Overlooked physical diagnoses in chronic pain patients involved in litigation, Part 2. The addition of MRI, nerve blocks, 3-D CT, and qualitative flow meter.
This study followed 120 chronic pain patients referred to a multidisciplinary pain center. The referral diagnosis for many patients, such as "chronic pain," "psychogenic pain," or "lumbar strain," was frequently found to be incomplete or inaccurate (40%) following a multidisciplinary evaluation that used appropriate diagnostic studies, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, nerve blocks, and qualitative flowmeter. Significant abnormalities were discovered in 76% of the diagnostic tests. An organic origin for pain was found in 98% of these patients. The patients were discharged with objective verification of diagnoses including facet disease, nerve entrapment, temporomandibular joint disease, thoracic outlet syndrome, and herniated discs.
Hendler
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Mensana Clinic, Stevenson, Maryland 21153, USA.
Bergson
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C
Morrison
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C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed