No abstract available.
Nerve Block

No abstract available.
Nerve Block*

No abstract available.
Nerve Block

The etiology of spondylolisthesis, which determines the pathoanatomy and natural course, includes the abnormal development of lumbosacrum and various acquired conditions. Many patients with symptomatic degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis respond to non-surgical treatments, such as modification of their daily activity, medication, physical therapy and nerve block.
Humans ; Nerve Block ; Spondylolisthesis

BACKGROUND: The role of ultrasound in the thoracic spine has been underappreciated, partly because of the relative efficacy of the landmark-guided technique and the limitation of imaging through the narrow acoustic windows produced by the bony framework of thoracic spine. The aim of this study was to make a comparison between the 12th rib and the spinous process of C7 as a landmark for effective ultrasound-guided target segment identification in the thoracic spine. METHODS: Ultrasonography of 44 thoracic spines was performed and the same procedure was carried out 1 week later again. The target segments (T3–4, T7–8, and T10–11) were identified using the 12th rib (group 1) or the spinous process of C7 (group 2) as a starting landmark. Ultrasound scanning was done proximally (group 1) or distally (group 2) toward the target transverse process and further medially and slightly superior to the target thoracic facet. Then, a metal marker was placed on the T3–4, T7–8, and T10–11 and the location of each marker was confirmed by fluoroscopy. RESULTS: In the total 132 segments, sonographic identification was confirmed to be successful with fluoroscopy in 84.1% in group 1 and 56.8% in group 2. Group 1 had a greater success rate in ultrasound-guided target segment identification than group 2 (p = 0.001), especially in T10–11 (group 1, 93.2%; group 2, 43.2%; p = 0.001) and T7–8 (group 1, 86.4%; group 2, 56.8%; p = 0.002). The intrarater reliability of ultrasound-guided target segment identification was good (group 1, r = 0.76; group 2, r = 0.82), showing no difference between right and left sides. Ultrasound-guided target segment identification was more effective in the non-obese subjects (p = 0.001), especially in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided detection using the 12th rib as a starting landmark for scanning could be a promising technique for successful target segment identification in the thoracic spine.
Acoustics ; Fluoroscopy* ; Nerve Block ; Ribs ; Spine* ; Ultrasonography

Despite recent methodological advancement of the practical pain medicine, many cases of the chronic anorectal pain have been intractable. A 54-year-old female patient who had a month history of a constant severe anorectal pain was referred to our clinic for further management. No organic or functional pathology was found. In spite of several modalities of management, such as medications and nerve blocks had been applied, the efficacy of such treatments was not long-lasting. Eventually, she underwent temporary then subsequent permanent sacral nerve stimulation. Her sequential numerical rating scale for pain and pain disability index were markedly improved. We report a successful management of the chronic intractable anorectal pain via permanent sacral nerve stimulation. But further controlled studies may be needed.
Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Block

No abstract available.
Botulinum Toxins, Type A* ; Muscles* ; Nerve Block*

BACKGROUND: Being a subjective symptom, an objective evaluation of pain and severity is important in the diagnosis and detection of treatment outcome. This study examined the usefulness of infrared thermography for the objective evaluation of pain, irrespective of the original disease. METHODS: Patients with unilateral pain who underwent nerve block were randomly selected. Infrared thermography was performed and subjective pain site and severity were assessed before and after nerve block. RESULTS: The temperature difference between the pain site and the contralateral site was significantly correlated with subjective pain severity before and after block (P < 0.01). Improvements in VAS were correlated with temperature difference decrement between both sides after nerve block (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Infrared thermal imaging can demonstrate subjective pain objectively. Thermal differences between the pain sites and the contralateral sites are an indicator of pain scale in a patient with ipsilateral pain. Moreover the thermal difference may be a useful means of determining outcome.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nerve Block* ; Thermography* ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound subjective visibility of in-plane needles is correlated with the intensity difference between the needle surface and the background. Regional anesthesia catheters are difficult to visualize by an ultrasound. In the present study, we investigated the ultrasound visibility of the catheters. METHODS: Six catheters were placed at 0degrees and 30degrees relative to and at a depth of 1 cm below the pork phantom surface. Ultrasound images of in-plane catheters were evaluated, subjectively and objectively. Outer and inner objective visibilities were defined as the difference in the mean pixel intensity between the catheter surface and adjacent background, and between the surface and the center of the catheter, respectively. Evaluations were made based on the portion of the catheters. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Subjective visibility was more strongly correlated with the inner objective visibility than with the outer objective visibility at both angles. Metallic 19-gauge catheters were more subjectively visible than the non-metallic 20-gauge catheters at 30degrees degrees (P < 0.01). Subjective, and outer and inner objective visibility were significantly lower at 30degrees than at 0degrees (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P = 0.02). Perifix ONE at 0degrees and Perifix FX at 30degrees were the most visible catheters (P < 0.01 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Subjective visibility of catheters can not be evaluated in the same manner as that of the needles. For the best possible visualization, we recommend selecting a catheter with a structure that enhances the dark at the center of catheter, rather than basing the catheter selection on the bore size.
Anesthesia, Conduction ; Catheters ; Needles ; Nerve Block

PURPOSE: To evaluate anatomical locations and distributions of supraorbital notch and foramen using facial 3D computed tomography in the Korean adult population. METHODS: The study sample was composed of 87 adult patients with no history of trauma or ocular disease. The horizontal position of the supraorbital foramen or notch was recorded in relation to a vertical line defined by a reproducible hypothetical point, such as the nasion and mid-maxilla and the midpoint of the horizontal supraorbital plane. The distance and angle for each supraorbital foramen and notch were calculated from the defined vertical line. Furthermore, vertical distance from supraorbital plane, which was established using the highest points of both supraorbital rims, was obtained from the supraorbital foramen. RESULTS: The mean age of the 87 patients was 45.44 +/- 8.34 years (range, 30-59 years). There were 66 eyes in the supraorbital notch and 108 eyes in the supraorbital foramen. There were no distributional differences between the 2 sides. The mean horizontal distance of both types was 23.95 +/- 3.93 mm (range, 16.41-38.94 mm). The horizontal distance of male patients was longer than the female patients (25.18 +/- 4.16 mm vs. 22.63 +/- 3.19 mm, p < 0.001, based on independent t-test) and the horizontal distance of supraorbital notch was shorter than the supraorbital foramen (22.59 +/- 3.18 mm vs. 26.18 +/- 4.04 mm, respectively, p < 0.001, based on independent t-test). The mean vertical distance and mean angles of the supraorbital foramen were 3.02 +/- 1.119 mm and 6.81 +/- 2.31 degrees (degrees), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study described the anatomical location of each supraorbital opening type in Korean adults. According to horizontal distance, a surgeon can avoid iatrogenic injury of the supraorbital neurovascular complex, especially during brow surgery. In addition, the anatomy can aid in targeting supraorbital neurovascular complex in cases of nerve block.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Block