Pain management with interventional spine therapy in patients with spinal cord injury: a case series.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic pain is common in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Any new strategy that is effective in treating this problem would be welcomed by this patient population.


METHODS
A case series is presented of SCI with neuropathic pain. In these 3 cases, interventional spine therapy is used as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic tool in the management of pain.


RESULTS
In the cases presented, interventional spine therapy proved useful in identifying the patient's pain generator. In most cases, the intervention was effective in reducing pain for a long enough period to serve as an effective pain management strategy. Other associated problems, such as spasticity, were similarly reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventional spine therapy should be considered as a tool in the armamentarium of any SCI physician managing their patient's chronic pain.
Chiodo
Anthony
A
University of Michigan Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. tchiodo@umich.edu
D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000517:prevention & control; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008012:Lidocaine; D008775:Methylprednisolone