Review
Orthopedics
K. R. Arant, J. N. Katz, T. Neogi
Summary: This review outlines the most commonly used quantitative sensory tests to identify pain sensitization in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Findings suggest that lower PPT thresholds, inefficient CPM, and facilitated TS are common in knee OA patients, and that QST measures are more closely associated with pain severity than OA radiographic severity. QST may have a role in personalized, more effective treatment of OA.
OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Matthew J. Kmiecik, Frank F. Tu, Daniel J. Clauw, Kevin M. Hellman
Summary: Multimodal hypersensitivity (MMH), characterized by increased sensitivity across multiple sensory modalities, is associated with the development of chronic pain. This study examined a cohort of women and found that MMH was a significant predictor of pelvic pain, even after adjusting for baseline pain levels. These findings suggest that MMH may play a crucial role in the long-term risk and development of pelvic pain.
Review
Orthopedics
Mohamed Gomaa Sobeeh, Karima Abdelaty Hassan, Anabela Goncalves da Silva, Enas Fawzy Youssef, Nadia Abdelazim Fayaz, Maha Mostafa Mohammed
Summary: This review aimed to understand the sensory phenotype of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and guide treatment strategies based on quantitative sensory testing (QST). The results showed that adults with CRPS experience significant loss of thermal, mechanical, and vibration sensations, as well as increased pain thresholds and ratings. Adolescents and children with CRPS have milder sensory abnormalities compared to adults. These findings are important for understanding the pain mechanisms of CRPS and guiding treatment.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AND RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Anne Wolowski, N. Schwarzbach, H. Hoerning
Summary: Patients with burning mouth syndrome show altered thermal sensitivity and pain thresholds compared to healthy controls, indicating a dysfunction in both the peripheral and central nervous systems in processing pain.
CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2021)
Article
Anesthesiology
Donna L. Kennedy, Jan Vollert, Deborah Ridout, Caroline M. Alexander, Andrew S. C. Rice
Summary: The DFNS quantitative sensory testing method can effectively identify changes in sensory phenotype in patients with entrapment neuropathy, which are closely related to symptom changes after clinical interventions. In an entrapment neuropathy model, sensory phenotype is independent of disease severity and may reflect the underlying neuropathophysiology.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Hidenori Suzuki, Shu Tahara, Mao Mitsuda, Hironori Izumi, Satoshi Ikeda, Kazushige Seki, Norihiro Nishida, Masahiro Funaba, Yasuaki Imajo, Kiminori Yukata, Takashi Sakai
Summary: QST and PPT are useful in the analysis of neck/shoulder and low back pain. However, there is currently a lack of reliable reference values for PPT in these conditions. This article reviews previous studies and provides a summary of the current data on PPT values.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Matthias Braun, Corina Bello, Thomas Riva, Christian Hoenemann, Dietrich Doll, Richard D. Urman, Markus M. Luedi
Summary: Quantitative sensory testing (QST) shows high relevance in predicting acute and chronic postoperative pain, especially in patients undergoing orthopedic procedures. By implementing QST testing, patients at risk can be identified and proactive preventive management measures can be taken, advancing traditional pain therapy towards personalized perioperative pain medicine.
CURRENT PAIN AND HEADACHE REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Anesthesiology
Kristian Kjaer Petersen, Henrik B. Vaegter, Audun Stubhaug, Andre Wolff, Brigitte E. Scammell, Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Dennis B. Larsen
Summary: This systematic review reveals that dynamic QST parameters TSP (50%) and CPM (44%) have the most consistent predictive values for chronic postoperative pain and analgesic effects. However, the heterogeneous methodologies used in studies may reduce generalizability and call for methodological guidelines.
Article
Pediatrics
Maarten O. Mensink, Niels Eijkelkamp, Dieuwke S. Veldhuijzen, Nico M. Wulffraat
Summary: This article investigates sensory threshold changes at the knee in patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), and finds a significant reduction in pressure pain threshold and increase in cold detection threshold in patients aged 9 and older. The findings are important for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric arthritis.
PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Frank F. Tu, Kevin M. Hellman, Genevieve E. Roth, Katlyn E. Dillane, Lynn S. Walker
Summary: This study evaluated the validity and reliability of a noninvasive bladder pain test in healthy premenarchal females and found that adolescents had similar bladder pain compared to young adult females, with higher pain at first sensation to void and lower maximum tolerance volume. Anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and pain catastrophizing predicted provoked bladder pain. Bladder pain was inversely correlated with pressure pain thresholds and positively correlated with frequency of abdominal pain symptoms.
Review
Anesthesiology
Ana Cristina Paredes, Joana Milhazes Pinto, Armando Almeida, Patricia R. Pinto
Summary: Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be useful in identifying high-risk patients for chronic postsurgical pain, but the association between presurgical QST and acute and chronic postsurgical pain after total joint arthroplasty remains unclear.
Review
Anesthesiology
Kristian Damgaard Lyng, Jens Bredbjerg Brock Thorsen, Dennis Boye Larsen, Kristian Kjaer Petersen
Summary: This study aimed to assess whether QST parameters can be modified by interventions for patients with shoulder pain. Results demonstrated that interventions such as exercise and manual therapy can acutely modulate pain sensitivity in patients with shoulder pain. Further research on the modulatory effects of these interventions on other QST parameters in patients with shoulder pain is needed.
Article
Anesthesiology
Lydia Coxon, Jan Vollert, Danielle Perro, Claire E. Lunde, Joana Ferreira-Gomes, Ana Charrua, Pedro Abreu-Mendes, Michal Krassowski, Judy Birch, Jane Meijlink, Lone Hummelshoj, Anja Hoffmann, Qasim Aziz, Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Esther Pogatzki-Zahn, Emma Evans, Lysia Demetriou, Stephen B. McMahon, Stacey A. Missmer, Christian M. Becker, Krina T. Zondervan, Andrew W. Horne, Francisco Cruz, Christine B. Sieberg, Rolf-Detlef Treede, Jens Nagel, Katy Vincent
Summary: Despite the high prevalence of chronic pelvic pain (CPP), its mechanistic understanding remains relatively poor. This study utilized a full quantitative sensory testing (QST) paradigm to analyze women with and without CPP. The data suggests that participants with CPP are sensitive to both deep tissue and cutaneous inputs, suggesting the importance of central mechanisms in this cohort.
Article
Dermatology
Patrick J. Speck, Ali Alsouhibani, Danielle E. Mustin, Emily F. Cole, Daniel E. Harper, Lauren A. V. Orenstein
Summary: This study assessed the suitability of a standardized neuropathic questionnaire (PD-Q) as a clinical measure for neuropathic pain in Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and compared it with quantitative sensory testing (QST). The results showed moderate agreement between PD-Q and QST in screening for neuropathic pain in HS, suggesting that PD-Q may be a helpful clinical tool.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Anna Evans Phillips, Mahya Faghih, Vikesh K. Singh, Soren Schou Olesen, Louise Kuhlmann, Srdan Novovic, Benjamin Bick, Philip A. Hart, Mitchell L. Ramsey, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Pramod K. Garg, Dhiraj Yadav, Asbjorn Mohr Drewes
Summary: An international consortium was formed to better understand and characterize chronic pancreatitis pain through standardized sensory testing. The consortium successfully developed a P-QST nomogram, which identified chronic pancreatitis patients with widespread hyperalgesia as having higher pain intensity scores and decreased quality of life. Multiple studies are ongoing to validate these findings and assess their utility in clinical trials.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Richard A. Parker, Tonje A. Sande, Barry Laird, Peter Hoskin, Marie Fallon, Lesley Colvin
Summary: This study demonstrates the application of a simple Bayesian analysis method to improve the evidence base in patient populations with recruitment and retention challenges. The Bayesian method allows for the incorporation of prior work and maximizes the informativeness of results despite small sample sizes. It provides more precise estimates of positive and negative predictive values and facilitates interpretation of results through direct probability statements.
BMJ SUPPORTIVE & PALLIATIVE CARE
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lewis Thomas Hughes, David Raftery, Paul Coulter, Barry Laird, Marie Fallon
Summary: Opioid use in cancer patients with hepatic impairment lacks strong clinical evidence and recommendations. The choice of preferred opioid for these patients remains uncertain due to limited research. Quality clinical studies examining opioid treatments in cancer pain and hepatic impairment are needed to provide clearer guidance.
BMJ SUPPORTIVE & PALLIATIVE CARE
(2022)
Review
Anesthesiology
Emilie Lambourg, Lesley Colvin, Greg Guthrie, Heather Walker, Samira Bell
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of analgesic use and the risk of analgesic-related adverse events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The results showed a high level of analgesic consumption and a significant association between analgesic use and adverse outcomes in CKD patients.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Harry L. Hebert, Lesley A. Colvin, Blair H. Smith
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Bruce Mason, Emma Carduff, Sheonad Laidlaw, Marilyn Kendall, Scott A. Murray, Anne Finucane, Sebastien Moine, Joannes Kerssens, Andrew Stoddart, Sian Tucker, Erna Haraldsdottir, Sir Lewis Ritchie, Marie Fallon, Jeremy Keen, Stella Macpherson, Lorna Moussa, Kirsty Boyd
Summary: This study aims to document the frequency and patterns of unscheduled healthcare use in the last year of life and understand the experiences and perspectives of patients, families, and professionals regarding accessing unscheduled care out-of-hours. The results showed a significant number of unscheduled contacts with healthcare services among people who died in Scotland in 2016, with patients and carers prioritising safety and timely response when accessing healthcare out-of-hours.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Marta Seretny, Liana Romaniuk, Heather Whalley, Kim Sladdin, Stephen Lawrie, Catherine Elizabeth Warnaby, Neil Roberts, Lesley Colvin, Irene Tracey, Marie Fallon
Summary: This study is the first to explore whether there is a brain-based vulnerability to chronic sensory CIPN. The study found that patients who later developed CIPN showed altered patterns of brain activity in sensory, motor, attentional, and affective regions. This suggests the possibility of a pre-existing vulnerability centered on brainstem regions of the descending pain modulatory system.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Harry L. Hebert, Abirami Veluchamy, Georgios Baskozos, Francesca Fardo, Dimitri Van Ryckeghem, Ewan R. Pearson, Lesley A. Colvin, Geert Crombez, David L. H. Bennett, Weihua Meng, Colin N. A. Palmer, Blair H. Smith
Summary: This study aimed to develop and externally validate two clinical risk models for predicting onset and resolution of chronic neuropathic pain. The models included psychosocial and lifestyle factors, and showed adequate discrimination but miscalibration in external validation. These risk models are of significant importance for patients and clinicians, as they can guide preventive and remedial measures.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Anesthesiology
Georgia Antoniou, Emilie Lambourg, J. Douglas Steele, Lesley A. Colvin
Summary: Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to increased multimorbidity, with physical and mental health consequences throughout life. This study aimed to assess evidence for central neural changes associated with adverse childhood experiences in subjects with chronic pain, major depressive disorder (MDD), or both using systematic review and meta-analysis.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
William Hunt, Mintu Nath, Sarah Bowrey, Lesley Colvin, Jonathan P. Thompson
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of perineural infusion of levobupivacaine on moderate/severe phantom limb pain 6 months after major lower limb amputation. The results showed that the infusion did not significantly reduce phantom limb pain, although the study was underpowered in terms of sample size for the primary outcome. Additionally, there were large variations in postoperative pain scores and high requirements for analgesics.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Katharina Diernberger, Eleanor Clausen, Gordon Murray, Bee Wee, Stein Kaasa, Peter Hall, Marie Fallon
Summary: EPAT facilitates personalized medicine, potentially reducing the use of opioids, adopting more specific treatment approaches, improving pain outcomes, and saving costs.
BMJ SUPPORTIVE & PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Cassie Higgins, Saurab Sharma, Inosha Bimali, Tim G. G. Hales, Paul A. A. Cameron, Blair H. H. Smith, Lesley A. A. Colvin
Summary: This cross-cultural study examined the prevalence of chronic pain and chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin in Nepal, and their associations with sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics. The results showed that the prevalence of chronic pain in the region was 53.3%, while the prevalence of chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin was 12.7%. Female gender, older age, and manual labor occupations were associated with chronic pain. Compared to other countries, individuals with chronic pain in this region had lower pain intensity and resilience scores, and higher pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and depression scores.
Review
Anesthesiology
Nadine Attal, Didier Bouhassira, Lesley Colvin
Summary: Substantial advances have been made in neuropathic pain clinical research in the past few decades, including an updated definition and classification, improved detection and assessment methods, and description of new neuropathic pain syndromes associated with COVID-19. However, challenges remain in targeting current medications appropriately and developing drugs that act on new targets. Innovative approaches such as combination therapy, drug repurposing, non-pharmacological techniques, and personalized management strategies are needed. This narrative review provides historical and current perspectives on neuropathic pain and explores potential avenues for future research.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Peter Foley, Yazhuo Kong, Ramune Dirvanskiene, Maria Valdes-Hernandez, Matteo Bastiani, Jonathan Murnane, Robin Sellar, Neil Roberts, Cyril Pernet, Christopher Weir, Thomas Bak, Lesley Colvin, Siddharthan Chandran, Marie Fallon, Irene Tracey
Summary: This study reports the dysfunction of descending pain modulation in multiple sclerosis patients with chronic neuropathic pain, showing reduced functional connectivity in specific brain structures and executive dysfunction. The findings highlight the close relationship between cognition, functioning of the descending pain modulatory system, and chronic pain conditions, providing insights for potential pharmacological and cognitive interventions.
BRAIN COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eleanor Reid, Ephrem Abathun, Jilcha Diribi, Yoseph Mamo, Tigineh Wondemagegnhu, Peter Hall, Marie Fallon, Liz Grant
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
