Search

Objective: The differential diagnosis for postoperative back pain is broad, and conventional imaging modalities are not always conclusive. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of the literature and present case studies describing the use of single-photon emission CT (SPECT)/CT or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the diagnosis of back pain following spine surgery., Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines across 5 databases. Relevant keywords included PET/CT, bone SPECT/CT, and pseudarthrosis. The studies were assessed for diagnostic accuracy of the imaging technologies., Results: A total of 2,444 studies were screened, 91 were selected for full-text review, and 21 were ultimately included. Six retrospective studies investigated the use of SPECT/CT with a total sample size of 309 patients. Two of these studies used SPECT/CT to predict screw loosening in over 50% of patients. Eight studies examined the use of 18-fluoride sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) PET/CT. Among these studies, measures of diagnostic accuracy varied but overall demonstrated the ability of 18F-NaF PET/CT to detect screw loosening and pseudarthrosis. Seven studies examined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and supported its utility in the diagnosis of postoperative infections in the spine., Conclusions: PET/CT and SPECT/CT are useful in the evaluation of postoperative pain of the spine, especially in patients for whom conventional imaging modalities yield inconclusive results. More diagnostic accuracy studies with strong reference standards are needed to compare hybrid imaging to conventional imaging., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: The neural mechanisms for the persistence of pain after a technically successful arthroplasty in osteoarthritis (OA) remain minimally studied, and direct evidence of the brain as a predisposing factor for pain chronicity in this setting has not been investigated. We undertook this study as a first effort to identify presurgical brain and clinical markers of postarthroplasty pain in knee OA. Patients with knee OA (n = 81) awaiting total arthroplasty underwent clinical and psychological assessment and brain magnetic resonance imagining. Postoperative pain scores were measured at 6 months after surgery. Brain subcortical anatomic properties (volume and shape) and clinical indices were studied as determinants of postoperative pain. We show that presurgical subcortical volumes (bilateral amygdala, thalamus, and left hippocampus), together with shape deformations of the right anterior hippocampus and right amygdala, associate with pain persistence 6 months after surgery in OA. Longer pain duration, higher levels of presurgical anxiety, and the neuropathic character of pain were also prognostic of postsurgical pain outcome. Brain and clinical indices accounted for unique influences on postoperative pain. Our study demonstrates the presence of presurgical subcortical brain factors that relate to postsurgical persistence of OA pain. These preliminary results challenge the current dominant view that mechanisms of OA pain predominantly underlie local joint mechanisms, implying novel clinical management and treatment strategies., (Copyright © 2023 International Association for the Study of Pain.)

Objective: The purpose of this technical report is to review the sonographic spectrum of abnormalities accounting for peri-articular pain after knee replacement surgery, as well as to demonstrate the clinical utility of ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of this subset of patients., Materials and Methods: Utilizing an imaging report database, we performed a search for ultrasound examinations performed by a single radiologist for knee pain after knee arthroplasty at our institution over a 10-year period. The search yielded 63 patients, whom we have categorized by causative pathology, with representative diagnostic and procedural ultrasound images selected for inclusion., Results: Our search yielded multiple causes of peri-articular knee pain after arthroplasty, including medial and lateral retinacular impingement and scarring, iliotibial band or conjoined tendon irritation, popliteus tendon impingement, medial collateral ligament impingement, pes anserine bursitis, and scarring of Hoffa's fat pad., Conclusion: While knee arthroplasty is an often-successful procedure, it can be complicated by post-operative peri-articular knee pain. Ultrasound provides a valuable tool for the diagnosis of painful peri-articular knee pathology, as it allows for both static and dynamic evaluation, as well as direct correlation with patient symptoms, and is not confounded by the metal components. In addition to its diagnostic utility, ultrasound can also guide diagnostic and/or therapeutic injections of anesthetic and corticosteroid. Given these advantages, ultrasound is an important tool in managing the painful post-arthroplasty knee., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Skeletal Society (ISS).)

Background: Hip arthroscopy is associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain. This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study investigates the clinically analgesic effect of anterior quadratus lumborum block with multimodal analgesia compared to multimodal analgesia alone. The authors hypothesized that an anterior quadratus lumborum block with multimodal analgesia would be superior for pain control., Methods: Ninety-six adult patients undergoing ambulatory hip arthroscopy were enrolled. Patients were randomized to either a single-shot anterior quadratus lumborum block (30 ml bupivacaine 0.5% with 2 mg preservative-free dexamethasone) or no block. All patients received neuraxial anesthesia, IV sedation, and multimodal analgesia (IV acetaminophen and ketorolac). The primary outcome was numerical rating scale pain scores at rest and movement at 30 min and 1, 2, 3, and 24 h., Results: Ninety-six patients were enrolled and included in the analysis. Anterior quadratus lumborum block with multimodal analgesia (overall treatment effect, marginal mean [standard error]: 4.4 [0.3]) was not superior to multimodal analgesia alone (overall treatment effect, marginal mean [standard error]: 3.7 [0.3]) in pain scores over the study period (treatment differences between no block and anterior quadratus lumborum block, 0.7 [95% CI, -0.1 to 1.5]; P = 0.059). Postanesthesia care unit antiemetic use, patient satisfaction, and opioid consumption for 0 to 24 h were not significantly different. There was no difference in quadriceps strength on the operative side between groups (differences in means, 1.9 [95% CI, -1.5 to 5.3]; P = 0.268)., Conclusions: Anterior quadratus lumborum block may not add to the benefits provided by multimodal analgesia alone after hip arthroscopy. Anterior quadratus lumborum block did not cause a motor deficit. The lack of treatment effect in this study demonstrates a surgical procedure without benefit from this novel block., (Copyright © 2021, the American Society of Anesthesiologists. All Rights Reserved.)

Background: The relationship between the imaging parameters on postoperative ultrasound (US) other than repaired tendon integrity with clinical outcome such as postoperative residual pain has not been well defined., Purpose: To investigate whether the repaired tendon thickness and subdeltoid fluid collection after rotator cuff repair are correlated with early postoperative clinical outcome., Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 54 patients who underwent repair of the arthroscopic rotator cuff either by suture-bridge or single-row technique and postoperative US. We assessed the relationship between the sonographic parameters, including repaired supraspinatus tendon thickness and subdeltoid fluid collection, with the clinical outcome represented by the Korean Shoulder Scoring system (KSS) score using correlation coefficients (R). Also, the subgroup analysis was done to assess the differences by surgical technique and patients' age., Results: There was a significant inverse relationship between the amount of subdeltoid fluid collection and degree of self-assessed pain improvement of the patients ( P  < 0.05), although every KSS category showed statistically insignificant tendency of inverse relationship with the fluid thickness. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the thickness of repaired supraspinatus tendon and KSS scores. In patients aged >60 years, a statistically significant inverse relationship between thickness of subdeltoid fluid collection and difference value of the KSS scores in category of function was observed with both interpreters ( P  = 0.015 and P  = 0.04, respectively)., Conclusion: Subdeltoid fluid collection measured on US after repair of the arthroscopic rotator cuff in the early postoperative period has significant association with the patients' subjective clinical outcome.

Background and purpose - Observing serious adverse events during treatment with the Precice Stryde bone lengthening nail (NuVasive, San Diego, CA, USA), we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study to report the prevalence of adverse events from all 30 bone segments in 27 patients treated in Denmark.Patients and methods - Radiographs of all bone segments were evaluated regarding radiographic changes in February 2021. We determined the number of bone segments with late onset of pain and/or radiographically confirmed osteolysis, periosteal reaction, or cortical hypertrophy in the junctional area of the nail.Results - In 30 bone segments of 27 patients we observed radiographic changes in 21/30 segments of 20/27 patients, i.e., 19/30 osteolysis, 12/30 periosteal reaction (most often multi-layered), and 12/30 cortical hypertrophy in the area of the junction between the telescoping nail parts. Late onset of pain was a prominent feature in 8 patients. This is likely to be a prodrome to the bony changes. Discoloration (potential corrosion) at the nail interface was observed in multiple removed nails. 15/30 nails were still at risk of developing complications, i.e., were not yet removed.Interpretation - All Stryde nails should be monitored at regular intervals until removal. Onset of pain at late stages of limb lengthening, i.e., consolidation of the regenerate, should warrant immediate radiographic examination regarding osteolysis, periosteal reaction, and cortical hypertrophy, which may be associated with discoloration (potential corrosion) of the nail. We recommend removal of Stryde implants as early as possible after consolidation of the regenerate.

Abstract: This retrospective study investigated the effect of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (UGPRF) on intercostal neuralgia (ICN) after lung cancer surgery (LCS).This retrospective observational study analyzed the outcome data of UGPRF on ICN in 80 patients with LCS. All those patients were allocated into a treatment group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40). All patient data were collected between January 2018 and November 2019. The primary outcome was pain intensity (measured by numerical rating scale, NRS). The secondary outcomes were sleep quality (measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), anesthetic consumption, and treatment-related adverse events.After treatment, patients in the treatment group showed better outcomes in NRS (P < .01), PSQI (P < .01), and anesthetic consumption (P < .01), than patients in the control group. No treatment-related adverse events were documented in both groups in this study.The results of this study found that UGPRF may benefit patients for pain relief of ICN after LCS., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objectives: To compare patient-reported outcome measures of minimally invasive (MI) to sternotomy (ST) mitral valve repair., Methods: We included all patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery via either a right mini-thoracotomy (MI) or ST over a 36-month period. Patients were asked to complete a modified Composite Physical Function questionnaire. Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, and patient-reported outcome measures were compared between 2 propensity-matched groups (n = 47/group), assessing 3 domains: 'Recovery Time', 'Postoperative Pain' (at day 2 and 1, 3, 6 and 12 weeks) and 'Treatment Satisfaction'. Composite scores for each domain were subsequently constructed and multivariable analysis was used to determine whether surgical approach was associated with domain scores., Results: The response rate was 79%. There was no mortality in either group. In the matched groups, operative times were longer in the MI group (P < 0.001), but postoperative outcomes were similar. Composite scores for Recovery Time [ST 51.7 (31.8-62.1) vs MI 61.7 (43.1-73.9), P = 0.03] and Pain [ST 65.7 (40.1-83.1) vs MI 79.1 (65.5-89.5), P = 0.02] significantly favoured the MI group. Scores in the Treatment Satisfaction domain were high for both surgical approaches [ST 100 (82.5-100) vs MI 100 (95.0-100), P = 0.15]. The strongest independent predictor of both faster recovery parameter estimate 12.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.7-18.3, P < 0.001] and less pain parameter estimate 7.6 (95% CI 0.7-14.5, P = 0.03) was MI surgery., Conclusions: MI surgery was associated with faster recovery and less pain; treatment satisfaction and safety profiles were similar., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Degenerative spine imaging findings have been extensively studied in the lumbar region and are associated with pain and adverse clinical outcomes after surgery. However, few studies have investigated the significance of these imaging "phenotypes" in the cervical spine. Patients with degenerative cervical spine pathology undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) from 2008 to 2015 were retrospectively and prospectively assessed using preoperative MRI for disc degeneration, narrowing, and displacement, high-intensity zones, endplate abnormalities, Modic changes, and osteophyte formation from C2-T1. Points were assigned for these phenotypes to generate a novel Cervical Phenotype Index (CPI). Demographics were evaluated for association with phenotypes and the CPI using forward stepwise regression. Bootstrap sampling and multiple imputations assessed phenotypes and the CPI in association with patient-reported outcomes (Neck Disability Index [NDI], Visual Analog Scale [VAS]-neck, VAS-arm) and adjacent segment degeneration (ASDeg) and disease (ASDz). Of 861 patients, disc displacement was the most common (99.7%), followed by osteophytes (92.0%) and endplate abnormalities (57.3%). Most findings were associated with age and were identified at similar cervical vertebral levels; at C5-C7. Imaging phenotypes demonstrated both increased and decreased associations with adverse patient-reported outcomes and ASDeg/Dz. However, the CPI consistently predicted worse NDI (P = .012), VAS-neck (P = .007), and VAS-arm (P = .013) scores, in addition to higher odds of ASDeg (P = .002) and ASDz (P = .004). The CPI was significantly predictive of postoperative symptoms of pain/disability and ASDeg/Dz after ACDF, suggesting that the totality of degenerative findings may be more clinically relevant than individual phenotypes and that this tool may help prognosticate outcomes after surgery., (© 2020 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lateral quadratus lumborum block (QLB) on postoperative pain and recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery., Materials and Methods: Patients between 18 and 70 years old, diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II, and scheduled for laparoscopic colorectal surgery were recruited. Patients were excluded if they were allergic to local anesthetics and unable to complete the procedure of puncture or follow-up evaluation. All included patients were randomly allocated to either QLB or Sham group. The primary outcome was perioperative cumulative sufentanil consumption., Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in anesthetic time, operation time, dosage of propofol, and remifentanil (P ​> ​0.05). Patients in the QLB group had significantly less sufentanil consumption both intraoperatively and postoperatively, compared with the Sham group (P ​< ​0.05). Postoperative VAS pain scores on coughing in the QLB group at 2 ​h, 6 ​h, 12 ​h, 24 ​h time points and VAS pain score at rest 2 ​h, 6 ​h after surgery were significantly lower than in the Sham group (P ​< ​0.05). Compared with the Sham group, time to first ambulation and anal flatus after surgery in the QLB group were significantly shorter (P ​< ​0.05). Significant differences of postoperative rescue analgesic usage and QoR-15 score at 48 ​h were found between the two groups (P ​< ​0.05)., Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided lateral QLB significantly reduced perioperative opioid consumption, alleviated postoperative pain, shortened the time to first ambulation and anal flatus, and enhanced postoperative recovery of the patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Medical University of Bialystok. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) may be used to treat acute postoperative pain for various types of surgeries. This modality avoids several limitations of traditional local anesthetic-based peripheral nerve blocks including avoidance of motor blockade and sensory deficits., Areas Covered: In this review, we discuss the use of SPRINT (SPR Therapeutics, Cleveland, OH) neuromodulation system in the setting of acute postoperative pain management., Expert Opinion: PNS is a novel modality in regional anesthesia that has much promise in reducing overall opioid use after surgery. Placement of PNS is very similar to that of catheter-based regional anesthesia techniques. Ultrasound is used to guide the percutaneously placed introducer needle in proximity to the target nerve. There are several benefits of PNS over catheter-based approaches, including: 1) avoidance of motor or sensory blockade; 2) no medication bag required to be carried; and 3) electric leads may be kept in situ safely for up to 60 days. While several proof-of-concept studies have been published highlighting its use in various types of surgeries, large high-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed.

Background: The misuse and abuse of opioids, including overprescription, has led to the current opioid epidemic and national crisis. There is a national effort to eliminate the unnecessary prescription of opioids for analgesia., Methods: Seventy patients were randomized to receive postoperative analgesia with either 5 mg hydrocodone with 325 mg acetaminophen (opioid control group) or 400 mg of ibuprofen [nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) experimental group]. Pain levels were assessed on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7. Outcome measures included numeric pain rating scores and assessments of frequency and amount of analgesic used., Results: There was no significant difference in gender (p = 0.81) or age (p = 0.61) between groups. On postoperative day 0, the NSAID group (mean ± SD, 2.54 ± 1.57) was found to be noninferior to the opioid group (mean ± SD, 3.14 ± 1.75; p = 0.003). On postoperative day 1, the NSAID group showed a lower mean pain score (mean ± SD, 1.84 ± 1.29) than the opioid group (mean ± SD, 2.46 ± 1.90; p = 0.01). However, on postoperative day 7, the difference in pain scores between the NSAID (mean ± SD, 3.29 ± 2.14) and opioid (mean ± SD, 3.14 ± 2.12; p = 0.17) groups lost statistical significance. There was no significant difference in mean day of medication cessation between the NSAID (mean ± SD, 4.73 ± 1.57) and opioid (mean ± SD, 4.28 ± 2.23; p = 0.26) groups. Seventy-six percent of patients who were prescribed opioids took fewer than eight tablets. Five patients escalated from NSAIDs to opioids. There were no adverse effects related to NSAID use., Conclusions: NSAIDs are an acceptable and safe alternative to opioids for postoperative analgesia in rhinoplasty and potentially lead to better overall pain control in some patients. Significantly reducing or eliminating opioid prescriptions may be considered in light of the current opioid epidemic., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, II., (Copyright © 2020 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current evidence on ultrasound-guided ilioinguinal nerve blocks for ilioinguinal neuralgia post hernia surgery., Methods: A literature search was performed to find all relevant case reports, case series, prospective or retrospective cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where ultrasound-guided or landmark-based ilioinguinal nerve blocks were used for ilioinguinal neuralgia post-inguinal hernia surgery., Recent Findings: A total of six studies were identified with suitable data for inclusion. Three studies were retrospective, two studies were prospective, and one study was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 133 subjects were enrolled across these studies. Approximately 55-70% had a beneficial analgesic response to treatment. No major complications were reported in these studies. Ultrasound- and landmark-based ilioinguinal nerve blocks are safe and effective for pain relief post inguinal hernia surgery. Although there were two studies that did not show a statically significant difference in both techniques, the ultrasound-guided injection has the advantage of direct visualization of pathology, more accurate needle placement, and decreased risks of intravascular injections.

A 67-year-old man with a high position carotid plaque presented with severe pain in ipsilateral parotid region several days after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The pain occurred at the first bite of each meal and resolved as further bite. We diagnosed the pain as first bite syndrome (FBS). FBS is infrequent but known as a complication associated with parapharyngeal space surgery. The pain is characterized by sharp pain in the parotid region associated with mastication. The cause is unclear but thought to the result from sympathetic denervation of the parotid gland, followed by parasympathetic nerve hypersensitivity. Only five cases associated with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) have been reported. We should be in mind that CEA for high position plaque is one of the risk factors to cause FBS associated with CEA. Neurologists and vascular surgeons as well as otolaryngologists should all be informed FBS as one of the complications after carotid endarterectomy., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lapidus arthrodesis is an established treatment option for severe hallux valgus deformity especially in patients suffering from instability of the first tarsometatarsal joint. Surgery related metatarsalgia is known to be associated with persistent elevation of the first ray after realignment surgery. Nevertheless, detailed information on ideal positioning of the first ray in Lapidus surgery is missing so far. This study was designed to determine any correlations between radiographic and pedobarographic outcome following the Lapidus procedure with regard to clinical outcome and the occurrence of metatarsalgia., Methods: Thirty feet (28 patients) after Lapidus surgery were available for follow-up at 42.5±21.0 months. All subjects had radiographic and pedobarographic evaluation of the operated foot and patient satisfaction was recorded using questionnaires., Results: Metatarsalgia was associated with a poorer outcome in FADI and AOFAS scores (p<0.005). A lateral shift of plantar pressure distribution to the third metatarsal head in these cases could be observed. Although Lapidus surgery resulted in significant shortening of the first metatarsal, no correlation to the occurrence of metatarsalgia was detectable. Likewise, axial plane malalignment showed no influence, whereas elevation of the first ray was highly correlated to surgery related metatarsalgia (p=0.007). Subjects suffering from metatarsalgia had a higher BMI (body mass index), but its effect on metatarsalgia turned out not to be significant (p=0.090)., Conclusion: In Lapidus surgery realignment of the first metatarsal in the sagittal plane seems to be decisive for good clinical outcome. Failing to plantarflex the arthrodesis resulted in a lateral shift of plantar loading with overload of the lesser metatarsals and the occurrence of metatarsalgia., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objectives: We assessed the prognostic value of the preoperative magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and morphometrics of the spinal cord in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) in a longitudinal cohort study., Methods: Thirteen subjects with DCM underwent 3T magnetization transfer imaging. The MTR was calculated for the spinal cord regions and specific white matter tracts. Morphometric measures were extracted. Clinical (modified Japanese Orthopaedics Association [mJOA] and Nurick scale scores) and health-related quality of life scores were assessed before and after cervical decompression surgery. The association between the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics and postoperative recovery was assessed (Spearman's correlation). Receiver operating characteristics were used to assess the accuracy of MRI metrics in identifying ≥50% recovery in function., Results: Preoperative anterior cord MTRs were associated with recovery in mJOA scores (ρ = 0.608; P = 0.036; area under the curve [AUC], 0.66). Preoperative lateral cord MTR correlated with the neck disability index (ρ = 0.699; P = 0.011) and pain interference scale (ρ = 0.732; P = 0.007). Preoperative rubrospinal tract MTR was associated with mJOA score recovery (ρ = 0.573; P = 0.041; AUC, 0.86). Preoperative corticospinal tract and reticulospinal MTRs were related to recovery in pain interference scores (ρ = 0.591; P = 0.033; and ρ = 0.583; P = 0.035, respectively). Eccentricity of the cord was associated with Nurick scores (ρ = 0.606; P = 0.028) and mJOA scores (ρ = 0.651; P = 0.025; AUC, 0.92)., Conclusions: Preoperative MTR and eccentricity measurements of the spinal cord have prognostic value in assessing the response to surgery and recovery in patients with DCM. Advanced MRI and atlas-based postprocessing techniques can inform interventions and advance the healthcare received by patients with DCM., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Anterior knee pain is the most common complication after intramedullary tibial nailing. Often, the cause is multifactorial and individually different. Violation of the anterior intermeniscal ligament (AIL) during intramedullary tibial nailing might be a possible origin of postsurgical anterior knee pain. Both the importance and function of the AIL remain somewhat ambivalent, and even the figures quoted in the literature for its existence in the population vary drastically. Our aim was to verify the estimated frequency of the AIL in the literature by retrospectively analysing the data of MRI studies conducted at our hospital. In addition, we attempted to assess the potential risk of AIL violation during intramedullary tibial nailing, based on the spatial arrangement., Methods: Two independent examiners analysed the images generated in 351 MRI studies conducted at our hospital between June 2013 and May 2014. All cases who did not reveal any previous knee-joint injury or osteoarthritis of the knee were allocated to group I. All other cases were included in group II. To estimate the potential risk of AIL injury during the nailing procedure, the distance between the AIL and the theoretical entry point for intramedullary nailing was measured., Results: We identified the AIL on the images of nearly all patients (96.5%) in group I. In group II, the presence of the AIL was confirmed in only 51.4% of cases (p < 0.001). The average distance between the AIL and theoretical entry point for intramedullary tibial nailing was 10.1 mm (range 3.48-18.88 mm)., Conclusions: Because we were able to confirm the presence of the AIL in nearly all patients without a history of knee joint injuries or osteoarthrosis, we presume that the AIL may play a role in knee joint function. Violation of the AIL during intramedullary nailing appears likely due to the close position of the AIL in relation to the entry point for the inserted nail. As a result and due to its rich sensory innervation, a connection between AIL violation during tibial nailing and postoperative onset of anterior knee pain seems likely. To eliminate one risk factor of anterior knee pain development and in view of the unresolved issues of AIL function, violation of the ligament during any operative procedure should be avoided.

Backgruond: We described 5 cases of uneventful administration of the erector spinae plane (ESP) block to patients with altered hemostasis., Case: Five patients were admitted to the intensive care unit with altered hemostasis, defined by the activated partial thromboplastin time ratio or internatinal normalized ratio exceeding 1.5 times the normal value; platelet count equal to or below 80000/μl; or use of anticoagulation therapy. A multimodal analgesic regimen was used for all patients, which proved unsatisfactory and limited successful ventilator weaning, until the administration of the ESP block. Effective analgesia was observed in all patients, with at least 70% reduction in numeric pain scale scores and 83% reduction in opioid consumption, which enabled successful ventilator weaning. No neurologic or hemorrhagic complications were recorded during daily surveillance over 5 days., Conclusions: The ESP block may be a suitable regional analgesia technique for patients with altered hemostasis. Further studies are needed to support this finding.

Objective: Approximately 550,000 Americans experience vertebral fracture annually, and most receive opioids to treat the resulting pain. Kyphoplasty of the fractured vertebra is a procedural alternative that may mitigate risks of even short-term opioid use. While reports of kyphoplasty's impact on pain scores are mixed, no large-scale data exist regarding opioid prescribing before and after the procedure. This study was conducted to determine whether timing of kyphoplasty following vertebral fracture is associated with duration or intensity of opioid prescribing., Methods: This retrospective cohort study used 2001-2014 insurance claims data from a single, large private insurer in the US across multiple care settings. Patients were adults with vertebral fractures who were prescribed opioids and underwent balloon-assisted kyphoplasty within 4 months of fracture. Opioid overdose risk was stratified by prescribed average daily morphine milligram equivalents using CDC guidelines. Filled prescriptions and risk categories were evaluated at baseline and 90 days following kyphoplasty., Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 7119 patients (median age 77 years, 71.7% female). Among included patients, 3505 (49.2%) were opioid naïve before fracture. Of these patients, 31.1% had new persistent opioid prescribing beyond 90 days after kyphoplasty, and multivariable logistic regression identified kyphoplasty after 8 weeks as a predictor (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.02-1.76). For patients previously receiving opioids, kyphoplasty > 4 weeks after fracture was associated with persistently elevated prescribing risk (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.23-2.74)., Conclusions: New persistent opioid prescribing occurred in nearly one-third of patients undergoing kyphoplasty after vertebral fracture, although early treatment was associated with a reduction in this risk. For patients not naïve to opioids before fracture diagnosis, early kyphoplasty was associated with less persistent elevation of opioid overdose risk. Subsequent trials must compare opioid use by vertebral fracture patients treated via operative (kyphoplasty) and nonoperative (ongoing opioid) strategies before concluding that kyphoplasty lacks value, and early referral for kyphoplasty may be appropriate to avoid missing a window of efficacy.

Background: The posterior transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) and quadratus lumborum block (QLB) were developed for postoperative pain control after lower abdominal surgery. However, there is little data regarding their effects. Their analgesic effects and the distribution of the cutaneous sensory blockade were observed in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery., Methods: After an induction of general anesthesia, patients alternately received bilateral ultrasound-guided QLB type 2 (QLB2) or posterior TAPB using 20 ml of 0.375% levobupivacaine on each side. The measurements included visual analogue pain scores (VAS), cutaneous sensory blockade in each dermatome, demands for postoperative analgesics, and complications for up to 48 h after the block. Our primary endpoint was VAS at 24 h after the block., Results: Forty patients completed the study. The VAS at rest was significantly lower after QLB2 than that after TAPB at 48 h, but not at 24 h. Neither group differed in VAS when coughing at any point in time. Postoperative demands for fentanyl and other analgesics also did not differ for either block. The majority of injections produced a cutaneous sensory blockade in the T11 and T12 dermatomes in both groups. The median number of dermatomes blocked was limited to three dermatomes after either block. No severe complication related to either block was observed., Conclusions: The analgesic effects of QLB2 and posterior TAPB did not differ in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. The cutaneous sensory blockade produced was limited to three dermatomal levels in the majority of patients. However, these findings need to be confirmed through a larger comparative study.

Study Design: A retrospective study with prospectively-collected data., Objective: To determine how type, location, and size of endplate lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be associated with symptoms and clinical outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)., Summary of Background Data: Structural endplate abnormalities are important, yet understudied, phenomena in the cervical spine. ACDF is a common surgical treatment for degenerative disc disease; however, adjacent segment degeneration/disease (ASD) may develop., Methods: Assessed the imaging, symptoms and clinical outcomes of 861 patients who underwent ACDF at a single center. MRI and plain radiographs of the cervical spine were evaluated. Endplate abnormalities on MRI were identified and stratified by type (atypical, typical), location, relation to operative levels, presence at the adjacent level, and size. These strata were assessed for association with presenting symptoms, patient-reported, and postoperative outcomes., Results: Of 861 patients (mean follow-up: 17.4 months), 57.3% had evidence of endplate abnormalities, 39.0% had typical abnormalities, while 18.2% had atypical abnormalities. Patients with any endplate abnormality had greater odds of myelopathy irrespective of location or size, while sensory deficits were associated with atypical lesions (P = 0.016). Typical and atypical abnormalities demonstrated differences in patient-reported outcomes based on location relative to the fused segment. Typical variants were not associated with adverse surgical outcomes, while atypical lesions were associated with ASD (irrespective of size/location; P = 0.004) and reoperations, when a large abnormality was present at the proximal adjacent level (P = 0.025)., Conclusion: This is the first study to examine endplate abnormalities on MRI of the cervical spine, demonstrating distinct risk profiles for symptoms, patient-reported, and surgical outcomes after ACDF. Patients with typical lesions reported worsening postoperative pain/disability, while those with atypical abnormalities experienced greater rates of ASD and reoperation. This highlights the relevance of a degenerative spine phenotypic assessment, and suggests endplate abnormalities may prognosticate clinical outcomes after surgery., Level of Evidence: 3.

Purpose: Postoperative pain management for patients undergoing hepatic resection is still a challenge due to the risk of perioperative liver dysfunction. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a promising regional analgesic technique. However, the correct guidelines regarding the dose and regimen of local anesthetics in patients undergoing hepatic resection have yet to be established completely. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided BD-TAP block with a large dose of ropivacaine in laparoscopic hepatectomy., Patients and Methods: This prospective, blinded, randomized, controlled study was conducted with 50 patients who were scheduled for selective laparoscopic hepatectomy. Patients who received a BD-TAP block (3 mg/kg of ropivacaine diluted to 60 mL) with general anesthesia were categorized into the BD-TAP block group (n = 25), and those who received general anesthesia were categorized into the control group (n = 25). The primary outcomes were consumption of sufentanil within 48 hours post-operation and plasma ropivacaine concentration. The secondary outcomes were the severity of pain (at rest and upon coughing), nausea and/or vomiting, and quality of recovery., Results: Compared with the control group, the patients in BD-TAP block group had a significant reduction of postoperative sufentanil consumption at 2 hours ( P = 0.019), 24 hours ( P = 0.001), and 48 hours ( P = 0.001), and the visual analog scale (VAS) scores on coughing were significantly lower at postoperative 2 hours ( P = 0.004). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative nausea and/or vomiting, flatus, catheter removal, off-bed activity, liver function, or postoperative hospital stay. The mean peak total ropivacaine concentration was 1,067.85 ng/mL, which occurred 1 hour after administering the block, and mean free ropivacaine concentration was 52.32 ng/mL. The highest individual peak plasma concentration was 2,360.90 ng/mL at 45 min postinjection, and the free ropivacaine concentration was 139.29 ng/mL., Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided BD-TAP block provides effective postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic hepatectomy. This study also confirms that ultrasound-guided BD-TAP blocks with 3 mg/kg ropivacaine during laparoscopic hepatectomy almost never results in the plasma ropivacaine concentrations associated with neurotoxicity., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2020 Zhang et al.)

Background: Understanding the risk factors associated with postoperative pain and worse outcome can guide surgeons on whether primary patellar resurfacing is warranted during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to determine whether clinical scores and pain after TKA without patellar resurfacing are correlated with patellar shape and postoperative patellar position and kinematics., Methods: Radiographs as well as anterior knee pain according to the Visual Analogue Scale (pVAS) were collected pre- and postoperatively for 100 knees aged 68 ± 7.7 years that received uncemented TKA without patellar resurfacing. At a minimum follow-up of 12 months the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) as well as the flexion range of motion and the presence of J-sign during active extension were recorded. Uni- and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to determine associations between the collected clinical scores and patient demographic and radiographic data., Results: Postoperative OKS (79 ± 14.4) was worse for Wiberg Type III patellae (β = -11.4, P = .020, compared with Type II). Anterior pVAS (2 ± 2) was greater in knees with J-sign during extension (β = 2.8, P < .001). None of the other radiographic measurements (patellar tilt, congruence angle and lateral patellar displacement) were correlated with postoperative OKS or anterior pVAS., Conclusion: Incongruent patellar shape (Wiberg Type III) is associated with worse clinical scores, and abnormal kinematics (J-sign) with increased pain after TKA without patellar resurfacing. The authors therefore recommend routine resurfacing for Wiberg Type III patellae, though further studies are required to confirm whether resurfacing truly improves clinical scores and pain in this subgroup., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest O.C. consults and receives royalties from Tornier-Corin, consults and receives royalties from Arthrex, and consults for Zimmer. J.H.M. and M.S. consult and receive fees from ReSurg., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Evaluating pain after total ankle replacement (TAR) is often difficult, and traditional imaging modalities do not always adequately assess potential etiologies of failure. Our study adds to the current understanding of single-photon emission computed tomography combined with conventional computed tomography (SPECT-CT) as a diagnostic tool for painful TAR. We hypothesized that SPECT-CT would be predictive of clinical and intraoperative findings and would be more useful than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in our cohort., Methods: A retrospective review of SPECT-CT imaging performed at our institution in patients with painful TAR from January 2014 to November 2018 was conducted. A total of 37 patients were identified, and 28 of them underwent revision surgery. Additionally, 19 patients had an MRI during the same time frame. Imaging results were compared to the documented clinical findings and intraoperative findings during revision surgery., Results: Of the 37 patients included, 89.2% (33/37) had SPECT-CT results that were consistent with the ultimate diagnosis documented in the medical record. Aseptic loosening (12/33) and impingement (11/33) were the most common diagnoses. Among patients who underwent revision surgery, SPECT-CT results were consistent with intraoperative findings in 26 of the 28 (92.9%) cases. In the 19 patients who also underwent MRI, the findings were consistent with clinical findings 36.8% (7/19) of the time., Conclusion: In our cohort, there was high consistency between SPECT-CT results and documented clinical diagnoses. SPECT-CT also demonstrated high consistency with intraoperative findings during revision surgery. Compared with MRI, SPECT-CT proved more useful in establishing a diagnosis of pain after TAR., Level of Evidence: Level III, comparative series.

Persistent pain around the greater trochanter is a common complication after total hip arthroplasty. Restoration of biomechanics such as leg length, femoral und acetabular offset is crucial in THA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative differences of these parameters after THA and to analyze their association to greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of trochanteric pain syndrome compared to patient reported outcome measures. 3D-CT scans of 90 patients were analyzed after minimalinvasive total hip arthroplasty and leg length, femoral and acetabular offset differences were measured. Clinical evaluation was performed three years after THA regarding the presence of trochanteric pain syndrome and using outcome measures. Furthermore, the patients' expectation were evaluated. Patients with trochanteric pain syndrome showed a higher absolute discrepancy of combined leg length, femoral and acetabular offset restoration compared to the non-operated contralateral side with 11.8 ± 6.0 mm than patients without symptoms in the trochanteric region with 7.8 ± 5.3 mm (p = 0.01). Patients with an absolute deviation of the combined parameters of more than 5 mm complained more frequently about trochanteric symptoms (29.2%, 19/65) than patients with a biomechanical restoration within 5 mm compared to the non-affected contralateral side (8.0%, 2/25, p = 0.03). Clinical outcome measured three years after THA was significantly lower in patients with trochanteric symptoms than without trochanteric pain (p < 0.03). Similarly, fulfillment of patient expectations as measured by THR-Survey was lower in the patients with trochanteric pain (p < 0.005). An exact combined restoration of leg length, acetabular and femoral offset reduces significantly postoperative trochanteric pain syndrome and improves the clinical outcome of the patients.

Background: Acute post-mastectomy pain is frequently challenging to adequately treat with local anesthetic-based regional anesthesia techniques due to its relatively long duration measured in multiple weeks., Case: We report three cases in which preoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous intercostal nerve cryoneurolysis was performed to treat pain following mastectomy. Across all postoperative days and all three patients, the mean pain score on the numeric rating scale was 0 for each day. Similarly, no patient required any supplemental opioid analgesics during the entire postoperative period; and, no patient reported insomnia or awakenings due to pain at any time point. This was a significant improvement over historic cohorts., Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoanalgesia is a potential novel analgesic modality for acute pain management which has a duration that better-matches mastectomy than other currently-described techniques. Appropriately powered randomized, controlled clinical trials are required to demonstrate and quantify both potential benefits and risks.

Background: The basic perineural catheter design has changed minimally since inception, with the catheter introduced through or over a straight needle. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently cleared a novel perineural catheter design comprising a catheter attached to the back of a suture-shaped needle that is inserted, advanced along the arc of its curvature pulling the catheter past the target nerve, and then exited through the skin in a second location. The authors hypothesized that analgesia would be noninferior using the new versus traditional catheter design in the first two days after painful foot/ankle surgery with a primary outcome of average pain measured with the Numeric Rating Scale., Methods: Subjects undergoing painful foot or ankle surgery with a continuous supraparaneural popliteal-sciatic nerve block 5 cm proximal to the bifurcation were randomized to either a suture-type or through-the-needle catheter and subsequent 3-day 0.2% ropivacaine infusion (basal 6 ml/h, bolus 4 ml, lockout 30 min). Subjects received daily follow-up for the first four days after surgery, including assessment for evidence of malfunction or dislodgement of the catheters., Results: During the first two postoperative days the mean ± SD average pain scores were lower in subjects with the suture-catheter (n = 35) compared with the through-the-needle (n = 35) group (2.7 ± 2.4 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4) and found to be statistically noninferior (95% CI, -1.9 to 0.6; P < 0.001). No suture-style catheter was completely dislodged (0%), whereas the tips of three (9%) traditional catheters were found outside of the skin before purposeful removal on postoperative day 3 (P = 0.239)., Conclusions: Suture-type perineural catheters provided noninferior analgesia compared with traditional catheters for continuous popliteal-sciatic blocks after painful foot and ankle surgery. The new catheter design appears to be a viable alternative to traditional designs used for the past seven decades.

Background: Due to suboptimal pain control under conventional local anesthesia, percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy is typically performed under general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to develop a stepwise approach of local anesthesia for endoscopic interlaminar discectomy and evaluate its efficacy., Methods: A stepwise local anesthesia was developed, which mainly includes 3 steps: conventional local anesthesia from skin to laminae, epidural injection, and nerve root block. From June 2015 to May 2017, consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic interlaminar discectomy were included. Local anesthesia or general anesthesia was used based on patients' preference. Anesthetic effectiveness was evaluated as excellent, good, or poor, and adverse events were recorded. Hospitalization expense was compared between the 2 groups. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index., Results: There were 98 patients included in the study. Among them, 48 received stepwise local anesthesia and the other 50 received general anesthesia. In the stepwise local anesthesia group, 40 (83.3%) patients rated anesthetic effectiveness as excellent, 7 (14.6%) as good, and 1 (2.1%) as poor. Nine patients had complications that may be associated with local anesthesia, including dyspnea, temporary paresis of legs, and temporary worsened dysesthesia or numbness in legs. After surgery, the patients' leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index significantly improved in both groups. On average, hospitalization expense was approximately 20% less when local anesthesia was used, as compared with using general anesthesia., Conclusions: The stepwise local anesthesia can achieve satisfactory pain control and seems to be a good choice for endoscopic interlaminar discectomy., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The choice of subdural grid (SDG) or stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) for patients with epilepsy can be complex and in some cases overlap. Comparing postoperative pain and narcotics consumption with SDG or sEEG can help develop an intracranial monitoring strategy., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed for adult patients undergoing SDG or sEEG monitoring. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used for pain assessment. Types and dosage of the opioids were calculated by converting into milligram morphine equivalents (MME). Narcotic consumption was analyzed at the following three time periods: I. the first 24 h of implantation; II. from the second postimplantation day to the day of explantation; and III. the days following electrode removal to discharge., Results: Forty-two patients who underwent SDG and 31 patients who underwent sEEG implantation were analyzed. After implantation, average NRS was 3.7 for SDG and 2.2 for sEEG (P < .001). After explantation, the NRS was 3.5 for SDG and 1.4 in sEEG (P < .001). Sixty percent of SDG patients and 13% of sEEG patients used more than one opioid in period III (P < .001). The SDG group had a significantly higher MME throughout the three periods compared with the sEEG group: period I: 448 (SDG) vs. 205 (sEEG) mg, P = .002; period II: 377 (SDG) vs. 102 (sEEG) mg, P < .001; and period III: 328 (SDG) vs. 75 (sEEG) mg; P = .002. Patients with the larger SDG implantation had the higher NRS (P = .03) and the higher MME at period I (P = .019). There was no correlation between the number of depth electrodes and pain control in patients with sEEG., Conclusions: Patients undergoing sEEG had significantly less pain and required fewer opiates compared with patients with SDG. These differences in perioperative pain may be a consideration when choosing between these two invasive monitoring options., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. There is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the value of MRI in comparison to single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT in patients with painful hip arthroplasties., Methods: A prospective, multi-institutional study was performed. Therefore, 35 consecutive patients (21 female, 14 male, mean age 61.8 ± 13.3 years) with 37-painful hip arthroplasties were included. A hip surgeon noted the most likely diagnosis based on clinical examination and hip radiographs. Then, MRI and SPECT/CT of the painful hips were acquired. MRI and SPECT/CT were assessed for loosening, infection, fracture, tendon pathology and other abnormalities. Final diagnosis and therapy was established by the hip surgeon after integration of MRI and SPECT/CT results. The value of MRI and SPECT/CT for diagnosis was assessed with a 3-point scale (1 = unimportant, 2 = helpful, 3 = essential)., Results: Loosening was observed in 13/37 arthroplasties (6 shaft only, 6 cup only, 1 combined). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for loosening of MRI were 86%/88%/60%/100% and of SPECT/CT 93%/97%/90%/100%, respectively. MRI and SPECT/CT diagnosed infection correctly in two of three patients and fractures in two patients, which were missed by X-ray. MRI detected soft tissue abnormalities in 21 patients (6 bursitis, 14 tendon lesions, 1 pseudotumor), of which only 1 tendon abnormality was accurately detected with SPECT/CT. All 5 arthroplasties with polyethylene wear were correctly diagnosed clinically and with both imaging modalities. MRI and SPECT/CT were judged as not helpful in 0/0%, as helpful in 16%/49% and essential in 84%/51%., Conclusion: In patients with painful hip arthroplasty SPECT/CT is slightly superior to MR in the assessment of loosening. MRI is far superior in the detection of soft tissue, especially tendon pathologies., Advances in Knowledge: To our knowledge this is the first prospective, multiinstitutional study which compares MRI with SPECT/CT in painful hip arthroplasties. We found that MRI is far superior in the detection of soft tissue pathologies, whereas SPECT/CT remains slightly superior regarding loosening.

Purpose of the Review: The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a brief discussion of the current direction in pediatric regional anesthesia, highlighting both newer nerve blocks and techniques and traditional nerve blocks., Recent Findings: The number of nerve blocks performed in pediatric patients continues to increase. This growth is likely related in part to the recent focus on perioperative multimodal analgesia, in addition to growing data demonstrating safety and efficacy in this patient population. Multiple studies by the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network (PRAN) and the French-Language Society of Pediatric Anesthesiologists (ADARPEF) have demonstrated lack of major complications and general overall safety with pediatric nerve blocks. The growing prevalence of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has not only improved the safety profile, but also increased the efficacy of both peripheral nerve blocks and perineural catheters., Summary: As the push for multimodal analgesia increases and the breadth of pediatric regional anesthesia continues to expand, further large prospective studies will be needed to demonstrate continued efficacy and overall safety., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Thoracic planar blocks represent a novel and rapidly expanding facet of regional anesthesia. These recently described techniques represent the potential for excellent analgesia, enhanced technical safety profiles, and reduced physiological side effects versus traditional techniques in thoracic anesthesia. Regional techniques, particularly those described in this review, have potential implications for mitigation of surgical pathophysiological neurohumoral changes. In the present investigation, we describe the history, common indications, technique, and limitations of pectoral nerves (PECS), serratus plane, erector spinae plane, and thoracic paravertebral plane blocks. In summary, these techniques provide excellent analgesia and merit consideration in thoracic surgery., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The facsia iliaca block (FIB) is a relatively new regional technique where local anesthetic is delivered within the fascia iliaca region. Indications for a FIB include surgical anesthesia to the lower extremity after knee, femoral shaft, hip surgery, management of cancer pain or pain secondary to inflammatory conditions of the lumbar plexus, as well as treatment of acute pain in the setting of trauma, fracture, or burns. The FIB may be performed using either a loss of resistance technique or an ultrasound (US)-guided technique; however, the use of US has become commonplace and resulted in improved femoral nerve and obturator nerve motor blocks. The main targets of the FIB are the predominant nerves contained in the fascia iliaca compartment (FIC), namely the femoral nerve and the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. The FIB US guided technique is beneficial to patients and the possibility to perform FIB should be discussed and coordinated with surgical staff appropriately, considering its superiority to general or epidural anesthesia., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: of review: Novel motor-sparing peripheral nerve blocks in hip and knee procedures are desirable., Recent Findings: The application of ultrasound (US) in fascial plane blocks has improved the efficacy and effectiveness of obturator nerve block, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block, and quadratus lumborum block. The improved performance of these fascial plane blocks has led to additional clinical applications to the hip and knee procedures., Summary: Recent advancements in US have transformed the clinical performance of fascial layer blocks, evidenced in their novel indications in hip, knee, and spine analgesia. The combination of various motor-sparing fascial plane blocks providing different areas of innervation is particularly useful in fast-track hip and knee surgeries., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The objective of this retrospective study is to evaluate how neck pain is influenced by post-operative cervical alignment in patients operated for cervical spinal trauma., Patients and Methods: From January 2013 to June 2017, at our department we operated 34 patients with cervical spinal trauma, 22 males and 12 females. Age, sex, level and type of fractures, surgical approach, fixation levels (cervical or cervico-dorsal), preoperative and postoperative CT scan, cervical (C2-C7) Cobb angle (lordotic > +10°, straight 0 /+10°, kyphotic < 0°) at X-rays on sitting position 3 months after surgery, postoperative self-reported neck stiffness scale, preoperative and follow-up ASIA score, pre and postoperative VAS value were evaluated for each patient. Statistical analysis was performed according to the Mann-Whitney and T-test., Results: In this series, 22 patients were operated by anterior approach, 7 patients by posterior approach and 5 by combined approach. Postoperative chronic cervical pain was not correlated with cervical sagittal alignment after surgery, fracture type, surgical approach, fixation level and postoperative ASIA score but is correlated with the presence of neck stiffness (P=0,001). Patients treated with posterior approach (P=0,022) and fracture type C (P=0,026) had higher significantly neck stiffness compared to patients who underwent anterior approach for type B fractures., Conclusions: The presence of abnormal cervical lordosis after surgery for cervical spinal trauma does not correlate with neck pain. Patients treated with posterior fixation had higher neck stiffness and related chronic pain.

Objective: The Nuss procedure is a preferred technique for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE), but it is associated with significant postoperative pain. We assessed the efficacy and safety of an ultrasound-guided bilateral serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) for relieving acute pain from MIRPE., Design: A retrospective cohort study., Setting: This study was conducted at the Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Turkey., Participants: All participants were scheduled for MIRPE., Interventions: This study was conducted from November 2017 to May 2018. Postoperative pain control was achieved with bilateral SAPB done after induction of anesthesia and IV PCA in 50 patient (SABP group) and with only IV PCA in 45 patients (Control group). SAPB was achieved, targeting the interfascial plane between the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscles, with a single injection of 30 mL (20 mL if patient weighed < 40 kg) of 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.5% lidocaine into each side. Pain scores were recorded for 24 h., Measurement and Main Results: Patients in the Control group had a higher demand (mean difference, 61; 95% confidence interval [CI] 30.5-136; P < 0.0001) and delivery dose (mean difference, 25; 95% CI 15-41.5 P = 0.001) during the first postoperative 24 h. SAPB did not affect the median (interquartile range) length of hospital stay: 5 (5-7) days vs. 5 (4-6) days, (P =0.085)., Conclusions: Bilateral single-injection SAPB in patients undergoing MIRPE decreases pain and opioid consumption during the early postoperative period., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: During primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), synovectomy as a part of the procedure has been recommended to relieve pain and inflammation of the synovium, but there is a controversy about it due to increased bleeding. In this meta-analysis, the aim is to answer whether synovectomy should be performed routinely during TKA for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA)., Methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on synovectomy were retrieved through database searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to February 2019. Studies that compared postoperative pain, clinical Knee Society Score (KSS), functional KSS, range of motion (ROM), drainage, pre- and postoperative hemoglobin difference, transfusion rate, operative time, and/or complications were included in the meta-analysis. Review Manager 5.3.0 was used for meta-analysis., Results: We included 5 RCTs with 542 knees. Pooled results indicated that the synovectomy group was associated with more blood loss via drainage (WMD = - 99.41, 95% CI - 153.75 to - 45.08, P = 0.0003) and pre- and postoperative hemoglobin difference (WMD = - 0.93, 95% CI - 1.33 to - 0.5, P < 0.00001), compared with the non-synovectomy group. No statistically significant differences were demonstrated between both groups in postoperative pain, clinical KSS, functional KSS, ROM, transfusion rate, or complications (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: The current evidence demonstrates that performing synovectomy in primary TKA for symptomatic KOA does not have any clinical benefit. It increases postsurgical blood loss. Surgeons routinely undertaking synovectomy should deliberate whether this is clinically indicated and consider limiting resection, if possible.

Introduction: The objective of the present feasibility study was to investigate the use of a new treatment modality-percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)-in controlling the often severe and long-lasting pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA)., Methods: For patients undergoing a primary, unilateral TKA, both femoral and sciatic open-coil percutaneous leads (SPR Therapeutics, Cleveland, OH) were placed up to seven days prior to surgery using ultrasound guidance. The leads were connected to external stimulators and used both at home and in the hospital for up to six weeks total., Results: In six of seven subjects (86%), the average of daily pain scores across the first two weeks was <4 on the 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale for pain. A majority of subjects (four out of seven; 57%) had ceased opioid use within the first week (median time to opioid cessation for all subjects was six days). Gross sensory/motor function was maintained during stimulation, enabling stimulation during physical therapy and activities of daily living. At 12 weeks following surgery, six of seven subjects had improved by >10% on the Six-Minute Walk Test compared to preoperative levels, and WOMAC scores improved by an average of 85% compared to before surgery. No falls, motor block, or lead infections were reported., Conclusions: This feasibility study suggests that for TKA, ultrasound-guided percutaneous PNS is feasible in the immediate perioperative period and may provide analgesia without the undesirable systemic effects of opioids or quadriceps weakness induced by local anesthetics-based peripheral nerve blocks., (© 2018 The Authors. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Neuromodulation Society.)

Objectives: The purpose of this prospective proof of concept study was to investigate the feasibility of using percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation of the femoral nerve to treat pain in the immediate postoperative period following ambulatory anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a patellar autograft., Materials and Methods: Preoperatively, an electrical lead (SPRINT, SPR Therapeutics, Inc., Cleveland, OH, USA) was percutaneously implanted with ultrasound guidance anterior to the femoral nerve caudad to the inguinal crease. Within the recovery room, subjects received 5 min of either stimulation or sham in a randomized, double-masked fashion followed by a 5-min crossover period, and then continuous active stimulation until lead removal postoperative Day 14-28. Statistics were not applied to the data due to the small sample size of this feasibility study., Results: During the initial 5-min treatment period, subjects randomized to stimulation (n = 5) experienced a slight downward trajectory (decrease of 7%) in their pain over the 5 min of treatment, while those receiving sham (n = 5) reported a slight upward trajectory (increase of 4%) until their subsequent 5-min stimulation crossover, during which time they also experienced a slight downward trajectory (decrease of 11% from baseline). A majority of subjects (80%) used a continuous adductor canal nerve block for rescue analgesia (in addition to stimulation) during postoperative Days 1-3, after which the median resting and dynamic pain scores remained equal or less than 1.5 on the numeric rating scale, respectively, and the median daily opioid consumption was less than 1.0 tablet., Conclusions: This proof of concept study demonstrates that percutaneous femoral nerve stimulation is feasible for ambulatory knee surgery; and suggests that this modality may be effective in providing analgesia and decreasing opioid requirements following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02898103., (© 2018 The Authors. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Neuromodulation Society.)

Introduction: Cardiac surgery patients often experience significant pain after median sternotomy. The transversus thoracis muscle plane (TTP) block is a newly developed, single-shot nerve block technique that provides analgesia for the anterior chest wall. In this double-blind pilot study, we assessed the feasibility of performing this novel block as an analgesic adjunct., Methods: All patients aged 18-90 undergoing elective cardiac surgery were randomized to the block or standard care control group on admission to the intensive care unit after surgery. Under ultrasound guidance, patients in the block group received the TTP block with 20 mL of either 0.3% or 0.5% ropivacaine bilaterally, based on weight. The control group did not receive any injections. All blocks were performed by a single anesthesiologist, and data collection was performed by blinded assessors. The primary feasibility outcomes were rate of recruitment, adherence, and adverse events. The rate of recruitment was defined as the ratio of patients giving informed consent to the number of eligible patients who were approached to participate. Secondary outcomes included 12-hour and 24-hour Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores, 24-hour hydromorphone and acetaminophen requirements, time to extubation, time to first opioid administration, and patient satisfaction (on a yes/no questionnaire) at 24 hours., Results: Twenty patients were approached for this study and 19 were enrolled. Eight patients received the intended intervention in each group. The recruitment rate was 95% of all approached eligible patients, and the adherence rate to treatment group was 94%. There were no block-related adverse events. The mean (SD) NRS pain scores at rest were 3.3 (3.2) in the block group vs 5.6 (3.2) in the control group at 12 hours. At 24 hours, the pain scores were 4.1 (3.9) vs 4.1 (3.3) in the block and control group, respectively. The mean (SD) 24-hour hydromorphone administration was 1.9 (1.1) mg in the block group vs 1.8 (0.9) mg in the control group., Discussion: The TTP block is a novel pain management strategy poststernotomy. The results reveal a high patient recruitment, adherence, and satisfaction rate, and provide some preliminary data supporting safety., Trial Registration Number: NCT03128346., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Anterior knee pain (AKP) remains a complex issue affecting patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty. Several radiographic parameters have been shown to be causative factors with various designs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the known radiographic parameters of AKP and clinical outcomes (ie, AKP) in the setting of a modern prosthesis with an anatomic patella button., Methods: Between July 2012 and December 2013, 90 total knee arthroplasties received 3 skyline views taken at 30°, 45°, and 60°. A patient-administered questionnaire was administered at 2-year follow-up to assess the incidence of AKP, painless noise, and satisfaction. Radiographs were analyzed for patellofemoral overstuffing, patellar tilt, and patellar displacement, and evaluated the patella resection angle., Results: On the patient-administered questionnaire, 10 (11.1%) patients reported AKP of a mild-to-moderate nature. Thirty-one had the best view at 30 Merchant views, 24 had best views at 45, and 35 had best views at 60. We found that patellar resection angle correlated with AKP (odds ratio 1.21, P = .044) and painless noise (odds ratio 1.22, P = .034). Patellar displacement and patellofemoral stuffing did not correlate with AKP or painless noise. No radiographic measurements correlated with changes in Knee Society Score pain or function scores or range of motion., Conclusion: We found that a patellar resection angle correlated with the incidence of AKP and painless noise at 2-year follow-up. We failed to find any correlation with patellofemoral overstuffing, patellar displacement, or patellar tilt with clinical outcomes. We recommend the use of 3 Merchant views to fully evaluate the patellofemoral joint., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and risk factors for axial neck pain in patients undergoing multilevel anterior cervical decompression with fusion surgery., Methods: In this study, 88 patients, who underwent multilevel anterior cervical decompression with fusion surgery from January 2012 to January 2017, were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the postoperative axial neck pain, the patients were classified into two groups: axial pain group and no axial pain group. The patients were followed up 3 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year after cervical anterior surgery for the early- and long-term clinical evaluation. The possible effect factors included demographic variables (age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, preoperative kyphosis, preoperative axial neck pain, preoperative JOA scores, and ODI) and surgery-related variables (surgical option, vertebral lesions, spinal canal stenosis rate, superior fusion segment, presence of intramedullary high signal intensity)., Results: The prevalence of axial neck pain was 27.3% (24 cases of 88). Our results showed that preoperative axial neck pain (62% vs 23%, P < 0.001) and preoperative kyphosis (42% vs 21.9%, P < 0.001) were risk factors for axial pain after multilevel anterior cervical surgery. Additionally, for patients with preoperative cervical kyphosis, compared to no axial pain group, the axial neck group was significantly more likely to exist a higher preoperative angle of C2-7 (13.31 ± 2.33 vs 7.33 ± 2.56, P < 0.001) and a higher correction range for kyphosis (20.24 ± 4.12 vs 12.34 ± 3.12, P < 0.001). However, for all the patients with postoperative axial symptoms, the improvement rate of axial pain was significantly higher for patients without cervical kyphosis at the early-term follow-up (3 weeks) (P = 0.032), no significant differences were found at the medium-term (P = 0.554) and long-term follow-up (P = 0.902), and improvements of clinical symptom have no obvious difference at the last follow-up., Conclusions: Overall, preoperative axial neck pain and kyphosis could predict axial neck pain for patients undergoing multilevel anterior cervical decompression with fusion surgery, and recovery of cervical kyphosis may contribute to the long-term recovery of neural function, but may also suffer from risk of short-term axial pain, which could be reduced through moderate cervical curvature recovery.

The perioperative pain management - instead of the efforts, guidelines and protocols - is underestimated and undertreated. Even in the case of general anaesthesia, the nervous system is overwhelmed by copious quantities of nociceptive stimuli at surgical incision. Stress and pain-modulation processes are triggered which can have significant influence on the outcome. Often the pain-management is discontinued, so a notable part of patients complain about pain in the ward after surgery. Regional anaesthesia conceptually prevents noxious inputs to enter the central nervous system, beyond surgical anaesthesia it is pertinent to achieve excellent analgesia in the immediate postoperative period as well. Based on current literature, this paper provides an overview of the history and role of regional anaesthesia in the multidimensional model of pain. Besides the sensitization caused by nociceptive stimuli - peripheral and central sensitization, descending modulation - there are several biopsychosocial factors involved in pain pathophysiology. Preventing the side effects of general anaesthesia, the ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blockade is a safe technique with high success rate, rare side effects, achieving long-lasting, excellent analgesia. Continuous perineural catheter placed under ultrasound provides extended pain control. As a part of multimodal analgesia, peripheral nerve blockade prevents central sensitization. After surgery, the pain intensity of patients under peripheral nerve blockade is less, the chronification tendency is decreased, the quality of life and patients' comfort are improved, and the stress-response is attenuated. The greater part of patients are protected from the undesirable side effects of general anaesthesia. Nowadays, it is an unequivocal evidence that the increasingly used peripheral nerve blockades prior to incision are efficient tools in the prevention of chronic postoperative pain. Ultrasound guidance is suitable not only for surgical anaesthesia, but for postoperative pain management as well, however, besides economic factors, the main goal of this technique is to match the best interest of the patients. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(15): 573-584.

Objective: The neural mechanisms of pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA) are not fully understood, and some patients have neuropathic-like pain associated with central sensitization. To address this, we undertook the present study in order to identify central sensitization using neuroimaging and PainDETECT and to relate it to postarthroplasty outcome., Methods: Patients awaiting arthroplasty underwent quantitative sensory testing, psychological assessment, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Neuroimaging (fMRI) was conducted during punctate stimulation (n = 24) and cold stimulation (n = 20) to the affected knee. The postoperative outcome was measured using the Oxford Knee Score, patient-reported moderate-to-severe long-term pain postarthroplasty, and a range of pain-related questionnaires., Results: Patients with neuropathic-like pain presurgery (identified using PainDETECT; n = 14) reported significantly higher pain in response to punctate stimuli and cold stimuli near the affected joint (P < 0.05). Neural activity in these patients, compared to those without neuropathic-like pain, was significantly lower in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (P < 0.05) and higher in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) during punctate stimulation (P < 0.05), with significant functional connectivity between these two areas (r = 0.49, P = 0.018). Preoperative neuropathic-like pain and higher neural activity in the RVM were associated with moderate-to-severe long-term pain after arthroplasty (P = 0.0356)., Conclusion: The psychophysical and neuroimaging data suggest that a subset of OA patients have centrally mediated pain sensitization. This was likely due to supraspinally mediated reductions in inhibition and increases in facilitation of nociceptive signaling, and was associated with a worse outcome following arthroplasty. The neurobiologic confirmation of central sensitization in patients with features of neuropathic pain, identified using PainDETECT, provides further support for the investigation of such bedside measures for patient stratification, to better predict postsurgical outcomes., (© 2018 The Authors. Arthritis & Rheumatology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Analgesia for many open thoracic and abdominal procedures has traditionally been accomplished through neuraxial techniques or paravertebral blocks. Erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks purport effective analgesia over a similar anatomical distribution with a more favorable side effect profile and complication rate than epidurals. However, the extent of clinical applicability for ESP blocks has yet to be elucidated. In this case series, we demonstrate the efficacy of ESP blocks for 3 distinct etiologies of acute pain: planned perioperative analgesia, rescue postoperative analgesia, and traumatic pain.

A perineural catheter with a continuous infusion of local anesthetic is an excellent option for postoperative analgesia; however, its limitations include limited duration of action (i.e., 3-7 days) as well as a risk of infection and dislodgement. Furthermore, these blocks may cause dense sensory and motor blockades that under certain circumstances may not be ideal. There is novel evidence that ultrasound-guided percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (pPNS) may serve as an alternative approach free of the limitations associated with peripheral nerve blocks. In this review, we discuss the evidence for pPNS on postoperative acute pain management. Subsequently, we briefly discuss additional alternatives to continuous peripheral nerve blocks, including cryoanalgesia and liposomal bupivacaine., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The subspecialty of regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine (RAAPM) is in a position to lead changes that may impact the current opioid crisis. At the hospital level, RAAPM experts can implement evidence-based multimodal analgesic clinical pathways featuring regional anesthesia. Multimodal analgesia consists of using two or more analgesic modalities targeting pain pathways at various levels to improve pain control, while also aiming to reduce opioid utilization and related adverse effects. These types of pathways or protocols have been widely applied in the joint replacement population. This review focuses on the current state of the evidence regarding individual elements of a multimodal analgesic pathway for patients with total knee arthroplasty including new regional anesthesia techniques like the IPACK (Infiltration between the Popliteal Artery and Capsule of the Knee) block and suggests future research directions to improve the clinical care of this surgical population in the future., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The fascia iliaca compartment block has been promoted as a valuable regional anesthesia and analgesia technique for lower limb surgery. Numerous studies have been performed, but the evidence on the true benefits of the fascia iliaca compartment block is still limited. Recent anatomical, radiological, and clinical research has demonstrated the limitations of the landmark infrainguinal technique. Nevertheless, this technique is still valuable in situations where ultrasound cannot be used because of lack of equipment or training. With the introduction of ultrasound, a new suprainguinal approach of the fascia iliaca has been described. Research has demonstrated that this technique leads to a more reliable block of the target nerves than the infrainguinal techniques. However, more research is needed to determine the place of this technique in clinical practice., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To investigate the relationships between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and oxygenation during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in lobectomy surgery and between SHS exposure and postoperative analgesic consumption., Design: Prospective study., Setting: University, Faculty of Medicine, operating room., Participants: Sixty adult patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists score II to III, aged 18 to 65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) <35 kg/m 2 scheduled for lobectomy surgery by open thoracotomy., Interventions: Patients were divided into 2 groups: the SHS group (n = 30) (urine cotinine level ≥6.0 ng/mL) and the NS (nonsmoker) group (n = 30) (urine cotinine level <6.0 ng/mL and no smoking history). SHS exposure was defined according to a previously published algorithm., Measurements and Main Results: Noninvasive blood pressure, electrocardiography, capnography, and peripheral oxygen saturation were monitored, and intra- and postoperative arterial oxygen tension (PaO 2 ), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO 2 ), and intraoperative peak airway pressure were compared between the 2 groups. Postoperative analgesic consumption was calculated. No significant differences in demographics or preoperative data were noted between the 2 groups. PaO 2 values 10 minutes after OLV onset and 10 minutes after the end of OLV were increased significantly in the NS group compared with those in the SHS group (p < 0.05). PaO 2 values after 10 minutes of OLV in the NS and SHS groups were 285.5 ± 90 mmHg and 186.7 ± 66 mmHg, respectively. PaO 2 values after OLV termination in the NS and SHS groups were 365.8 ± 58 mmHg and 283.6 ± 64 mmHg (p < 0.05), respectively. PaCO 2 values 10 minutes after OLV onset, 10 minutes after the end of OLV, at the end of surgery, and upon arrival in the intermediate care unit were significantly different between the 2 groups (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that during OLV, patients exposed to SHS exhibited significantly lower arterial oxygen pressure compared with nonsmokers. Arterial carbon dioxide values were increased significantly in SHS-exposed patients. Morphine consumption for postoperative analgesia also was increased in patients exposed to SHS compared with that in nonsmokers., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)