Predicting work status following interdisciplinary treatment for chronic pain.

The effectiveness of interdisciplinary treatments for chronic pain is well established. In general, these treatments decrease psychosocial distress and increase physical abilities. Further, return to work rates following interdisciplinary treatment tend to be quite high. Previous studies have highlighted a number of factors that individually influence return to work rates; however, there is a need for more comprehensive and unified models that allow an evaluation of the inter-relations among these factors. The present investigation examined how demographic and treatment outcome variables interacted to influence post-treatment return to work rates in a sample of individuals with chronic pain following interdisciplinary treatment. Results indicated that patient age, lifting ability, pain duration, depression level, and reported disability were individually related to return to work; however, when these variables were evaluated relative to one another, level of depression and patient age had the best ability to predict post-treatment work status. These results add to the literature by specifically highlighting post-treatment factors that best discriminate patients who had returned to work from those that had not. Furthermore, they provide evidence that general emotional distress is perhaps the most important predictor of work status following treatment.     

HP 818: A centrally acting analgesic with neuroleptic properties

HP 818 (1-benzoyl-6-fluoro-3-(1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)-1H-indazole) exhibits the profile of a potent nonnarcotic analgesic with neuroleptic properties. HP 818 blocks the effects of chemical (phenylquinone), pressure (tail clip), and radiant heat (tail flick) painful stimuli in mice (ED₅₀ values of 0.3, 1.2, and 4.1 mg/kg s.c., respectively). This compound displays antinociceptive activity by the subcutaneous, oral, and intravenous routes of administration. It is also effective in the shock titration assay in squirrel monkeys and in a model of surgically induced pain. The rank order of potency of HP 818 and several other standard compounds in these tests for analgesia was Innovar > fentanyl > HP 818 > codeine > droperidol. In addition to its antinociceptive effects, HP 818 possesses neuroleptic properties. It is active in the climbing mouse, pole climb avoidance, and intracranial self-stimulation assays (ED₅₀ values of 1.8, 1.7, and 2.5 mg/kg i.p., respectively). Moreover, HP 818 inhibits amphetamine- and apomorphine-induced stereotypy, indicative of D₂-dopaminergic blocking properties. HP 818, unlike typical neuroleptic agents, does not induce supersensitivity to the effects of apomorphine when administered chronically in mice. In contrast to the clinical standard neuroleptanalgesic Innovar, HP 818 (1.0–3.0 mg/kg i.v.) produces no significant cardiovascular or respiratory changes in the anesthetized dog. Thus, HP 818 is potentially an effective presurgical medication due to its nonnarcotic analgesic activity and sedative neuroleptic effects, along with its lack of limiting cardiorespiratory side effects.     

Le rôle des représentations de la maladie et de la douleur dans la relation patient-thérapeute

Résumé  La rencontre entre patient et thérapeute dans la relation de soins met en présence non seulement deux individus, mais aussi deux systèmes de pensée. Elle suppose donc l'articulation de deux types de savoirs, profane d'une part et scientifique d'autre part. La clarification et la prise en compte des représentations du patient à propos de l'atteinte dont il souffre constitue un enjeu important de la relation. Il en va de même des attentes du thérapeute par rapport à ce qu'il considère comme un comportement douloureux adéquat, par exemple. Faute de la prise en compte des modèles de référence explicites et implicites tant du patient que du thérapeute, la relation peut déboucher sur des malentendus, des réactions d'agressivité, d'anxiété, et conduire à une rupture de cette relation.

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Summary  The patient-therapist relationship involves not only two individuals, but also two systems of thinking. It calls forth lay knowledge on the one hand and scientific knowledge on the other hand. The patient's representations about his pain and suffering may play an important role in the patient-health care provider relationship and thus need to be clarified and taken into account. This need also holds true where the therapist's expectations are concerned, for example with regard to what is considered as an adequate pain behavior. Failing to take into account the explicit and implicit models of both the patient and the therapist may lead to misunderstandings, aggressive behaviors, anxious reactions, and thus hamper or even disrupt the patient-therapist relationship.

     

THE INTRODUCTION OF PATIENT-CONTROLLED ANALGESIA INTO AN ISOLATED RURAL HOSPITAL

This study investigated the feasibility of using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) effectively in a small 70 bed isolated rural hospital. The tirst 50 patients to use a Bard PCA 1, in the Port Lincoln Hospital, South Australia, were studied. The patients consumed morphine at a mean rate of 1.24 mg/h and used PCA for a mean of 48 h. Thirty-eight per cent of patients required treatment for nausea and other complications which is similar to the rate of those in other published series. Visual analogue pain scores showed excellent pain control, generally without evidence of oversedation; however, there was one episode of respiratory depression. Seventy-eight per cent of patients reported that their pain was relieved most or all of the time. The study demonstrated that a PCA service provided by nursing staff, the GP anaesthetist and rural surgeons is feasible in an isolated rural hospital.     

AAEM minimonograph #43: Neuromuscular problems in the performing arts

Over the past 10–15 years, there has been increasing interest in the health problems of performing artists. In this review, I will discuss the major playing-related disorders seen in instrumental musicians. Among the 672 instrumentalists evaluated, the major diagnoses identified included musculoskeletal disorders in 64%, peripheral nerve problems in 22.5%. and focal dystonia in 7%. Sixty percent of instrumentalists were female although males predominate in the group with focal dystonia. The average age of those evaluated was 32 years. Among musculoskeletal disorders overuse syndrome is the most common. Frequent peripheral nerve disorders include thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ulnar neuropathy. A characteristic distribution of symptoms and signs is identified for each instrument group. Electrodiagnostic studies are an important part of the evaluation of these disorders. With carefully designed treatment, the majority of instrumental musicians can be returned to full and pain-free playing activities. The success rate is highest in some entrapment neuropathies but remains low in focal dystonia. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preoperative infiltration of the surgical area enhances postoperative analgesia of a combined low–dose epidural bupivacaine and morphine regimen after upper abdominal surgery

In a randomized, blinded trial we assessed the value of adding preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with bupivacaine to a low dose epidural regimen for postoperative pain treatment. Forty–nine patients scheduled for major upper abdominal surgery during combined thoracic epidural (bupivacaine + morphine) and general anaesthesia were studied. Postoperative analgesia was epidural bupivacaine 10 mg hr^-1 + morphine 0.2 mg hr^-1 for 72 h. The patients randomly received preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with bupivacaine 0.25%, 40 ml (group I); or no infiltration (group II). Pain was evaluated at rest, during cough and during mobilization six and eight h after start of surgery, and at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the following days until 72 h after start of surgery. The sensory level of analgesia was evaluated by pin prick. We found no difference between the two groups during rest and cough. However, during mobilization group I had lower pain scores compared to group II ( P < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the need for supplemental intramuscular morphine in the treatment group compared to the control group ( P <0.05). Thus an enhanced analgesic effect was demonstrated by adding preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with local anaesthetic to a low dose epidural bupivacaine/morphine regimen after upper abdominal surgery.     

国产鼻喷鲑鱼降钙素治疗骨质疏松性疼痛的疗效观察

目的观察国产鼻喷鲑鱼降钙素治疗骨质疏松性疼痛的疗效。方法采用随机分组对照设计。选择骨质疏松患者53例,随机分为两组,治疗组(30例)给予鼻喷鲑鱼降钙素,20u/次,1次/天,8周为1个疗程,停药后继续观察3周。对照组(23例)口服钙尔奇D片,1片/次,1次/天,共8周;采用国际惯用分级标准对疼痛予以评估。结果治疗组患者的疼痛明显改善,其总有效率为95%;在停药后缓解疼痛的作用仍可维持4周以上,Ⅲ度骨质疏松患者的治疗效果较Ⅰ度和Ⅱ度患者的效果差;对照组症状未见明显改善。结论用国产鼻喷鲑鱼降钙素治疗骨质疏松性骨痛,可明显缓解患者的疼痛症状。     

MANAGEMENT OF CHONDROSARCOMA INCLUDING MODULAR CERAMIC AND ALUMINA PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT

Forty-one cases of chondrosarcoma from varying sites throughout the body, and treated exclusively by one of the authors (R. L. H.) from 1972 to 1990 were reviewed. The symptoms, signs, location of tumours, treatment and progress are presented. Particular attention was paid to modular bone replacement techniques. Excision and reconstruction of the bone or joint were carried out in 17 femora, five tibia and six humeri. Comparison between this method of management and other techniques is discussed. Titanium and alumina prostheses for the hip, femur, tibia, shoulder and humerus have been designed by the senior author. These are both inert and modular, and have been found to be superior to other methods of treatment in both function and cosmesis. They do not possess the same potential donor infection risks and other disadvantages of allograft replacement. Immediate postoperative weight bearing and mobilization are possible with these systems. The Huckstep prostheses allow for bony in growth into their porous coated alumina sleeves, spacers and stems. In addition, the titanium alloy locking component for the femoral stems has an elasticity half that of other metal alloys and this was found to minimize stress shielding.