How to Restart the Interventional Activity in the COVID-19 Era: The Experience of a Private Pain Unit in Spain.

Introduction: The situation generated in the health system by the COVID-19 pandemic has provoked a crisis involving the necessity to cancel non-urgent and oncologic activity in the operating room and in day-to-day practice. As the situation continues, the need to reinstate attention for patients with chronic pain grows. The restoration of this activity has to begin with on-site appointments and possible surgical procedures.

Use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring during epiduroscopy as a safety measure.

Objective: In this study, we present the first 12 cases of the use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) during therapeutic epiduroscopy in patients with clinical canal stenosis.

Methods: IESS was performed using two working instruments: an epidural balloon to dilate the epidural space without damaging the nerve structures (Resaloon®) and an element to perform flavotomy of the ligamentum flavum (Resaflex®). The procedure was performed at levels of the greatest stenosis, as detected using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

A Cost-Consequence Analysis Examining the Differences Between Non-Rechargeable and Rechargeable Systems.

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment option to relieve chronic intractable pain, and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a key indication.

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to analyze the cost consequences of using non-rechargeable (NR)-SCS and rechargeable (R)-SCS.

Methods: Real data taken from a review of 86 patients were used to simulate costs and review which patients might have benefitted more from R-SCS.

Is the introduction of another variable to the strength-duration curve necessary in neurostimulation?

Introduction: Neurostimulation is the process and technology derived from the application of electricity with different parameters to activate or inhibit nerve pathways. Pulse width (Pw) is the duration of each electrical impulse and, along with amplitude (I), determines the total energy charge of the stimulation.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to test Pw values to find the most adequate pulse widths in rechargeable systems to obtain the largest coverage of the painful area, the most comfortable paresthesia, and the greatest patient satisfaction.