Neuromodulation techniques have been explored as alternative treatment options in patients with trigeminal neuralgia who do not achieve adequate pain relief with pharmacologic therapies and surgical interventions.
Patients with chronic refractory neuropathic pain who had a spinal cord stimulation device implanted were found to still experience pain relief 2 years later.
A computed tomography-guided pulsed radiofrequency strategy was superior to an injection-only protocol for improving pain and disability scores in patients with acute or subacute neuroradicular low back pain resulting from lumbar disk herniation.
Axillary and infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks may have comparable efficacy in preventing and alleviating tourniquet pain associated with moderate-duration repair of fractures distal to the elbow.
Factors including male gender and high body mass index were found to be independent risk factors for suboptimal interscalene brachial plexus block in patients undergoing arthroscopic elective shoulder arthroscopy.
When used in combination with local anesthetics, dexmedetomidine may increase nerve block-associated analgesia for approximately 5 hours, but use of dexmedetomidine may be associated with a higher risk for intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia.
Sodium bicarbonate-buffered lidocaine may be superior to nonbuffered lidocaine in reducing onset time and injection pain during inferior alveolar nerve block.
