Pain

In an ongoing series, Healio Orthopedics highlights new programs and approaches developed by practices to help reduce opioid use in patients. More stories from this Healio Orthopedics series can be found by clicking here.

MAUI, Hawaii — Among patients with osteoarthritis, the use of alternative therapy interventions such as acupuncture or cupping demonstrated mild benefit for pain or function, yet often present with poor evidence of efficacy, according to a presenter at the 2020 Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium.

Older hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors appeared 2.6 times more likely to report severe, nonminor or life-threatening pain than cancer-free siblings, according to results of a prospective study published in Cancer.

With more than 300,000 children with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions across the United States, and fewer than 350 pediatric rheumatologists to treat them, Monica L. Friedman, DO, of Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, is on the front lines of the growing rheumatology shortage.

Adults with pain are at increased risk for adverse cannabis use outcomes, including cannabis use disorder, according to study findings published in American Journal of Psychiatry.

Patients who used tobacco at the time of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty had increased patient-reported pain but no negative functional outcomes, according to published results.

KOLOA, Hawaii — As interest in orthobiologics continues to grow, Matthew T. Provencher, MD, noted in a Facebook Live event hosted at Orthopedics Today Hawaii that orthopedists need to be cognizant of the exact definition of orthobiologics and where it fits within the specialty.

Published research found patients with higher severity pain, depression or physical limitations were more likely to skip hemodialysis sessions, leading to subsequent ED use. However, commonly cited social determinants of health — including health literacy and economic stability — did not appear to have an impact.

Mind-body therapies — including meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis — were associated with improvements in pain and reduced opioid doses, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.