompletely, leading to lifelong functional impairment and high costs for the health care system. The updated German clinical practice...
BACKGROUND
Nerve lesions often heal incompletely, leading to lifelong functional impairment and high costs for the health care system. The updated German clinical practice guideline is intended to promote the early recognition of nerve lesions and the timely initiation of proper treatment for optimal restoration of function.
METHODS
The recommendations are based on an assessment of all the evidence revealed by a systematic search of the literature, as well as on the expertise of the multiprofessional guideline group.
RESULTS
Only a few publications contain high-quality evidence. This version of the guideline contains a more detailed discussion of war injuries, iatrogenic injuries, MR neurography, and specific treatments than the previous version. As for the different methods of nerve replacement, a comparison of autologous transplantation versus the use of conduits and tubes revealed no significant difference between these two methods on the mBMRC scale, and minimal superiority of autologous transplantation with respect to two-point discrimination. As for the use of nerve transfers when nerve reconstruction is not feasible or unlikely to succeed, nerve transfer yielded slightly better results than proximal reconstruction for elbow flexion, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (mBMRC ≥ 3: RR 1.16, 95% confidence interval [1.02; 1.32]). The treatment of neuromas with targeted muscle reinnervation was superior to the classic approach in decreasing both stump pain (MD 2.0 +/- 2.8) and phantom limb pain (MD 3.4 +/- 4.03).
CONCLUSION
The delayed or improper treatment of peripheral nerve lesions can lead to severe impairment. Timely diagnosis, the use of appropriate treatments in conformity with the guidelines, and interdisciplinary collaboration among specialists are all essential for optimizing the outcome.
PubMed: 38831698
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2024.0071 -
Frontiers in Pain Research (Lausanne,... 2024Relieving phantom limb pain (PLP) after amputation in patients resistant to conventional therapy remains a challenge. While the causes for PLP are unclear, one model...
INTRODUCTION
Relieving phantom limb pain (PLP) after amputation in patients resistant to conventional therapy remains a challenge. While the causes for PLP are unclear, one model suggests that maladaptive plasticity related to cortical remapping following amputation leads to altered mental body representations (MBR) and contributes to PLP. Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation (CMR) has led to reduced pain in other neurologic conditions by restoring MBR. This is the first study using CMR to relieve PLP.
METHODS
A 26-year-old woman experienced excruciating PLP after amputation of the third proximal part of the leg, performed after several unsuccessful treatments (i.e., epidural stimulator, surgeries, analgesics) for debilitating neuropathic pain in the left foot for six years with foot deformities resulting from herniated discs. The PLP was resistant to pain medication and mirror therapy. PLP rendered donning a prosthesis impossible. The patient received 35 CMR sessions (2×/day during weekdays, October-December 2012). CMR provides multisensory discrimination exercises on the healthy side and multisensory motor imagery exercises of present and past actions in both limbs to restore MBR and reduce PLP.
RESULTS
After CMR, PLP reduced from 6.5-9.5/10 to 0/10 for neuropathic pain with only 4-5.5/10 for muscular pain after exercising on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. McGill Pain Questionnaire scores reduced from 39/78 to 5/78, and Identity (ID)-Pain scores reduced from 5/5 to 0/5. Her pain medication was reduced by at least 50% after discharge. At 10-month follow-up (9/2013), she no longer took Methadone or Fentanyl. After discharge, receiving CMR as outpatient, she learned to walk with a prosthesis, and gradually did not need crutches anymore to walk independently indoors and outdoors (9/2013). At present (3/2024), she no longer takes pain medication and walks independently with the prosthesis without assistive devices. PLP is under control. She addresses flare-ups with CMR exercises on her own, using multisensory motor imagery, bringing the pain down within 10-15 min.
CONCLUSION
The case study seems to support the hypothesis that CMR restores MBR which may lead to long-term (12-year) PLP reduction. MBR restoration may be linked to restoring accurate multisensory motor imagery of the remaining and amputated limb regarding present and past actions.
PubMed: 38726352
DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1374141 -
Cureus Apr 2024Cryoneurolysis has been utilized for numerous persistent and intractable painful conditions, including phantom limb pain and postsurgical pain. Although there are...
Cryoneurolysis has been utilized for numerous persistent and intractable painful conditions, including phantom limb pain and postsurgical pain. Although there are reports on the effectiveness of cryoneurolysis in various regions, including the intercostal nerves, the subcostal nerve remains a common culprit of chronic pain for which the literature is scarce. Different modalities are commonly utilized to address subcostal neuropathic pain, such as non-opioid pharmacotherapy, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticonvulsants, site-specific regional anesthesia, and radiofrequency ablation.However, the analgesia provided by these modalities is often inadequate or short-lived. Cryoneurolysis of the subcostal nerve remains largely unexplored and may provide a promising solution.Here, we present the first technical description of ultrasound and fluoroscopic guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis of the subcostal nerve and the case of a patient with 14 years of lower thoracic rib pain who failed multiple interventions but achieved complete pain resolution at the three-month follow-up through this procedure.
PubMed: 38706996
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57521 -
JPRAS Open Jun 2024
PubMed: 38689635
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpra.2024.04.002 -
Plastic Surgery (Oakville, Ont.) May 2024Painful neuromas are a common postoperative complication of limb amputation often treated with secondary reinnervation. Surgical reinnervation include Targeted Muscle...
Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interfaces Versus Standard Management in the Treatment of Limb Amputation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Painful neuromas are a common postoperative complication of limb amputation often treated with secondary reinnervation. Surgical reinnervation include Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) and Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface (RPNI), and can be primary and secondary. The aim of this review is to assess the effects of primary TMR/RPNI at the time of limb amputation on the incidence and intensity of post-operative neuroma and pain. This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021264360). A search of the following databases was performed in June 2021: Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL. Unpublished trials were searched using clinicaltrials.gov. All randomized and non-randomized studies assessing amputation with a reinnervation strategy (TMR, RPNI) were included. Outcomes evaluated included the incidences of painful neuroma, phantom limb pain (PLP), residual limb pain (RLP), as well as severity of pain, and Pain intensity, behavior, and interference (PROMIS). Eleven studies were included in this systematic review, and five observational studies for quantitative synthesis. Observational study evidence suggests that TMR/RPNI results in a statistically significant reduction in incidence, pain scores and PROMIS scores of PLP and RLP. Decreased incidence of neuromas favored primary TMR/RPNI, but this did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.07). Included studies had moderate to critical risk of bias. The observational data suggests that primary TMR/RPNI reduces incidence, pain scores and PROMIS scores of PLP and RLP. Going forward, randomized trials are warranted to evaluate this research question, particularly to improve the certainty of evidence.
PubMed: 38681253
DOI: 10.1177/22925503221107462 -
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Dentists, including endodontists, frequently experience musculoskeletal disorders due to unfavourable working postures. Several measures are known to reduce the...
BACKGROUND
Dentists, including endodontists, frequently experience musculoskeletal disorders due to unfavourable working postures. Several measures are known to reduce the ergonomic risk; however, there are still gaps in the research, particularly in relation to dental work in the different oral regions (Quadrants 1-4).
METHODS
In this study (of a pilot character), a total of 15 dentists (8 male and 7 female) specialising in endodontics were measured while performing root canal treatments on a phantom head. These measurements took place in a laboratory setting using an inertial motion capture system. A slightly modified Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) coding system was employed for the analysis of kinematic data. The significance level was set at = 0.05.
RESULTS
The ergonomic risk for the entire body was higher in the fourth quadrant than in the first quadrant for 80% of the endodontists and higher than in the second quadrant for 87%. For 87% of the endodontists, the ergonomic risk for the right side of the body was significantly higher in the fourth quadrant compared to the first and second quadrant. The right arm was stressed more in the lower jaw than in the upper jaw, and the neck also showed a greater ergonomic risk in the fourth quadrant compared to the first quadrant.
CONCLUSION
In summary, both the total RULA score and scores for the right- and lefthand sides of the body ranged between 5 and 6 out of a possible 7 points. Considering this considerable burden, heightened attention, especially to the fourth quadrant with a significantly higher ergonomic risk compared to Quadrants 1 and 2, may be warranted.
PubMed: 38671821
DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11040400