Multimodal therapeutic assessment of peripheral nerve stimulation in neuropathic pain: Five case reports with a 20‐year follow‐up

Neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve lesion is highly resistant to conventional pain treatments but may respond well to direct electrical peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). In the 1980 s, we treated a series of 11 peripheral neuropathic pain patients with PNS. A first outcome assessment, conducted after a 52‐month follow‐up, revealed that the majority of the patients were significantly improved. Here, we present the results of a second and more comprehensive follow‐up, conducted after more than 20 years of PNS usage. Of the six patients still using PNS, five participated in a multimodality assessment of the long‐term efficacy of PNS. Home evaluations showed reduced pain ratings and improved quality‐of‐life during active periods of stimulation. Quantitative sensory testing confirmed the neuropathic character of the pain complaints. PNS had no significant overall effect on tactile detection, cool, warmth, cold pain and heat pain thresholds. Laser‐evoked potentials showed an enlarged N2–P2 complex during active PNS. Positron Emission Tomography revealed that PNS decreased activation in the pain matrix at rest and during thermal stimulation. PNS led to increased blood flow not only in primary somatosensory cortex, but also in anterior cingulate and insular cortices, suggesting that besides activation of the dorsal column lemniscal system, other mechanisms may play a role in its analgesic effects. These data show that PNS can provide truly long‐term pain relief in carefully selected patients and they provide some objective quantitative data in support of this. They encourage the planning of future prospective studies in a larger cohort of patients.     

Painful and non-painful neuropathy in HIV-infected patients: an analysis of somatosensory nerve function.

Fifteen to 50% of AIDS-patients suffer from distal predominantly sensory neuropathy (DSP), which is commonly associated with painful symptoms. In the present study, we have focused on the function of fine calibre nerve channels, in 36 consecutive HIV-1-infected patients with painful (PPN) (n=20; 54%) and non-painful (PN) (n=16) sensory neuropathy, assessed by clinical, quantitative thermal testing (QTT) (31/36), and peripheral nerve conduction examination (32/36). Control QTT data were obtained from 49 healthy subjects with a corresponding age- and sex distribution. Demographics, antiviral treatment, immunological status, and nerve conduction examination did not differ between patients with and without painful symptoms. Hypoaesthesia to warmth, cold, and heat pain was observed in both neuropathy groups when compared to healthy controls. However, the perception threshold to warmth was more often impaired (p<0.01) and the level of impairment was more pronounced (p<0.001) in patients with painful neuropathy. Furthermore, increased pain sensitivity to cold was found only in patients with painful symptoms (p<0.05). An abnormal outcome of any QTT parameter was found in all patients with pain, but only among 62% of patients without pain, p<0.01, and the cumulative frequency of abnormalities in any of the four thermal percepts (warmth, cold, heat pain, and cold pain) was higher in patients with painful symptoms, p<0.0001. This study demonstrates a more pronounced impairment of C-fibre-mediated innocuous warm perception in patients with painful neuropathy, which in the setting of impaired or absent heat pain perception suggests a more generalised loss of function in somatosensory C-fibre channels.     

Analgesic and antinociceptive effects of peripheral nerve neurostimulation in an advanced human experimental model

Electrical peripheral nerve neurostimulation (PNS) is reported to be an effective pain treatment. An objective proof of antinociceptive effect is lacking. The human experimental study addressed PNS effects on nociception and pain by electrophysiology and psychophysics. In 23 healthy volunteers, 39 sessions were conducted. Three experiments (PNS ipsilateral, PNS contralateral, Control) consisted of 13 sessions each. Conditioning PNS (100Hz) of left (PNS ipsilateral) or right (PNS contralateral) superficial radial nerve trunk evoked non‐painful, tingling sensations on the hand dorsum. Local cutaneous anesthesia at PNS site provided for preferential nerve trunk stimulation. Cortical laser‐evoked potentials (LEP) after painful stimulation at left hand dorsum were recorded together with mechanical and thermal perception thresholds at the same site before (T1), during (T2), and after (T3) PNS or a no stimulation period (Control). Mechanical and thermal perception decreased in the anesthetized area. Late LEP amplitude decreased independently of PNS site. Exclusively under ipsilateral PNS, N2 latency increased and laser ratings decreased. Mechanical detection threshold transiently increased during ipsilateral PNS at hand dorsum. PNS induced strong reduction of mechanical perception due to peripheral collision of orthodromic (test stimulus) and antidromic (PNS) selective Aβ fiber excitation. Delay of N2 component and reduction of laser pain were specific to ipsilateral PNS. Divergent and common effects of ipsilateral and contralateral PNS suggest a combination of peripheral and central antinociceptive mechanisms. The study in man documents inhibition of nociception and pain by PNS and provides with an experimental model for future objectives in neuromodulation.     

Pathophysiology and treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy

Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy, and painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) affects approximately 30% of diabetic patients with neuropathy. It is extremely distressing for the patient and poses significant management difficulties because no treatment provides total relief, and side effects of therapy are a major limiting factor for titrating therapy. Understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy may lead to the development of new treatments to prevent nerve damage, and a better understanding of the mechanisms that modulate pain may lead to more effective relief of painful symptoms. We provide an update on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of PDN.     

Neuropathic pain in patients with upper-extremity nerve injury

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to present an analysis of the literature of the outcome studies reported in patients following traumatic upper-extremity (UE) nerve injuries (excluding amputation), to assess the presence of an association between neuropathic pain and outcome in patients following traumatic UE nerve injuries, and to provide recommendations for inclusion of more comprehensive outcome measures by clinicians who treat these patients.Summary of Key Points: A Medline and CINAHL literature search retrieved 48 articles. This review identified very few studies of patients with peripheral nerve injury that reported neuropathic pain. When pain was reported, visual analogue or numeric rating scales were most frequently used; standardized questionnaires measuring pain or psychosocial function were rarely administered. Recent evidence shows substantial long-term disability and pain in patients following peripheral nerve injury.Recommendation: To better understand neuropathic pain in patients following peripheral nerve injury, future outcome studies should include valid, reliable measures of physical impairment, pain, disability, health-related quality of life, and psychosocial functioning.     

Influence of pain reduction by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on somatosensory functions in patients with painful traumatic peripheral partial nerve injury

Following peripheral nerve injury sensory loss is taken as a sign of denervation. However, based on reports of improved sensitivity following relief of pain it has been suggested that a functional block produced by the activity in the nociceptive system itself may be responsible for at least part of the sensory aberrations. The aim was to examine if pain reduction by high‐frequency TENS influenced somatosensory functions in patients with long‐term unilateral painful traumatic peripheral partial nerve injury. Eighteen patients with spontaneous ongoing pain and a touch sensation in the innervation territory of the injured nervous structure of at least 5 on an intensity 11‐point Likert rating scale compared with contralaterally, participated. Before and following 80 Hz TENS with a stimulus intensity generating non‐painful paresthesiae in the painful areas during 30 min the pain intensity was rated on a numerical rating scale and bedside examination of somatosensory functions (BE) and quantitative sensory testing (QST) were performed in the same areas. Before and following TENS there was no difference in sensory functions between nine patients with ≥50% pain reduction and nine patients with a smaller or no reduction in pain. Compared to baseline, only minor TENS‐induced alterations in somatosensory functions were found at BE in conjunction with decreased sensitivity to light touch at QST (p < 0.01) in both groups alike. In conclusion ≥50% pain reduction by TENS did not alter sensory functions differentially compared to a smaller or no reduction in pain.     

Clinical trial of propranolol in post-traumatic neuralgia

In view of several case reports of relief of various neuralgias by propranolol, a double-blind cross-over trial using this drug was conducted in 10 patients with severe persistent pain and paraesthesiae following upper limb peripheral nerve injuries. The patients received up to 240 mg of propranolol per day. Only one patient reported pain relief, but this patient withdrew from the trial. An open trial of propranolol was conducted in 6 other patients with a variety of peripheral nerve lesions. Of these, neuroma tenderness was transiently reduced in one patient and the hyperaesthesia of a painful scar was relieved in another. Routine use of propranolol in such patients cannot be recommended.     

连续硬膜外腔阻滞联合普瑞巴林治疗糖尿病周围神经病变

目的:观察连续硬膜外腔阻滞联合普瑞巴林对糖尿病周围神经病变的治疗效果。方法:选择36例糖尿病周围神经病变患者,随机分为两组:A组(n=18)每日口服普瑞巴林300 mg;B组(n=18)每日口服普瑞巴林300 mg联合0.6%利多卡因连续硬膜外腔阻滞。比较治疗后八周两组患者疼痛视觉评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)的变化、下肢神经传导速度变化及不良反应的发生情况。结果:A组治疗1周后VAS评分开始下降,此后各时间点VAS评分均低于治疗前(P<0.05);B组治疗后各时间点VAS评分均明显低于治疗前(P<0.05)。与A组相比,除第8周外,B组各时间点VAS评分均明显低于A组(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗8周后腓总神经、腓肠神经运动传导速度(motorconduction velocity,MCV)及感觉神经传导速度(sensory nerve conduction velocity,SCV)均有明显改善(P<0.05),但B组显著优于A组(P<0.05)。B组头晕、嗜睡等不良反应发生率与A组相比无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论:连续硬膜外阻滞联合普瑞巴林治疗糖尿病周围神经病变起效快,疗效持久,副作用少。     

Cervical steroid epidural nerve blocks in the palliation of pain secondary to intractable tension-type headaches

Headaches are among the most common pain syndromes encountered in clinical practice. Of these headaches, 70%–80% are ultimately diagnosed as tension type headaches (TTH). Most patients suffering from TTH will experience improvement when treated with traditional modalities, including tricyclic antidepressants, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, and cognitive therapies. Unfortunately, not all patients respond to the traditional modalities. We wish to report 48 patients suffering from pain secondary to intractable TTH who failed to respond to traditional treatment modalities and were treated with cervical steroid epidural nerve blocks (CSENB). The average number of CSENB performed per patient was four. Average pain score prior to CSENB was 4.8. Six weeks following CSENB, the average pain score was 0.95. At 3 months follow-up, the VAS score was 0.35. These results suggest that CSENB may appear to provide effective relief of pain to some patients with intractable TTH.     

Acupuncture for Cancer Pain and Related Symptoms

A headache is a common neurological disorder, and large numbers of patients suffer from intractable headaches including migraine, tension headache and cluster headache, etc., with no clear therapeutic options. Despite the advances made in the treatment of headaches over the last few decades, subsets of patients either do not achieve adequate pain relief or cannot tolerate the side effects of typical migraine medications. An electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerves via an implantable pulse generator appears to be good alternative option for patients with treatment-refractory headaches. A number of clinical trials show considerable evidence supporting the use of peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) for headaches not responding to conservative therapies. However, the mechanism by which PNS improves headaches or predicts who will benefit from PNS remains uncertain. The decision to use PNS should be individualized based on patient suffering and disability. Hence, further work is imperative. Here, we discuss the mechanism, indication, efficacy, implant technique, and complications of PNS.     

Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: a novel analgesic therapy for diabetic neuropathic pain

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) in the management of patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 50 adult patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathic pain of >6 months duration involving the lower extremities were randomly assigned to receive active PENS (needles with electrical stimulation at an alternating frequency of 15 and 30 Hz) and sham (needles only) treatments for 3 weeks. Each series of treatments was administered for 30 min three times a week according to a standardized protocol. After a 1-week washout period, all patients were subsequently switched to the other modality. A 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain, physical activity, and quality of sleep before each session. The changes in VAS scores and daily requirements for oral analgesic medication were determined during each 3-week treatment period. Patients completed the MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) before and after completion of each treatment modality. At the end of the crossover study, a patient preference questionnaire was used to compare the effectiveness of the two modalities. RESULTS: Compared with the pain VAS scores before active (6.2 +/- 1.0) and sham (6.4 +/- 0.9) treatments, pain scores after treatment were reduced to 2.5 +/- 0.8 and 6.3 +/- 1.1, respectively. With active PENS treatment, the VAS activity and sleep scores were significantly improved from 5.2 +/- 1.0 and 5.8 +/- 1.3 to 7.9 +/- 1.0 and 8.3 +/- 0.7, respectively. The VAS scores for pain, activity, and sleep were unchanged from baseline values after the sham treatments. Patients' daily oral nonopioid analgesic requirements decreased by 49 and 14% after active and sham PENS treatments, respectively. The post-treatment physical and mental components of the SF-36, the BDI, and the POMS all showed a significantly greater improvement with active versus sham treatments. Active PENS treatment improved the neuropathic pain symptoms in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: PENS is a useful nonpharmacological therapeutic modality for treating diabetic neuropathic pain. In addition to decreasing extremity pain, PENS therapy improved physical activity, sense of well-being, and quality of sleep while reducing the need for oral nonopioid analgesic medication.     

Phase 1/2 Open-label Dose-escalation Study of Plasmid DNA Expressing Two Isoforms of Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Patients With Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of intramuscular injections of plasmid DNA (VM202) expressing two isoforms of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in subjects with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN). Twelve patients in three cohorts (4, 8, and 16 mg) received two sets of VM202 injections separated by two weeks. Safety and tolerability were evaluated and the visual analog scale (VAS), the short form McGill questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the brief pain inventory for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (BPI-DPN) measured pain level throughout 12 months after treatment. No serious adverse events (AEs) were observed. The mean VAS was reduced from baseline by 47.2% (P = 0.002) at 6 months and by 44.1% (P = 0.005) at 12 months after treatment. The VAS scores for the 4, 8, and 16 mg dose cohorts at 6 months follow-up decreased in a dose–responsive manner, by 21% (P = 0.971), 53% (P = 0.014), and 62% (P = 0.001), respectively. The results with the BPI-DPN and SF-MPQ showed patterns similar to the VAS scores. In conclusion, VM202 treatment appeared to be safe, well tolerated, and sufficient to provide long term symptomatic relief and improvement in the quality of life in patients with PDPN.     

18. Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy

In the industrialized world, polyneuropathy induced by diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent forms of neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy can result from a direct toxic effect of glucose on nerve cells. Additionally, the damage of the nerve structures (central and peripheral) is accompanied by a microvascular dysfunction, which damages the vasa nervorum. More than 80% of the patients with DM‐induced polyneuropathy have a distal and symmetric presentation. The initial symptoms are: signs of diminished sensation, burning feet, which may occur particularly during the night and worsen when touched, and tingling sensation in the feet. Attacks of shooting pain may also occur. Proper control of DM is mandatory. Based on the recently published National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy should start with duloxetine or amitriptyline if duloxetine is contraindicated. If pain relief is inadequate, monotherapy with amitriptyline or pregabalin, or combination therapy with amitriptyline and pregabalin should be considered. If pain relief is still insufficient, tramadol instead of or in combination with a second‐line agent should be considered. In patients who are unable to take oral medication, topical lidocaine can be considered for localized pain. There are currently four studies showing that spinal cord stimulation can potentially provide pain alleviation for the longer term in patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy. Complications are mainly implant related, though infections also occur. The available evidence (2 C+) justifies spinal cord stimulation to be considered, preferably study related.     

CT引导内脏与腹腔神经丛阻滞治疗上腹癌痛的比较

目的：观察CT引导下内脏与腹腔神经丛毁损性阻滞对上腹癌痛的镇痛效果比较。方法：48例顽固性上腹部癌症重度疼痛患者，随机分两组，在CT引导下分别行腹腔神经丛（Ｆ组）或内脏神经丛（Ｎ组）无水乙醇毁损阻滞治疗。观察两组镇痛效果、疼痛缓解程度及不良反应。结果：治疗后即刻全部患者疼痛减轻或消失。在治疗后第3、7、15、30、60、90天，患者的疼痛评分、疼痛程度均明显改善，两组间无显著差异，治疗过程中和治疗后未发生严重并发症。结论：内脏神经丛阻滞可取得与腹腔神经丛阻滞一致的效应，操作方便、疗效确切、安全性高，可供临床选择。     

循证护理、自我效能在糖尿病痛性神经病变中的联合应用

目的 探讨循证护理、自我效能在糖尿病痛性神经病变患者护理中联合应用的效果.方法 将84例糖尿病痛性神经病变患者随机分为两组.护理干预组应用循证护理的理论,针对研究对象的具体情况,提出循证问题,寻求最佳护理行为并实施干预,同时联合自我效能,为期1个月;对照组进行常规护理.结果 护理干预后干预组疼痛分值有明显下降,各项自我效能分值和护理满意度明显升高,同对照组比较有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论 通过循证护理和自我效能的联合干预,能有效缓解糖尿病痛性神经病变患者的疼痛症状,减轻患者的痛苦,提高护理满意度.     

Density of sympathetic axons in sural nerve biopsies of neuropathy patients is related to painfulness

In this study, differences of unmyelinated nerve fiber density in sural nerve biopsy material from patients suffering from neuropathies of unknown origin with (n=14) or without pain (n=13) were analyzed. Immunocytochemistry was applied to differentiate afferent sensory and efferent sympathetic nerve fibers. All patients were evaluated for deficits of small fiber function with thermotesting, quantitative sudomotor-axon reflex-testing and testing of painfulness of mechanical stimuli before performing the biopsy. No difference was found between patients with and without pain concerning clinical deficits or results in any of the neurophysiological examinations. There were also no histopathological differences concerning the density of afferent C-fibers. However, absolute and relative density of efferent sympathetic nerve fibers was significantly higher in patients with painful neuropathy (P<0.001), although none of the patients demonstrated clinical sympathetic abnormalities. We conclude that an imbalance between afferent and sympathetic nerve fiber density in the periphery may contribute to neuropathic pain even in those patients without obvious clinical autonomic disturbances.     

Effect of local anesthesia on atypical odontalgia--a randomized controlled trial

The aim of the study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of lidocaine in a double-blind, controlled multi-center study on patients with atypical odontalgia (AO)--a possible orofacial neuropathic pain condition. Thirty-five consecutive AO patients (range 31-81 years) with a mean pain duration of 7.2 years (range 1-30 years) were recruited from four different orofacial pain clinics in Sweden. In a randomized cross-over design, 1.5 ml local anesthesia (20mg/ml lidocaine and 12.5 microg/ml adrenaline) or 1.5 ml saline (9 mg/ml NaCl solution) (placebo) was injected to block the painful area. The VAS pain scores showed an overall effect of time (ANOVA: P<0.001) and treatment (ANOVA: P=0.018) with a significant interaction between the factors (ANOVA: P<0.001). Overall, VAS pain relief was significantly greater at 15-120 min following the lidocaine injections compared to the placebo injections (Tukey: P<0.05). All patients demonstrated significant disturbances in somatosensory function on the painful side compared to the non-painful side as revealed by quantitative sensory tests, however, only one significant inverse correlation was found between percentage pain relief and the magnitude of brush-evoked allodynia (Spearman: P<0.01). In conclusion, AO patients experienced significant, but not complete, pain relief from administration of local anesthetics compared with placebo. The findings indicate that the spontaneous pain in AO patients only to some extent is dependent on peripheral afferent inputs and that sensitization of higher order neurons may be involved in the pathophysiology of AO.     

The level of small nerve fiber dysfunction does not predict pain in diabetic Neuropathy: a study using quantitative sensory testing

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether small nerve fiber dysfunction predicts pain in diabetic neuropathy using quantitative sensory testing of thermal thresholds. METHODS: Diabetic patients with or without painful neuropathy (n=191) were studied. Small nerve fiber function was assessed by quantitative sensory testing of cold detection and heat pain thresholds. Subjects were also categorized as being hyperalgesic (<10th percentile) or hyposensitive (>90th percentile) by comparing with normative data. Vibration perception threshold, a large nerve fiber function, was measured using a biothesiometer (Bio-medical Instrument, Newbury, OH). RESULTS: In the patients with pain, cold stimulus was detected after a greater reduction in temperature from baseline (-3.7 degrees C vs. -0.6 in the no-pain group, P<0.0001). There were no differences between the pain and painless groups in the heat pain tests, with hyperalgesia noted in about 60% of subjects. Vibration perception threshold and loss of ankle reflexes were significant determinants of pain, but together they accounted for only 6.8% of the variance. If these were removed from the model, cold detection threshold became a significant determinant of pain but accounted for only 3.0% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative sensory testing of small nerve fiber function is a useful test to detect the presence of neuropathy, and overall diabetic patients with neuropathic pain have more sensory loss. However, small nerve fiber abnormalities detected by quantitative sensory testing do not predict the presence of pain in diabetic neuropathy.     

A randomized controlled trial of radiofrequency denervation of the ramus communicans nerve for chronic discogenic low back pain

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation of the ramus communicans nerve in patients suffering from chronic discogenic low back pain. METHODS: Forty-nine patients who suffered chronic discogenic low back pain at only 1 painful vertebral level, and whose pain continued after undergoing intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty (IDET), were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. The lesion group (n = 26) received RF thermocoagulation of the ramus communicans nerve. Patients in the control group (n = 23) received an injection of lidocaine without radiofrequency. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, analgesic requirements, SF-36 subscales, and the overall patient satisfaction with the procedure were tabulated. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 4 months. The patient-reported VAS pain scores were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the lesion group. The scores of the RF lesion group improved by a mean increase of 11.3 points (P < 0.05) on the SF-36 bodily pain subscale, and by a mean increase of 12.4 points on the physical function subscale (P < 0.05). In a follow-up analysis within the RF lesion group, VAS pain scores improved by a mean reduction of 3.32 (P = 0.001). The scores improved by a mean increase of 14.5 points (P = 0.005) on the SF-36 bodily pain subscale and 15.2 points(P = 0.002) on the physical function subscale within the RF lesion group. One patient in the lesion group complained of mild lower limb weakness, but he completely recovered at postoperative 15 days without any serious problems. DISCUSSION: In patients with chronic discogenic low back pain, percutaneous RF denervation of the ramus communicans nerve should be considered as a treatment option.     

汶川地震后什邡市周围神经损伤患者调查分析

目的:筛查2008年汶川地震后9个月什邡市6个重灾镇的周围神经损伤患者,并调查这些患者接受康复指导与治疗的情况。方法:调查的什邡市六个重灾镇包括蓥华、红白、师古、八角、湔底和洛水。采用三级筛查方法:第一级,村医将所有在地震中受伤患者的名字列表;第二级,镇医对所有受伤的患者进行体格检查,挑选出可疑周围神经损伤的患者;第三级,来自北京大学第一医院的专家对经过两次筛查的患者进行再次体格检查,初步确定周围神经损伤的人群并定位损伤的神经。在进行第三级筛查的同时,对筛查的对象进行康复医疗状况的问卷调查。最后,对三级筛查出的可疑周围神经损伤的患者进行肌电图检查,确定肌电图表现出周围神经损伤的患者。结果:共有372例进入了第三级筛查。经过三级筛查后,140例存在疑似周围神经损伤,其中,31例(22%)存在疑似运动神经损伤,26例(19%)存在疑似感觉神经损伤,83例(59%)存在疑似混合神经损伤。对于所有疑似周围神经损伤的患者,仅42例(30%)接受过康复指导或治疗。105例进行了肌电图检查,48例存在周围神经损伤的异常肌电图表现。另外,进入第三级筛查的患者中123例存在疼痛,16例日常生活活动能力Barthel指数评测低于正常。结论:地震后9个月仍有许多存在周围神经损伤或疼痛或日常生活活动能力受限的患者,但是大多数人没有接受过康复指导或治疗。在重大灾难的救援中,需要关注潜在的周围神经损伤问题,并且及时给予康复治疗。