Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cortex 2021 Apr 22;140:157-178. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom.

It has been suggested that sensorimotor conflict contributes to the maintenance of some pathological pain conditions, implying that there are problems with the adaptation processes that normally resolve such conflict. We tested whether sensorimotor adaptation is impaired in people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) by characterising their adaption to lateral prismatic shifts in vision. People with unilateral upper-limb CRPS Type I (n = 17), and pain-free individuals (n = 18; matched for age, sex, and handedness) completed prism adaptation with their affected/non-dominant and non-affected/dominant arms. Read More

PeerJ 2021 3;9:e11156. Epub 2021 May 3.

Neuroscience Research Australia, NEURA, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is characterised by pain, autonomic, sensory and motor abnormalities. It is associated with changes in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1 representation), reductions in tactile sensitivity (tested by two-point discrimination), and alterations in perceived hand size or shape (hand perception). The frequent co-occurrence of these three phenomena has led to the assumption that S1 changes underlie tactile sensitivity and perceptual disturbances. Read More

Pain Rep 2021 9;6(1):e905. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Chronic pain is an unpleasant and debilitating condition that is often poorly managed by existing therapeutics. Reciprocal interactions between the nervous system and the immune system have been recognized as playing an essential role in the initiation and maintenance of pain. In this review, we discuss how neuroimmune signaling can contribute to peripheral and central sensitization and promote chronic pain through various autoimmune mechanisms. Read More

Neuromodulation 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Objectives: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) has become a popular neuromodulatory treatment for neuropathic pain. We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate potential biomarkers of pain and pain relief, based on the differences in power spectral density (PSD) during varying degrees of pain and how these oscillations change during DRGS-mediated pain relief.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen chronic pain patients with implanted dorsal root ganglion stimulators were included in the MEG analysis. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2021 May 3;83:105959. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an under diagonised, chronic pain condition commonly described occurring in the extremities. Its occurrence in the trunk is rarely reported and is thought by some to be non existent.

Case Presentation: We report an unusual case of trunkul CRPS post appendectomy which presented with debilitating pain and review relevant literature. Read More

J Hand Surg Am 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Hand and Elbow Surgery Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kawasaki Municipal Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan.

Purpose: To compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of using a variable-angle volar locking plate (VAVLP) with those of using a fixed-angle volar locking plate (FAVLP) for treating unstable intra-articular fractures of the distal radius.

Methods: One hundred twenty patients with unstable intra-articular fractures of the distal radius were randomized to open reduction and internal fixation with a VAVLP (n = 60) or an FAVLP (n = 60). Supplementary methods (eg. Read More

J Pain 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom; Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.

The Bath Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Body Perception Disturbance Scale ("B-CRPS-BPDS") measures alterations in body perception. We assessed its internal consistency, known group validity, construct validity, and associations with demographic and clinical characteristics. We also evaluated changes in, and baseline predictors of B-CRPS-BPDS scores at follow-up. Read More

Br J Anaesth 2021 Apr 30. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Centre for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Environ Geochem Health 2021 Apr 30. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.

The effects of bath therapy are complex and result from a unique interaction between the aquatic environment and the human body functions. The effect of bath therapy depends on both water temperature and chemical additives (mineral substances and humic substances). Värska Resort Centre, in south-eastern Estonia, uses for the balneotherapy the local curative mud and mineral water. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 29;11(1):9225. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, No.1, Yida Road, Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City, 82445, Taiwan.

This meta-analysis aimed at investigating the impact of oral vitamin C supplementation on the post-procedural recovery of orthopedic patients, including functional outcomes and complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I). Literature search using the Medline, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from inception till March 2021 identified seven eligible randomized controlled trials with 1,361 participants. Forest plot revealed no significant difference in the functional outcomes at 6-12 months [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0. Read More

Brain Sci 2021 Apr 6;11(4). Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Rheumatology Research Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.

Background: Motor neglect occurs in patients with chronic pain conditions. Virtual environments (VE) help rehabilitation through biofeedback and improving motivation.

Aim: To assess the feasibility of a VE for patients with motor neglect with chronic pain. Read More

Hand Clin 2021 May;37(2):315-322

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address:

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition characterized by a constellation of signs and symptoms including pain out of proportion to the injury or insult, autonomic dysfunction, trophic changes, and impaired function. CRPS may occur following either conservative or surgical management of distal radius fractures and can significantly complicate the trajectory of a patient's recovery. Although the incidence, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this condition have been extensively studied, optimal methods to identify, prevent, and treat this condition remain controversial. Read More

J Pain 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia; School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga, QLD, 4225, Australia. Electronic address:

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) has never comprehensively been examined from a lived experience perspective. Patients generally have a poorer quality of life than people with other chronic pain conditions. This study aimed to understand the essence of living with CRPS. Read More

J Pain 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

University Hospital Mainz, Neurology Department, Mainz, Germany.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 play important roles in inflammation as well as in pain processes. For this reason, we compared the concentrations of these enzymes in skin and serum of patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), other pain diseases and healthy subjects. We analyzed ipsi- and contralateral skin biopsies of 18 CRPS patients, as well as in 10 pain controls and 9 healthy subjects. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2021 Apr 22;27:e929814. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.

BACKGROUND Treating advanced finger joint contractures from Dupuytren disease remains a challenge. We evaluated the effectiveness of a skeletal distraction device versus alternative treatment options. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed the surgical treatment of contracted finger joints in stage III and stage IV Dupuytren's disease over a 10-year period. Read More

J Child Neurol 2021 Apr 21:8830738211007685. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Applied Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Objective: To assess thermal-sensory thresholds and psychosocial factors in children with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS-I) compared to healthy children.

Methods: We conducted quantitative sensory testing on 34 children with CRPS-I and 56 pain-free children. Warm, cool, heat, and cold stimuli were applied to the forearm. Read More

J Transl Autoimmun 2021 16;4:100100. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Berlin Cures GmbH, Berlin; Germany.

Impairment of health after overcoming the acute phase of COVID-19 is being observed more and more frequently. Here different symptoms of neurological and/or cardiological origin have been reported. With symptoms, which are very similar to the ones reported but are not caused by SARS-CoV-2, the occurrence of functionally active autoantibodies (AABs) targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR-AABs) has been discussed to be involved. Read More

Hand Surg Rehabil 2021 Apr 18. Epub 2021 Apr 18.

UZ Leuven, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address:

We report on a retrospective cohort of 50 cases of three-ligament tenodesis for scapholunate instability. Fifteen cases (30% of our cohort) needed salvage surgery (11 proximal row carpectomies, 2 partial and 2 total wrist fusions) at an average of 33 months and are considered "failures". Of the 35 remaining cases ("success"), 16 (32% of our cohort) were reviewed at average 111 months and had good functional outcomes (QuickDASH 18/100, PRWE 11/100, pain 1/10, satisfaction 9/10). Read More

J Clin Anesth 2021 Apr 16;72:110269. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Department of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street Ste. A3300, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America. Electronic address:

J Neurosci 2021 May 12;41(19):4349-4365. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain disorder with a clear acute-to-chronic transition. Preclinical studies demonstrate that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), expressed by myeloid-lineage cells, astrocytes, and neurons, mediates a sex-dependent transition to chronic pain; however, evidence is lacking on which exact TLR4-expressing cells are responsible. We used complementary pharmacologic and transgenic approaches in mice to more specifically manipulate myeloid-lineage TLR4 and outline its contribution to the transition from acute-to-chronic CRPS based on three key variables: location (peripheral vs central), timing (prevention vs treatment), and sex (male vs female). Read More

Scand J Pain 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Section of Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.

Objectives: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling usually post-traumatic pain condition. International guidelines emphasize early diagnosis for treatment and improved outcome. Early intense and persistent pain along with features of autonomic dysfunction in the first week's post-injury are early warning signs for development of CRPS. Read More

Perception 2021 May 31;50(5):399-417. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Psychology, 1555University of Bath, UK; Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, UK.

Discomfort provoked by normally innocuous visual stimuli has been reported by people with chronic pain. Visual discomfort may be higher in pain conditions in which central sensitization is implicated, such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia. In an online study, we validated the Leiden Visual Sensitivity Scale (L-VISS) and Visual Discomfort Scale (VDS) in people with CRPS (=57), fibromyalgia (=75), and general chronic pain (=53); investigated whether these groups and pain-free controls (=125) differed in visual discomfort; and evaluated the effect of age. Read More

Mol Pain 2021 Jan-Dec;17:17448069211006617

Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a progressive and painful disease of the extremities that is characterized by continuous pain inconsistent with the initial trauma. CRPS is caused by a multi-mechanism process that involves both the peripheral and central nervous system, with a prominent role of inflammation in CRPS pathophysiology. This review examines what is currently known about the CRPS inflammatory and pain mechanisms, as well as the possible impact of neurostimulation therapies on the neuroimmune axis of CRPS. Read More

Arch Bone Jt Surg 2021 Jan;9(1):85-92

Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.

Background: There is a growing interest in engaging patients in research priorities and project design. This study compared topics patients and surgeons would like to address in upper extremity musculoskeletal research.

Methods: We invited patients on social media-based support groups for specific musculoskeletal illnesses and members of the Science Of Variation Group to indicate the three most important research topics by disease. Read More

Diving Hyperb Med 2021 Mar;51(1):107-110

Czech National Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Knowledge Translation (Cochrane Czech Republic, Czech EBHC; JBI Centre of Excellence, Masaryk University GRADE Centre), Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.

A broad spectrum of conditions including neuropathic pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia, have been implicated as causes of chronic pain. There is a need for new and effective treatments that patients can tolerate without significant adverse effects. One potential intervention is hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT). Read More

Eur J Pain 2021 Mar 23. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.

Background: Effective treatment of longstanding Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a challenge, as causal mechanisms remain elusive. People with CRPS frequently report distorted subjective perceptions of their affected limb. Evidence of pain reduction when the affected limb is visually altered in size suggests that visual illusions used to target central processing could restore coherence of this disrupted limb representation. Read More

Pain Med 2021 Mar 22. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Emotional Information and Communication Technology Industrial Association.

Objectives. : So far, dysfunction in mental rotation has been assessed in relation to the left- or right-sided CRPS. Here we examined mental rotation in patients with upper or lower limb CRPS. Read More

J Venom Res 2021 6;11:1-6. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, (current address: Karnali Academy Of Health Sciences, Nepal).

We document inadequately diagnosed coagulopathy (potential to be life threatening) due to bite. Although its bites are common in the hills of Nepal, associated envenomations have not been documented elaborately. Herein, we present the clinical and treatment details of a proven bite and areas where it may pose the risk of envenomations (suggesting huge populations in Asia to be vulnerable to its bites). Read More

Neurobiol Pain 2021 Jan-Jul;9:100062. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, United States.

Some individuals with chronic pain experience improvement in their pain with treatment, whereas others do not. The neurobiological reason is unclear, but an understanding of brain structure and functional patterns may provide insights into pain's responsivity to treatment. In this investigation, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to determine grey matter density alterations on resting functional connectivity (RFC) strengths between pain responders and nonresponders in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. Read More

Pain Med 2021 Mar 17. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Discipline of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Objective: Metaphor, frequently used in chronic pain, can function as a communicative tool, facilitating understanding and empathy from others. Previous research has demonstrated that specific linguistic markers exist for areas such as pain catastrophizing, mood, as well as diagnostic categories. The current study sought to examine potential associations between the types of pain metaphors used and diagnostic category, disability, and mood. Read More