• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.87-90
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• 2015

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided lower extremity nerve block in trauma patients. Methods: From July 2013 to April 2014, 17 patients with multiple trauma had lower extremity nerve block for immediate management of open wound in the lower extremity. We evaluated the patient satisfaction of the anesthesia and any complications related to the block. Results: During the lower extremity nerve block, incomplete nerve block occurred in one patient. This is the second case, the reason for this was the lack of technique. There was no anesthetic complications. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided lower extremity nerve block in trauma patients is an effective anesthesia technique in the immediate management of open wound in lower extremities.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2017

Efforts to apply augmented reality (AR) technology in the medical field include the introduction of AR techniques into dental practice. The present report introduces a simple method of applying AR during an inferior alveolar nerve block, a procedure commonly performed in dental clinics.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2007

Background: Selective transforaminal epidural block (STEB) has showen effectiveness as a diagnostic and therapeutic option for the management of patients with low back pain or sciatica. This study was carried out in order to determine the short-term effects and prognostic factors associated with STEB in patients with low back pain or sciatica. Methods: Ninety-seven patients were selectedfor participation in this study. Their diagnosis were based werewason the clinical symptoms and MRI findings. We performed STEB under fluoroscopic guidance and injected 3 ml of radio opaque dye in order to confirm the technical success of the procedure. We then injected 20 mg of triamcinolone mixed into 3 ml of 0.5% mepivacaine. One month later, we classified the patient outcomes as excellent, good, moderate or poor, according to the degree of reduction in VAS score from baseline. The independent variables assessed included symptom duration, block level, number of blocks, primary diagnosis, prior caudal block, anterior epidural space filling of dye, medication history, demographic data, radiating pain, back surgery and spondylolisthesis. Results: At a mean follow-up period of 1 month after STEB, excellent results were noted in the patients diagnosed with herniated lumbar disc (70%), non-specific spondylosis (54%), spinal stenosis (44%), and failed back syndrome (28%). The patients with epidural adhesion and combined spondylolisthesis were associated with poorer outcomes. Combined caudal block, symptom duration and the extent of epidural spread of the drug were not related to the effectiveness of the treatment. Conclusions: Selective transforaminal epidural block is effective in treating patients with radiculopathy, such as herniated lumbar disc, but it isrelatively ineffective in treating patients with structural deformities, such as failed back syndrome and spondylolisthesis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.286-291
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• 2019

Background: Breast cancer is complicated by a high incidence of chronic postoperative pain (25%-60%). Regional anesthesia might play an important role in lowering the incidence of chronic pain; however it is not known if the pectoral nerve block (PECS block), which is commonly used for breast surgery, is able to prevent this complication. Our main objective was therefore to detect any association between the PECS block and chronic pain at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in patients undergoing breast surgery. Methods: We conducted a prospective, monocentric, observational study. We enrolled 140 consecutive patients undergoing breast surgery and divided them in patients receiving a PECS block and general anesthesia (PECS group) and patients receiving only general anesthesia (GA group). Then we considered both intraoperative variables (intravenous opioids administration), postoperative data (pain suffered by the patients during the first 24 postoperative hours and the need for additional analgesic administration) and development and persistence of chronic pain (at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo). Results: The PECS group had a lower incidence of chronic pain at 3 months (14.9% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.039), needed less intraoperative opioids (fentanyl $1.61{\mu}g/kg/hr$ vs. $3.3{\mu}g/kg/hr$, P < 0.001) and had less postoperative pain (3 vs. 4, P = 0.017). Conclusions: The PECS block might play an important role in lowering incidence of chronic pain, but further studies are needed.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.232-235
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• 2012

Hypoesthesia after an inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block does not commonly occur, but some cases are reported. The causes of hypoesthesia include a needle injury or toxicity of local anesthetic agents, and the incidence itself can cause stress to both dentists and patients. This case presents a hypoesthesia on mental nerve area followed by IAN block anesthesia with 2% lidocaine. Prescription of steroids for a week was performed and periodic follow up was done. After 1 wk, the symptoms got much better and after 4 mon, hypoesthesia completely disappeared. During this healing period, only early steroid medication was prescribed. In most cases, hypoesthesia is resolved within 6 mon, but being aware of etiology and the treatment options of hypoesthesia is important. Because the hypoesthesia caused by IAN block anesthesia is a mild to moderate nerve injury, early detection of symptom and prescription of steroids could be helpful for improvement of the hypoesthesia.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.125-134
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• 2019

Successful local anesthesia in dental treatment is the most important prerequisite for pain control of patients. However, unlike that in the maxilla, it is difficult to administer local anesthesia in the mandible, and the success rate of conventional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is only 80-85%. It is attributed to various causes such as anatomical variations, extreme anxiety, and technical errors; thus, various alternatives have been devised to improve this. We will analyze the causes of failure in conventional IANB and examine various alternatives that can be applied in these cases.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.271-279
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• 2020

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of buffered and unbuffered local anesthesia solutions during inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) administration in children. Methods: PubMed, Ovid SP, and Cochrane databases were searched separately by two independent reviewers for potential papers published between 1980 and April 2020 using relevant MeSH terms and pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. T Studies of IANB administration in children comparing buffered and unbuffered local anesthesia solutions were evaluated. The primary outcome evaluated was pain (perception and reaction), while the secondary outcome was the onset of anesthesia. Results: A total of five articles were included in a qualitative analysis; among them, four qualified for quantitative analysis of the primary outcome and three for quantitative analysis of the secondary outcome. A fixed-effects model was used to perform the meta-analysis. Pain perception (child-reported pain): Significantly lower pain scores were reported with buffered local anesthesia solution than with unbuffered solution (P = 0.006, MD: -0.32, 95% CI: -0.55 to -0.09). Pain reaction (observer-reported pain reaction in child): No significant difference was found between buffered and unbuffered solution in terms of observer-reported pain behavior in the child (P = 0.09, MD: -0.21, 95% CI: -0.46 to 0.04). Onset of anesthesia: A significantly lower duration of anesthesia onset was reported with buffered local anesthesia solution than with unbuffered solution (P = 0.00001, MD: -12.38, 95% CI: -17.64 to -7.13]. Conclusion: Buffering local anesthesia solution may reduce discomfort due to IANB injection administration and lower the initial onset time of anesthesia. More randomized control trials with adequate sample sizes should be carried out to validate the accuracy of these results.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2015

Background: The celiac plexus and splanchnic nerves are targets for neurolytic blocks for pain relief from pain caused by upper gastrointestinal tumors. Therefore, we investigated the analgesic effect of a celiac plexus block versus a splanchnic nerve block and the effects of these blocks on the quality of life six months post-intervention for patients with upper GIT tumors. Methods: Seventy-nine patients with inoperable upper GIT tumors and with severe uncontrolled visceral pain were randomized into two groups. These were Group I, for whom a celiac plexus block was used with a bilateral needle retrocrural technique, and Group II, for whom a splanchnic nerve block with a bilateral needle technique was used. The visual analogue scale for pain (0 to 100), the quality of life via the QLQ-C30 questionnaire, and survival rates were assessed. Results: Pain scores were comparable in both groups in the first week after the block. Significantly more patients retained good analgesia with tramadol in the splanchnic group from 16 weeks onwards (P = 0.005, 0.001, 0.005, 0.001, 0.01). Social and cognitive scales improved significantly from the second week onwards in the splanchnic group. Survival of both groups was comparable. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the efficacy of the splanchnic nerve block technique appears to be clinically comparable to a celiac block. All statistically significant differences are of little clinical value.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 2022

Although rare, hypodermic needle fractures can occur in the maxillofacial region. In cases of fracture, urgent intervention is required to prevent further complications. We present the case of a 37-year-old female patient with a fractured needle in the left sublingual fossa during a lingual nerve block 6 months before referral. The fragment of a 30-gauge needle was located using cone-beam computed tomography and retrieved under local anesthesia with blunt dissection. The patient recovered uneventfully, except for predictable postoperative inflammatory complications, which resolved within 2 weeks. Precautions should be implemented to prevent needle fractures, which are usually preventable. However, if the retrieval is unsuccessful, the patient should be referred to a well-equipped surgical unit without delay.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2020

Background: Severe pain associated with proximal femur fractures makes the positioning for regional anesthesia a challenge. Systemic administration of analgesics can have adverse effects. Individually, both the fascia iliaca block (FIB) and femoral nerve blocks (FNB) have been studied. However, there is little evidence comparing the two. The aim of this study was to compare the overall efficacy of the two blocks in patients with proximal femur fracture before positioning for spinal anesthesia. Methods: ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class I, II, and III patients scheduled for elective and emergency surgery with the diagnosis of proximal femur fracture between October 2018 and June 2019 were included in the study. The patients were assigned to two groups by convenience nonprobability sampling of 35 each. Results: Our study showed a reduction in visual analogue scale scores at 3, 4, and 5 minutes after administration of the FIB being 5.1 ± 1.1, 4.1 ± 1.3, and 2.8 ± 0.8, and those after the FNB as 4.4 ± 1.1, 3.3 ± 1.1, and 2.1 ± 1.4 with P < 0.05, which was statistically significant. The mean first rescue analgesia time for the FIB was 7.1 ± 2.1 hours, while for the FNB it was 5.2 ± 0.7 hours. The P value was less than 0.001, which was significant. Conclusions: Both ultrasound guided FNB and FIB techniques provide sufficient analgesia for patient's positioning before spinal anesthesia. However, the duration of postoperative analgesia provided by FIB was greater than that of the FNB.