scholarly journals Effects of rTMS and tDCS on neuropathic pain after brachial plexus injury: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study

Author(s):  
Erickson Duarte Bonifácio de Assis ◽  
Wanessa Kallyne Nascimento Martins ◽  
Carolina Dias de Carvalho ◽  
Clarice Martins Ferreira ◽  
Ruth Gomes ◽  
...  

Abstract Neuropathic pain (NP) after brachial plexus injury (NPBPI) is a highly disabling clinical condition and is increasingly prevalent due to increased motorcycle accidents. Currently, no randomized controlled trials have evaluated the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS) in patients suffering from NPBPI. In this study, we directly compare the efficacy of 10-Hz rTMS and anodal 2 mA tDCS techniques applied over the motor cortex (5 daily consecutive sessions) in 21 patients with NPBPI, allocated into 2 parallel groups (active or sham). The order of the sessions was randomised for each of these treatment groups according to a crossover design and separated by a 30-day interval. Scores for “continuous” and “paroxysmal” pain (primary outcome) were tabulated after the last stimulation day and 30 days after. Secondary outcomes included the improvement in multidimensional aspects of pain, anxiety state and quality of life. Active rTMS and tDCS were both superior to sham in reducing continuous (p < 0,001) and paroxysmal pain (p = 0.04) as well as in multidimensional aspects of pain and anxiety state. Repetitive TMS was superior to tDCS in reducing continuous (p = 0.01) and paroxysmal pain (p = 0.03), and in improving multidimensional aspects of pain (p = 0.01). Our results suggest rTMS and tDCS are able to treat NPBPI with little distinction in pain and anxiety state, which may promote the use of tDCS in brachial plexus injury pain management, as it constitutes an easier and more available technique.

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 895-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus V. B. Santana ◽  
Mauro T. Bina ◽  
Matheus G. Paz ◽  
Scheila N. Santos ◽  
Manoel J. Teixeira ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the pain profile of patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. Methods We enrolled 65 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. The Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire was used to classify pain and the SF-36 was used to evaluate quality of life. Results The patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury were predominantly young male victims of motorcycle accidents. Pain was present in 75.4% of the individuals and 79% presented with neuropathic pain, mostly located in the hands (30.41%). The use of auxiliary devices (p = 0.05) and marital status (p = 0.03) were both independent predictors of pain. Pain also impacted negatively on the quality of life (p = 0.001). Conclusions Pain is frequent in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. Despite the peripheral nervous system injury, nociceptive pain is not unusual. Pain evaluation, including validated instruments, is essential to guide optimal clinical management of patients with the condition.


Author(s):  
Doria Mohammed Gad ◽  
Mostafa Thabet Hussein ◽  
Nagham Nabil Mahmoud Omar ◽  
Mohamed Mostafa Kotb ◽  
Mohamed Abdel-Tawab ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Brachial plexus injury occurs following birth trauma or adult trauma as well, surgical repair is important to regain upper limb function, and preoperative evaluation with MRI is important and considered the accurate and safe imaging modality. Thirty-seven patients with clinically suspected obstetric (15 patients) or adult traumatic (22 patients) brachial plexus injury were included in our study; all of them underwent MRI examination including T1WI, T2WI, STIR, DWIBS, 3D STIR SPACE, and MR myelography sequences. Results In obstetric cases, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for preganglionic injury were 63%, 89%, and 82%, respectively, while for postganglionic lesions, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 60%, 99%, and 95%, respectively. In adult cases, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for preganglionic injury were 96%, 95%, and 95% respectively, while for postganglionic injury, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 60%, 100%, and 99%, respectively. Conclusion MRI represents a safe, non-invasive, diagnostic modality having the multiplanar capability and better soft tissue characterization.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin McCormack ◽  
Mansour H Mathkour ◽  
Lora Wallis Kahn ◽  
Reda Tolba ◽  
Maged Guirguis ◽  
...  

Abstract INTRODUCTION Central neuropathic pain (CNP) and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) present as chronic, unrelenting, and disabling pain resulting from central and peripheral nervous system injuries. For patients who have failed conservative management, dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning may serve as an alternative for the management of intractable pain. METHODS A 36-yr-old male presented with complete right brachial plexus injury and avulsion of nerve roots following a motorcycle accident. He developed disabling type I CRPS of the right upper extremity. After failing medical therapy, he underwent a trial of conventional SCS using 2 percutaneous leads in the upper cervical spine but did not get topographical coverage. He underwent a second SCS trial with the placement of a paddle lead using burst therapy, but his initial partial pain relief subsided after 3 d. Subsequently, he underwent SCS removal, C2 to T1 right DREZ lesioning, and C4 to T1 laminoplasty. The patient gained a significant pain relief and became more functional. Five months postoperatively, he experienced an improvement in his pain and narcotic consumption. RESULTS Using an insulated neurotomy electrode, 2-mm-deep lesions were made at 75°C for 15 s. A total of 83 lesions were made from T2 to C3. Each lesion was spaced 1 mm apart. The impedance was less than 1000 ohms, which was consistent within an area of injury. Somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials were at baseline during the case without significant changes. CONCLUSION When SCS fails, lesioning of the dorsal root entry zone is a useful tool in the armamentarium for the management of refractory brachial plexus neuropathic pain.


2008 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Songcharoen

Brachial plexus injury in adults is commonly caused by motorcycle accidents. Surgical management consists of nerve repair and nerve grafting for extraforaminal nerve root or trunk injury, and of neurotization or nerve transfer for nerve roots avulsion. In general, the results regarding restoration of shoulder and elbow function are good but reinnervation of the forearm muscles is less than safisfactory in respect to restoration of hand function. Functioning free muscle transfer in combination with selective nerve transfer is a reasonable alternative surgical procedure.


Hand Surgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (01) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Direk Tantigate ◽  
Saichol Wongtrakul ◽  
Torpon Vathana ◽  
Roongsak Limthongthang ◽  
Panupan Songcharoen

Background: In Thailand, brachial plexus injury is a common traumatic injury that affects the function of the upper extremity. The current treatments focus mainly on improving the motor and sensory function. Apart from the motor and sensory deficit, these patients usually suffer from pain. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors that relate to neuropathic pain in patients with brachial plexus injury. Methods: We collected data from March 2008 to July 2011. The DN4 Questionnaire was used to diagnose neuropathic pain in 95 patients. Results: The prevalence of neuropathic pain was as high as 76%. Majority of patients presented with hypoesthesia to pin prick, hypoesthesia to touch and numbness. Severity of neuropathic pain was significantly correlated with the type of brachial plexus injury. There was no difference between demographic characteristics of patients. Conclusion: Our study showed that the prevalence of neuropathic pain was high in brachial plexus injured patients. Therefore, surgeons should be aware of this common, yet underestimated, problem in brachial plexus injured patients.


2008 ◽  
Vol 1;11 (1;1) ◽  
pp. 81-85
Author(s):  
Silviu Brill

We are presenting a paper on the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in 2 patients suffering pain from brachial plexus injury (BPI). After a traumatic brachial plexus lesion about 80% of patients develop pain in the deafferentated arm. This pain is considered very resistant to many forms of therapy. In the early 1970s, SCS was introduced in the treatment of BPI pain with disappointing results. There are only about 20 published cases of BPI pain treated with SCS. Many injuries are due to motorcycle accidents, so that patients are often young and require long-term pain relief. During the SCS trial the pain relief was more than 50% with an absolute improvement in the quality of life and significant drug reduction. The results of the SCS were excellent in these 2 patients, defined as more than 50% pain relief at 6 and 18 months. Key words: Spinal cord stimulation, brachial plexus injury, neurophatic pain.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (14) ◽  
pp. 1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junming Zhou ◽  
Yudong Gu ◽  
Shenyu Zhang ◽  
Hailiang Tang

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