Primary afferent input critical for maintaining spontaneous pain in peripheral neuropathy.

Central sensitization after peripheral nerve injury may result in ectopic neuronal activity in the spinal cord dorsal horn, implying a potential autonomous pain-generating mechanism. This study used peripheral nerve blockade and systemic lidocaine administration, with detailed somatosensory assessment, to determine the contribution of primary afferent input in maintaining peripheral neuropathic pain. Fourteen patients with neuropathic pain (7 with unilateral foot pain due to peripheral nerve injury and 7 with bilateral pain in the feet due to distal polyneuropathy) underwent comprehensive characterization of somatosensory function by quantitative sensory testing.

Chronic pain in children after cardiac surgery via sternotomy.

Introduction: Chronic pain is common after sternotomy in adults with reported prevalence rates of 20-50%. So far, no studies have examined whether children develop chronic pain after sternotomy.

Material And Methods: Postal questionnaires were sent to 171 children 10-60 months after undergoing cardiac surgery via sternotomy at the age of 0-12 years.

Intra- and interrater agreement of pressure pain thresholds in children with orthopedic disorders.

Purpose: Pressure algometry is widely used to obtain measures of mechanical pain sensitivity in adults, both in experimental and clinical pain conditions. Only very few studies describe the use of pressure algometry in children. The purpose of this study was to produce reference values of pressure pain thresholds and to determine the intra- and interrater agreement, in order to introduce pressure algometry as a standardized method for the assessment of pain thresholds in children with orthopedic disorders.

[Coincidental finding of biliary ascariasis].

We describe a case of biliary ascariasis in a 27-year-old Philippine au-pair with recurrent upper abdominal pain. Hepatobiliary ascariasis is rarely seen in non-endemic areas. The diagnosis is important because severe complications can occur.

Pain and somatosensory findings in patients 3 years after total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Chronic hip pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a significant problem, but the aetiology remains unclear.

Aims: To determine sensory function in patients with chronic hip pain 3 years after THA. Patients without hip pain after THA served as controls.

Intravenous lidocaine relieves spinal cord injury pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury is a common challenging therapeutic condition. The current study examines the analgesic effect of the sodium channel blocker lidocaine on neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury and the predictive role of concomitant evoked pain on pain relief with lidocaine.

Methods: Twenty-four spinal cord injury patients with neuropathic pain at or below the level of injury were randomized and completed a double-blind crossover trial of 5 mg/kg lidocaine and placebo infused over 30 min.

Chronic oral gabapentin reduces elements of central sensitization in human experimental hyperalgesia.

Background: In chronic pain, increased activity from intact or damaged peripheral nerve endings results in an enhanced response in central pain transmission systems, a mechanism known as central sensitization. Central sensitization can also be invoked in human experimental models. Therefore, these models may be useful to characterize novel analgesics in humans.

Aftersensations in experimental and clinical hypersensitivity.

This study examined aftersensations after repetitive pinprick stimulation in nerve injury patients with allodynia and in capsaicin sensitized skin in control subjects. Forty-one patients and 12 male control subjects were stimulated repetitively with a computer-driven von Frey hair in sensitized skin and in contralateral normal skin at 0.2 and 2.