Management of a patient with chronic low back pain and multiple health conditions using a pain mechanisms-based classification approach

A short-term non-randomized controlled study of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation and parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND

To compare the short-term clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) and parathyroidectomy (PTX) for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism(SHPT).

METHODS

In a prospective multi-center study, we compared the outcomes of MWA and PTX for severe SHPT. The outcome measures were case rate of successful treatment, improvement of clinical symptoms, incidence of complications, and differences in treatment parameters and costs between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 167 eligible patients were included in the study, of which 79 underwent MWA and 88 underwent PTX. There was no significant difference in rate of successful treatment between the MWA and PTX groups (χ²=2.299, p = 0.125). However, the MWA group showed significantly lower range of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) decrease than the PTX group (t=-2.352, p = 0.023). Postoperative clinical symptoms improved in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Postoperative hypocalcemia was significantly more common in the PTX group (p < 0.05). The operative time, incision and postoperative pain of the MWA group were significantly better than those of the PTX group (p < 0.05), while postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hematoma showed no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). The cost of MWA was significantly less than PTX (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

Both MWA and PTX are effective and safe for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. PTX is more thorough and traumatic, while MWA is minimally invasive and postoperative iPTH is more consistent with the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommendation.

Subgroups in chronic low back pain patients - a step toward cluster-based, tailored treatment in inpatient standard care: On the need for precise targeting of treatment for chronic low back pain

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find applicable clusters for the development of different treatment pathways in an inpatient multimodal pain-therapy setting based on the multifaceted nature of CLBP. Methods: Based on data of questionnaires (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Marburg Questionnaire on Habitual Health Findings (MFHW), quality of life assessment using the Short-Form 12 (SF 12)), a retrospective two-step cluster analysis involving a sample of chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients (N=320) was calculated. Subsequently, the clusters were precisely described and compared on the basis of further data collected during the patients' standard care: pain characteristics, socio-demographic data and the general state of health, psychological variables, therapy intensity, and Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) data. Results: We found a three-cluster solution: little psychological interference but marginal physical and mental quality of life (Cluster 1); poor well-being, low physical quality of life, and marginal mental quality of life (Cluster 2); and heavy mental strain and marginal physical quality of life (Cluster 3). Conclusions: Similar to previous studies, our results suggest that patients suffering from CLBP differ with regard to the magnitude of mental burden and the presence of physical impairment. These differences ascertain the need for precise targeting of treatment for CLBP. Inpatient pain centers therefore should offer different multimodal therapy pathways and integrate a meaningful triage, taking into account the multifaceted nature of CLBP based on sophisticated knowledge about forms, differences, and relationships among the biopsychosocial components of CLBP.

Efficacy of Ablation Therapy for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism by Ultrasound Guided Percutaneous Thermoablation

The objective of this study was to explore the value of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave thermoablation to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). One hundred and thirty-eight parathyroid glands from 56 patients with SHPT were ablated in this study. All the parathyroid glands were evaluated by real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound before, during and after ablation. Changes in serum parathyroid hormone (sPTH) levels were measured before treatment and at 1 h, 1 wk, 1 mo and 6 mo after thermoablation treatment. All 56 cases had a 1-mo follow-up, and 34 cases had a 6-mo follow-up. The sPTH level of the 54 cases 1 mo after ablation was significantly lower than that before (p < 0.05). In the 34 cases that had a 6-mo follow-up, the sPTH levels were also significantly lower at 6 mo after ablation than before (p < 0.05). Bone pain in patients improved post-operatively (p < 0.05), but itchiness and insomnia did not improve (p > 0.05). Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave thermoablation is a feasible and effective non-surgical alternative treatment for SHPT patients.