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Treister R, Honigman L, Berger A, Cohen B, Asaad I, Kuperman P, Tellem R, Hochberg U, Strauss I. Temporal Summation Predicts De Novo Contralateral Pain After Cordotomy in Patients With Refractory Cancer Pain. Neurosurgery 2022; 90:59-65. [PMID: 34982871 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000001734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Percutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC), which selectively interrupts ascending nociceptive pathways in the spinal cord, can mitigate severe refractory cancer pain. It has an impressive success rate, with most patients emerging pain-free. Aside from the usual complications of neurosurgical procedures, the risks of PCC include development of contralateral pain, which is less understood. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether sensory and pain sensitivity, as measured by quantitative sensory testing (QST), are associated with PCC clinical outcomes. METHODS Fourteen palliative care cancer patients with severe chronic refractory pain limited mainly to one side of the body underwent comprehensive quantitative sensory testing assessment pre-PPC and post-PCC. They were also queried about maximal pain during the 24 h precordotomy (0-10 numerical pain scale). RESULTS All 14 patients reported reduced pain postcordotomy, with 7 reporting complete resolution. Four patients reported de novo contralateral pain. Reduced sensitivity in sensory and pain thresholds to heat and mechanical stimuli was recorded on the operated side (P = .028). Sensitivity to mechanical pressure increased on the unaffected side (P = .023), whereas other sensory thresholds were unchanged. The presurgical temporal summation values predicted postoperative contralateral pain (r = 0.582, P = .037). CONCLUSION The development of contralateral pain in patients postcordotomy for cancer pain might be due to central sensitization. Temporal summation could serve as a potential screening tool to identify those who are most likely at risk to develop contralateral pain. Analysis of PCC affords a unique opportunity to investigate how a specific lesion to the nociceptive system affects pain processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roi Treister
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Liat Honigman
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Assaf Berger
- Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ben Cohen
- Institute of Pain Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Israa Asaad
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Pora Kuperman
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Rotem Tellem
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,The Palliative Medicine Care Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uri Hochberg
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Institute of Pain Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ido Strauss
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Schuh-Hofer S, Fischer J, Unterberg A, Treede RD, Ahmadi R. Spinal cord stimulation modulates descending pain inhibition and temporal summation of pricking pain in patients with neuropathic pain. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2018; 160:2509-2519. [PMID: 30293158 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-018-3669-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an established treatment option for patients with refractory chronic pain conditions. While effects of SCS on dorsal horn neuronal circuitries are intensively studied, current knowledge on the impact of SCS on descending pain pathways is scarce and relies on preclinical data. We aimed to address this topic and hypothesized a significant effect of SCS on descending pain modulation. In light of current efforts to determine the sensitivity of "static" versus "dynamic" somatosensory parameters to characterize pathophysiological pain conditions, all SCS patients were carefully investigated using both classes of somatosensory outcome parameters. METHODS Descending pain pathways were investigated by using a "Cold Pressor Test." This test enables to evaluate the efficacy of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) at the individual level. CPM efficacy was assessed in eight neuropathic pain patients (age 55.5 ± 10.6) during the two conditions stimulator "ON" and "OFF." The impact of SCS on "static" and "dynamic" somatosensory parameters was explored by using a quantitative sensory testing (QST) battery. RESULTS CPM efficacy on pressure pain sensitivity was nearly absent during "OFF" (- 1.2 ± 5.6% facilitation), but increased significantly to 16.3 ± 3.4% inhibition during "ON" (p = 0.03). While most "static" nociceptive QST parameters, represented by mechanical/thermal pain thresholds, exhibited only small effects of SCS (p > 0.05), the wind-up ratio was strongly reduced to within the normal range during "ON" (p = 0.04; Cohen's d = 1.0). Dynamic mechanical allodynia was abolished in six of seven patients. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides first human evidence for an impact of SCS on descending pain pathways in the dorsolateral funiculus and emphasizes the significance of "dynamic" pain measures like "CPM"-efficacy and "temporal summation" to evaluate SCS treatment effects. Future prospective studies may use these measures of nociceptive processing to predict SCS therapy response.
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Campbell CM, Jamison RN, Edwards RR. Psychological screening/phenotyping as predictors for spinal cord stimulation. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2013; 17:307. [PMID: 23247806 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-012-0307-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is becoming a widely used treatment for a number of pain conditions and is frequently considered as a pain management option when conservative or less invasive techniques have proven to be ineffective. Potential indications for SCS include complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), postherpetic neuralgia, traumatic nerve injury, failed back surgery syndrome, refractory angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathic pain, and visceral pain (Guttman et al. Pain Pract. 9:308-11, 2009). While research on SCS is in its infancy, it is clear that substantial variation exists in the degree of benefit obtained from SCS, and the procedure does not come without risks; thus focused patient selection is becoming very important. Psychological characteristics play an important role in shaping individual differences in the pain experience and may influence responses to SCS, as well as a variety of other pain treatments (Doleys Neurosurg Focus 21:E1, 2006). In addition to psychological assessment, quantitative sensory testing (QST) procedures offer another valuable resource in forecasting who may benefit most from SCS and may also shed light on mechanisms underlying the individual characteristics promoting the effectiveness of such procedures (Eisenberg et al. Pain Pract. 6:161-165, 2006). Here, we present a brief overview of recent studies examining these factors in their relationship with SCS outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia M Campbell
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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