Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Compression Syndromes in Burns

Peripheral neuropathy and nerve compression syndromes lead to substantial morbidity following burn injury. Patients present with pain, paresthesias, or weakness along a specific nerve distribution or experience generalized peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms manifest at various times from within one week of hospitalization to many months after wound closure. Peripheral neuropathy may be caused by vascular occlusion of vasa nervorum, inflammation, neurotoxin production leading to apoptosis, and direct destruction of nerves from the burn injury. This article discusses the natural history, diagnosis, current treatments, and future directions for potential interventions for peripheral neuropathy and nerve compression syndromes related to burn injury.

Neuropathic pain in people with cancer (part 1): incidence, manifestation, and assessment

Many patients with cancer are at risk of experiencing neuropathic pain. This type of pain is complex and therefore requires complex assessment with a focus on impact on quality-of-life issues such as sleep and depression. Nurses are well placed to identify patients with possible signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain and so it is important for nurses to understand neuropathic pain and its manifestation, impact on quality of life, and management. Part 1 of this paper provides an overview of neuropathic cancer pain incidence, manifestation, and assessment; part 2 will address management.