Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Spine Surgery as a Viable Option for Geriatric Patients with High Anesthetic Risk.

Spinal stenosis poses a significant healthcare challenge in the United States. This case report delineates the progressive interventions in a male over 90 years of age with lumbar spinal stenosis, emphasizing the shift toward minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery. The patient, burdened by neurogenic claudication, failed conservative measures, leading to substantial pain and diminished quality of life.

Retrospective Review of the Efficacy of Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation for Lumbar Facet Arthropathy: The Influence of Gender and Obesity.

Background: Lumbar facet arthropathy is one of the leading causes of back pain. Lumbar radiofrequency lesioning is a therapy for lumbar facet arthropathy that uses heat to ablate the transmission of nerve signals from the medial branches of the spinal nerves associated with the corresponding painful lumbar joints.

Objectives: The present investigation evaluated the outcomes of patients undergoing lumbar radiofrequency ablation at an academic pain program with a special focus on the influence of gender and obesity.

Modulatory Effects of Stem Cells on Opioid Receptors and Neuroinflammation.

Purpose Of Review: This narrative review examines stem cell therapy and its effect on opioid therapy in neuropathic pain.

Recent Findings: Stem cell therapy has shown promise in neuropathic pain and opioid tolerance, with a notable common pathway (the P2X4 receptor). Opioid therapy frequently has poor efficacy in patients who suffer from neuropathic pain.

Endoscopic Spinal Decompression: A Retrospective Review of Pain Outcomes at an Academic Medical Center.

Introduction:  Spinal stenosis is a chronic, debilitating condition that is expected to affect an increasing number of people as the population ages. Symptomatic spinal stenosis, like other spine pathologies, including disc herniation and degenerative disc disease, traditionally required an open decompressive surgical approach if more conservative approaches failed. An emerging alternative has been developed to address the needs of this population of patients in the form of endoscopic spine surgery (ESS).

Blood flow restriction exercise to attenuate postoperative loss of function after total knee replacement: a randomized pilot study.

Aging well is directly associated with a healthy lifestyle. The focus of this paper is to relate that attenuation of postoperative loss of muscle function after a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an important consideration. Because patients usually do not tolerate standard high-resistance exercise in the preoperative or postoperative period, they often experience a decline in strength and function.

Assessing the feasibility of using the short physical performance battery to measure function in the immediate postoperative period after total knee replacement.

Measurements of physical function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are uncertain and require investments for special equipment, space, and staff. Therefore, we evaluated the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) 4 to 6 weeks preoperatively and 2 weeks following TKA as this test battery addresses lower extremity strength, coordination, and balance, without additional special investments. For context, we also employed the Six-Minute Walk test (6MWT) and peak torque knee extension.

Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia Using a Head-Mounted Video Display: A Randomized Clinical Study.

Background: Ultrasonography is increasingly being used in every field of medicine, especially regional anesthesia. To successfully perform the procedure, a knowledge of anatomy and ultrasonoanatomy as well as technical 3D hand-eye coordination skills are required. Medical practitioners who use ultrasound devices to perform regional blocks have to correlate the position of the ultrasound probe on the patient, needle position, and ultrasound picture.