Higher Preimplantation Opioid Doses Associated With Long‐Term Spinal Cord Stimulation Failure in 211 Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

ObjectiveSpinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). We studied the effect of preimplantation opioid use on SCS outcome and the effect of SCS on opioid use during a two-year follow-up period.Materials and methodsThe study cohort included 211 consecutive FBSS patients who underwent an SCS trial from January 1997 to March 2014. Participants were divided into groups, which were as follows: 1) SCS trial only (n = 47), 2) successful SCS (implanted and in use throughout the two-year follow-up period, n = 131), and 3) unsuccessful SCS (implanted but later explanted or revised due to inadequate pain relief, n = 29). Patients who underwent explantation for other reasons (n = 4) were excluded. Opioid purchase data from January 1995 to March 2016 were retrieved from national registries.ResultsHigher preimplantation opioid doses associated with unsuccessful SCS (ROC: AUC = 0.66, p = 0.009), with 35 morphine milligram equivalents (MME)/day as the optimal cutoff value. All opioids were discontinued in 23% of patients with successful SCS, but in none of the patients with unsuccessful SCS (p = 0.004). Strong opioids were discontinued in 39% of patients with successful SCS, but in none of the patients with unsuccessful SCS (p = 0.04). Mean opioid dose escalated from 18 ± 4 MME/day to 36 ± 6 MME/day with successful SCS and from 22 ± 8 MME/day to 82 ± 21 MME/day with unsuccessful SCS (p < 0.001).ConclusionsHigher preimplantation opioid doses were associated with SCS failure, suggesting the need for opioid tapering before implantation. With continuous SCS therapy and no explantation or revision due to inadequate pain relief, 39% of FBSS patients discontinued strong opioids, and 23% discontinued all opioids. This indicates that SCS should be considered before detrimental dose escalation.     

Patient navigation across the cancer care continuum: An overview of systematic reviews and emerging literature

Patient navigation is a strategy for overcoming barriers to reduce disparities and to improve access and outcomes. The aim of this umbrella review was to identify, critically appraise, synthesize, and present the best available evidence to inform policy and planning regarding patient navigation across the cancer continuum. Systematic reviews examining navigation in cancer care were identified in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Epistemonikos, and Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) databases and in the gray literature from January 1, 2012, to April 19, 2022. Data were screened, extracted, and appraised independently by two authors. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Review and Research Syntheses was used for quality appraisal. Emerging literature up to May 25, 2022, was also explored to capture primary research published beyond the coverage of included systematic reviews. Of the 2062 unique records identified, 61 systematic reviews were included. Fifty-four reviews were quantitative or mixed-methods reviews, reporting on the effectiveness of cancer patient navigation, including 12 reviews reporting costs or cost-effectiveness outcomes. Seven qualitative reviews explored navigation needs, barriers, and experiences. In addition, 53 primary studies published since 2021 were included. Patient navigation is effective in improving participation in cancer screening and reducing the time from screening to diagnosis and from diagnosis to treatment initiation. Emerging evidence suggests that patient navigation improves quality of life and patient satisfaction with care in the survivorship phase and reduces hospital readmission in the active treatment and survivorship care phases. Palliative care data were extremely limited. Economic evaluations from the United States suggest the potential cost-effectiveness of navigation in screening programs.     

Lymphoplasmacytic plaque in children: Case report and literature review

We report a case of benign lymphoplasmacytic plaque (LPP) in a child. These asymptomatic erythematous papulonodular lesions are an emerging clinicopathological entity. Herein, we describe a previously unreported site for LPP lesions, namely, the volar wrist and the distal ipsilateral palm.     

疏血通脉汤联合傍针刺对中风后肩手综合征患者肢体痉挛、血液流变学及活动能力的影响

目的:探讨疏血通脉汤联合傍针刺治疗中风后肩手综合征(shoulder-hand syndrome after stroke,SHSAS)的临床疗效,并观察其对患者上肢肢体痉挛程度、血液流变学以及上肢活动能力的影响。方法:110例痰瘀阻络型SHSAS患者按照随机数字表法分为对照组与联合组,每组55例。两组患者均给予神经内科常规药物和肢体功能康复训练治疗。对照组联合傍针刺法治疗,联合组在对照组治疗基础上给予疏血通脉汤。两组患者均以4周为1个疗程,治疗1个疗程。记录比较两组患者治疗前后上肢肢体痉挛程度(Ashworth)、上肢活动能力(FMA)、肩手综合征量表(shoulder hand syndrome scale,SHSS)、视觉模拟评分(visual simulation scoring,VAS)、中医证候评分,高切全血黏度、低切全血黏度、血浆黏度和血小板聚集率等血液流变学指标,并比较治疗效果。结果:联合组有效率为96.36%,对照组有效率为83.64%,两组患者有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,联合组高切全血黏度、低切全血黏度、血浆黏度与血小板聚集率水平均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);联合组Ashworth评分低于对照组、上肢FMA评分高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);联合组SHSS评分和中医证候评分均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);联合组VAS评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:疏血通脉汤联合傍针刺治疗SHSAS患者疗效显著,能有效改善患者血液流变学,缓解疼痛程度和上肢痉挛,提高上肢活动能力。