scholarly journals Cervical Epidural Spinal Analgesia for Acute Management of Severe Unilateral Forelimb Lameness: Case Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda R. Watkins ◽  
Klaus Hopster ◽  
David Levine ◽  
Samuel D. Hurcombe

A 20-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was presented with severe right forelimb lameness (5/5 AAEP Lameness Scale) due to a tear of the superficial digital flexor muscle which was diagnosed via palpation of swelling and ultrasonography revealing major muscle fiber disruption and hematoma formation. When traditional systemic therapy (non-Steroidal anti-inflammatories) did not restore clinically acceptable comfort and the risk of supporting limb laminitis became a reasonable concern, a cervical epidural catheter was placed between the first and second cervical vertebrae in the standing, sedated patient using ultrasound guidance. The gelding was treated with epidural morphine (0.1 mg/kg every 24 h then decreased to 0.05 mg/kg every 12 h) and was pain-scored serially following treatment. Spinal analgesia was provided for 3 days. Pain scores significantly decreased following each treatment with morphine, and the gelding was successfully managed through the acutely painful period without any adverse effects associated with the C1-C2 epidural catheter placement technique, the epidural morphine, or contralateral limb laminitis. At the 2-month follow-up, the gelding was walking sound with no complications seen at the catheter insertion site. In this case, spinal analgesia using epidural morphine administered via a cervical epidural catheter was an effective and technically achievable option for pain management associated with severe forelimb muscle injury in a horse.

2021 ◽  
pp. rapm-2020-102352
Author(s):  
Sarah A Bachman ◽  
Johan Lundberg ◽  
Michael Herrick

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is an established gold standard for postoperative pain control especially following laparotomy and thoracotomy. The safety and efficacy of TEA is well known when the attention to patient selection is upheld. Recently, the use of fascial plane blocks (FPBs) has evolved as an alternative to TEA most likely because these blocks avoid problems such as neurological comorbidity, coagulation disorders, epidural catheter failure and hypotension due to sympathetic denervation. However, if an FPB is performed, postoperative monitoring and adjuvant treatments are still necessary. Also, the true efficacy of FPBs is questioned. Thus, should we prioritize less efficient analgesic regimens with FPBs when preventive treatment strategies for epidural catheter failure and hypotension exist for TEA? It is time to promote and underscore the benefits of TEA provided to patients undergoing major open surgical procedures. In our mind, FPBs and landmark-guided techniques should be limited to less extensive surgery and when either neuraxial blockade is contraindicated or resources for optimal epidural catheter placement and maintenance are not available.


2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Thillemann ◽  
T. M. Thillemann ◽  
B. Munk ◽  
K. Krøner

We retrospectively evaluated a consecutive series of 42 Motec thumb carpometacarpal total joint arthroplasties. The primary endpoint was revision with implant removal and trapeziectomy. At follow-up the disability of the arm shoulder and hand (DASH) score, pain on numerical rating scale at rest and with activity and serum chrome and cobalt concentrations were assessed for both unrevised and revised patients. At a mean follow-up of 26 months, 17 patients had been revised. The 2 year cumulative revision rate was 42% (95% CI, 28–60%). The DASH score and pain scores at rest and with activity were comparable between the patients whose thumbs remained unrevised and those revised. Patients with elevated serum chrome and cobalt levels had significantly higher DASH and pain scores, but elevated levels were not associated with revision. The revision rate in this study is unacceptably high. However, pain and DASH scores after revision are acceptable and comparable with patients with non-revised implants. Level of evidence: IV


Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Gagnon ◽  
Nadim M. Nasr ◽  
Jay J. Liao ◽  
Inge Molzahn ◽  
David Marsh ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Benign and malignant tumors of the spine significantly impair the function and quality of life of many patients. Standard treatment options, including conventional radiotherapy and surgery, are often limited by anatomic constraints and previous treatment. Image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery using the CyberKnife system (Accuray, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) is a novel approach in the multidisciplinary management of spinal tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery on pain and quality-of-life outcomes of patients with spinal tumors. METHODS We conducted a prospective study of 200 patients with benign or malignant spinal tumors treated at Georgetown University Hospital between March 2002 and September 2006. Patients were treated by means of multisession stereotactic radiosurgery using the CyberKnife as initial treatment, postoperative treatment, or retreatment. Pain scores were assessed by the Visual Analog Scale, quality of life was assessed by the SF-12 survey, and neurological examinations were conducted after treatment. RESULTS Mean pain scores decreased significantly from 40.1 to 28.6 after treatment (P < 0.001) and continued to decrease over the entire 4-year follow-up period (P < 0.05). SF-12 Physical Component scores demonstrated no significant change throughout the follow-up period. Mental Component scores were significantly higher after treatment (P < 0.01), representing a quality-of-life improvement. Early side effects of radiosurgery were mild and self-limited, and no late radiation toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery is a safe and effective modality in the treatment of patients with spinal tumors. CyberKnife offers durable pain relief and maintenance of quality of life with a very favorable side effect profile.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011420S0032
Author(s):  
Hong S. Lee ◽  
Kiwon Young ◽  
Tae-Hoon Park ◽  
Hong Seop Lee

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Failed total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) often results in significant bone loss and requires salvage arthrodesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of Salvage arthrodesis with allo-bone block for failed TAA. Methods: This study included 8 patients who underwent salvage arthrodesis with femoral head allograft for failed TAA from August 2012 to March 2018 because of loosing of TAA implant. The mean age of the patients was 71 years (range, 54-81 years), and the mean follow-up period was 32 months (range, 12 to 84 months). Allograft problem and alignment of joint were evaluated radiographically. American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded preoperatively and at the time of final followup. Functional questionnaires were used to assess the duration for which the patient could walk continuously, use of walking aids, consumption of pain medication, and the patient’s subjective assessment of the percentage of overall improvement compared with before the salvage arthrodesis. Results: The allograft was retained without collapse for a mean of 24 months (range, 12 to 36 months) in four patients. Collapse of the allograft was observed in four patients at a mean of 11 months (range, 9 to 16 months), 1 of 4 patients were conserved to retrograde intramedullary nail at postoperative 12 months because of with implant failure and nonunion. The mean AOFAS and VAS pain scores improved from 12 (range, 8 to 40) preoperatively to 63 (range, 38 to 75) postoperatively (p = 0.001) and from 7 (range, 6 to 10 to 3 (range, 2 to 8) (p = 0.001), respectively. At the final follow-up evaluation, 6 of 8 patients were able to walk continuously at least 30 minutes with walking aid. Conclusion: The successful rate of salvage arthrodesis with femoral head allograft was 75% (Six of total 8 patients). The incidence rate of allograft collapse was 50% (Four of total 8 patients).


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Schiano di Visconte ◽  
Andrea Braini ◽  
Luana Moras ◽  
Luigi Brusciano ◽  
Ludovico Docimo ◽  
...  

Background. Permacol paste injection is a novel treatment approach for complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas. This study was performed to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of treatment with Permacol paste for complex cryptoglandular fistulas. Methods. Patients with primary or recurrent complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas treated with Permacol paste from 2014 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results. A total of 46 patients (median age, 41.3 years; 21 female) underwent Permacol paste injection; 20 patients (43%) had previously undergone failed fistula surgery. The patients had experienced anal fistula-related symptoms for a median of 10 weeks (range, 3-50 weeks). All patients had a draining seton in situ for a median of 10 weeks (range, 4-46 weeks). The median follow-up time was 24 months (range, 1-25 months). At the 1-month follow-up, 2 patients had paste extrusion and 2 had anal abscesses. The mean preoperative Continence Grading Scale score was 1.10 ± 1.40, and that at 3 months postoperatively was 1.13 ± 1.39 ( P = .322). There was a significant difference in the preoperative and the 1- and 3-month postoperative pain scores ( P < .001). At the 24-month follow-up, the healing rate was 50% (n = 23). A total of 19 patients (41%) with a recurrent fistula after failed Permacol paste injection required additional operative procedures. The satisfaction rate at the 2-year follow-up was 65%. Conclusion. Permacol paste injection is minimally invasive and technically easy to perform. It can be considered as a viable and reasonable option for the treatment of complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas in patients with fecal continence disorders.


2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances V. Wilder ◽  
John P. Barrett ◽  
Edward J. Farina

The value of exercise for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) receives continuing consideration. The optimal length of study follow-up time remains unclear. A group of individuals with knee OA participating in an exercise intervention was followed for 2 years. The authors quantified the change in knee-pain scores during Months 1–12 and during Months 13–24. Eleven individuals with radiographic knee OA and knee-pain scores of 2+ were evaluated. Pain scores were collected weekly from participants who exercised three times a week. Participants demonstrated pain reduction during both time periods. Pain reduction during Months 13–24, –10.7%, was slightly higher than pain reduction during Months 1–12, –7.8%. Among people with knee OA who exercise, these findings suggest that knee-pain amelioration continues beyond 12 months. Clinicians should consider encouraging long-term exercise programs for knee-OA patients. To best characterize the effect of exercise on knee pain, researchers designing clinical trials might want to lengthen the studies’ duration.


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