Use of patient-controlled analgesia for pain control for children receiving bone marrow transplant

We report 2 years' experience managing 39 preteen (ages 4–12 years) children with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain associated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We prescribed morphine or hydromorphine PCA (starting bolus 20 μg/kg morphine or 2 μg/kg hydromorphone) with or without continuous infusion (CI), for a period of 6–74 days. The duration of PCA use (median 19 days) depended upon severity of mucositis or other painful conditions. The peak morphine use was on the 11th day after BMT. We prescribed CI opioids in addition to PCA, either at night or around the clock, in 52% of patients. Ninety-five percent of children successfully mastered PCA to control pain associated with BMT. We observed no instances of drug misuse, parental tampering, accidental overdose, or difficulty weaning from opioids. We conclude that opioid PCA, with or without CI, over several days or weeks is safe and effective for preteen children suffering BMT-related pain.     

Evaluation of Ketorolac in Children with Forearm Fractures

Objectives : To evaluate ketorolac for pain relief and an opioid-sparing effect in children with forearm fractures necessitating reduction.
Methods : A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted at an urban children's hospital ED. A convenience sample of children aged 3–18 years with isolated forearm fractures was studied. None received prior pain medication. A 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain at the time of study entry and prior to sedation/analgesia. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario's Pain Score (CHEOPS), a 13-point behavioral score, was used to assess pain during sedation. Patients received either IV ketorolac (K), 1 mg/kg, or saline (S) after entry into the study. After a minimum of 20 minutes, pain was reassessed and supplemental analgesia/sedation administered. A standard dose of midazolam, 0.1 mg/kg to a maximum of 6 mg, was given to all patients, and fentanyl was titrated at 1-μg/kg increments based on patient need. Once the patient was comfortable, reduction was performed and a reduction CHEOPS score assigned.
Results : For the 34 study children (17 K, 17 S), there was no difference in sex or mean age between the groups. Mean total doses of fentanyl were 2.26 μg/kg in the K group and 2.85 μg/kg in the S group (p = 0.07). The median changes in VAS score before and after receiving the study drug were —1.13 K and -0.18 S (p = 0.06). The median CHEOPS score was 10 for both groups. Seven of the 17 patients in the S group required the maximum fentanyl dose (4 μg/kg), compared with 2 of 17 in the K group (p = 0.06).
Conclusions : Although ketorolac seems to add to patient comfort in children with forearm fractures, it does not have a significant opioid-sparing effect. Ketorolac showed a trend toward pain relief, but statistical significance was not reached.     

肌骨超声影像技术在肩痛患者中评估及介入治疗的应用研究

目的:回顾分析肌骨超声影像技术在康复科肩痛门诊开展情况。方法:对我科门诊接受肌骨超声影像引导糖皮质激素注射治疗的所有肩痛患者的一般资料及注射前、后临床资料进行收集,采用肩关节疼痛与功能障碍指数(shoulder pain and disability index,SPADI)量表评估疗效。结果:共纳入接受注射治疗的患者102例,急性肩痛患者单独肩峰下滑囊的注射率高于慢性肩痛患者(P0.05)。注射前、后完成评估及随访的患者共71例(75例患肩),与注射前相比,注射后1周、1个月、3个月患者肩关节疼痛评分显著下降(P0.0083),功能障碍评分明显改善(P0.0083)。结论:在康复科门诊接受注射治疗的肩痛患者以中老年为主;常见注射部位是肩周滑囊和肱二头肌长头腱鞘;急性肩痛患者单独肩峰下滑囊注射率较高;超声影像引导糖皮质激素注射治疗肩痛定位精准、疗效显著且效果稳定。     

Does Gender Influence Emergency Department Management and Outcomes in Geriatric Abdominal Pain?

Prior studies have suggested gender-based differences in the care of elderly patients with acute medical conditions such as myocardial infarction and stroke, but it is unknown whether these differences are seen in the care of abdominal pain. The objective of this study was to examine differences in evaluation, management, and diagnoses between elderly men and women presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with abdominal pain. For this observational cohort study, a chart review was conducted of consecutive patients aged 70 years or older presenting with a chief complaint of abdominal pain. Primary outcomes were care processes (e.g., receipt of pain medications, imaging) and clinical outcomes (e.g., hospitalization, etiology of pain, and mortality). Of 131 patients evaluated, 60% were women. Groups were similar in age, ethnicity, insurance status, and predicted mortality. Men and women did not differ in the frequency of medical (56% vs. 57%, respectively), surgical (25% vs. 18%, respectively), or non-specific abdominal pain (19% vs. 25%, respectively, p = 0.52) diagnoses. Similar proportions underwent abdominal imaging (62% vs. 68%, respectively, p = 0.42), received antibiotics (29% vs. 30%, respectively, p = 0.85), and opiates for pain (35% vs. 41%, respectively, p = 0.50). Men had a higher rate of death within 3 months of the visit (19% vs. 1%, respectively, p < 0.001). Unlike prior research in younger patients with abdominal pain and among elders with other acute conditions, we noted no difference in management and diagnoses between older men and women who presented with abdominal pain. Despite a similar predicted mortality and ED evaluation, men had a higher rate of death within 3 months.     

音乐疗法对脑性瘫痪患儿针灸中焦虑疼痛生命体征的影响

目的探讨音乐疗法对脑性瘫痪患儿针灸治疗中焦虑、疼痛和生命体征的影响。方法将57例脑性瘫痪患儿随机分成观察组29例，对照组28例。观察组在针灸过程中予聆听音乐，乐曲为患儿所喜爱的儿歌；对照组只予针灸治疗。两组均留针30min，期间不转针。在针刺前、针刺1min、针刺15min，分别记录57例患儿血压、心率和呼吸，并评估患儿的焦虑和疼痛情况。结果观察组针刺15min心率和焦虑得分比对照组下降更明显（P〈0.05）；两组间的平均动脉压、呼吸频率变化差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。针刺15min，观察组对疼痛的基本满意率高于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论音乐疗法能缓解脑性瘫痪患儿针灸治疗中的焦虑、疼痛感，使之心率趋于稳定。但由于本研究样本量小，音乐疗法对针灸治疗脑性瘫痪的临床效果的影响有待进一步的研究。     

Effectiveness of traditional Thai massage versus Swedish massage among patients with back pain associated with myofascial trigger points

The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of traditional Thai massage (TTM) among patients with back pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Swedish massage (SM) was selected as the treatment for the comparison group. One hundred and eighty patients were randomly allocated to receive either TTM or SM for 6 sessions during a 3–4 week period, with follow-up 1 month later. Results indicated that pain intensity, assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), among patients in both groups was reduced by more than half after 3 weeks of treatment and for up to one month afterwards (P<0.05) with no significant difference in VAS between the groups. Similar improvements were found for most other outcome measures. We conclude that TTM and SM are effective in reducing back pain among patients with MTrPs. We therefore suggest that massage therapy, and in particular Thai massage, be considered as an alternative primary health care treatment for this disorder.     

CT引导下神经根周围阻滞治疗椎间盘源性腰骶神经根痛

目的 探讨CT引导下神经根周围阻滞治疗椎间盘源性腰骶神经根痛的方法和疗效。方法 对有腰腿痛的79例腰椎间盘突出症的患者，采取CT引导下神经根周围注射皮质类固醇加局麻药，观察患者腰骶神经根痛的变化情况。结果 79例均成功完成CT引导下的神经根阻滞术，43例完成了治疗后6个月的随访，其中25例(58．1％)效果好，11例(25．6％)效果较好，7例(16．3％)效果较差。结论 CT引导下神经根周围阻滞治疗腰椎间盘突出症所致的腰骶神经根痛，操作方法简便、安全、有效、微创，值得临床推广。     

Quantification of lumbar stability by using 2 different abdominal activation strategies

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the abdominal hollowing technique is more effective for lumbar spine stabilization than a full abdominal muscle cocontraction. DESIGN: Within-subject, repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine the effect of combining each of 4 loading conditions with either the hollow or brace condition on the dependent variables of stability and compression. A simulation was also conducted to assess the outcome of a person activating just the transversus abdominis during the hollow. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Eight healthy men (age range, 20-33y). INTERVENTIONS: Electromyography and spine kinematics were recorded during an abdominal brace and a hollow while supporting either a bilateral or asymmetric weight in the hands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spine stability index and lumbar compression were calculated. RESULTS: In the simulation "ideal case," the brace technique improved stability by 32%, with a 15% increase in lumbar compression. The transversus abdominis contributed .14% of stability to the brace pattern with a less than 0.1% decrease in compression. CONCLUSIONS: Whatever the benefit underlying low-load transversus abdominis activation training, it is unlikely to be mechanical. There seems to be no mechanical rationale for using an abdominal hollow, or the transversus abdominis, to enhance stability. Bracing creates patterns that better enhance stability.     

Role of pain catastrophizing during pain processing in a cohort of patients with chronic and severe arthritic knee pain

We examined the relationship between catastrophizing and a 3-stage model of pain processing, consisting of pain sensation intensity (stage 1), pain unpleasantness (stage 2), and suffering (stage 3). We studied 310 patients with chronic and severe osteoarthritic knee pain (68.7% female) using 4 competing structural equation models. A strong relationship was found between the suffering construct and its indicators. Of the 4 theoretically plausible models, we found a model with 3 specific pathways of pain sensation leading to the final stage of pain-related suffering. A unique contribution of this study is the integration of catastrophizing into the 3 pain stages. In this model, catastrophizing mediates the relationship between pain-related unpleasantness and suffering, as well as the relationship between sensation and suffering through unpleasantness. Psychological intervention targeting catastrophizing could provide reduction of pain-related suffering that adds to the benefits of therapies directed toward the primary sensory and immediate unpleasant dimensions of pain. These results emphasize the benefit of integrating knowledge of the psychological and neural mechanisms of pain.     

多层螺旋CT评价复发性肩关节前方脱位的前方关节盂骨质缺损的临床意义

目的 在复发性肩关节前方脱位中,利用MSCT评估关节盂前方骨质缺损情况.方法 回顾分析108例复发性肩关节前脱位和12例单次肩关节脱位患者的MSCT检查,对比评价前方关节盂骨质缺损的发生率、程度及位置.利用Fisher精确概率法分析前方关节盂骨质缺损的发生率,利用Wilcoxon秩和检验比较前方关节盂骨质缺损的上下长径、深度及比例.结果 在复发性肩关节前脱位中,91.7％(99/108)存在前方关节盂的骨质缺损,缺损比例为(16.0±6.0)％,缺损中心位置介于时钟分区的2:20～ 4:25点(平均3:20点),62.0％(67/108)前方出现骨性Bankart病变,包括游离型39例(58.2％)及黏附型28例(41.8％).12例单次肩关节脱位中,9例出现前方关节盂骨质缺损,其缺损发生率(9/12;P=0.100)和缺损比例[(15.2±7.1)％;P=0.453]与复发性肩关节脱位比较差异均无统计学意义.结论 前方关节盂骨质缺损为复发性肩关节前方脱位的常见表现.