Bipolar Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the Genicular Nerves for Chronic Pain Due to Knee Osteoarthritis.

The current treatments for chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA), a disabling and costly healthcare condition in the United States, vary in their level of supporting evidence. Although total knee replacement is one of the best-supported interventions, its associated risks should not be taken lightly, especially in older patients with comorbidities. Genicular nerve block with subsequent genicular nerve radiofrequency neurotomy (GN-RFN) has emerged as a promising intervention for refractory pain in knee OA.

Persistent and Chronic Perioperative Pain After Cancer Surgery.

Purpose Of Review: Persistent and chronic pain after cancer surgery is a complex clinical problem. The etiology of pain in these cases is often multifactorial and, in addition to the surgery itself, can include or overlap with other painful syndromes such as direct effects of tumors, neuropathic pain, and pain syndromes secondary to chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Recent Findings: There is a growing body of literature which suggests that treating pain in the acute and subacute periods can prevent chronic pain, an important step in reducing the morbidity of this clinical problem.

Investigation of genicular neurotomy of the knee: MRI characterization of anatomy and implications for intervention.

Background: Genicular nerve block and subsequent radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) has emerged as a novel intervention and alternative for total knee arthroplasty in patients with refractory pain from knee osteoarthritis (OA). To our knowledge, there is no cited report correlating the accuracy of localizing the genicular nerves using bony landmarks on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objectives: To quantify the proximity of superomedial genicular nerve (SMGN), superolateral genicular nerve (SLGN), and inferomedial genicular nerve (IMGN) from a target point.

Increased re-entry into cell cycle mitigates age-related neurogenic decline in the murine subventricular zone.

Although new neurons are produced in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adult mammalian brain, fewer functional neurons are produced with increasing age. The age-related decline in neurogenesis has been attributed to a decreased pool of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), an increased rate of cell death, and an inability to undergo neuronal differentiation and develop functional synapses. The time between mitotic events has also been hypothesized to increase with age, but this has not been directly investigated.