Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an informative leaflet provided to patients before a lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) on the level of immediate pain and pre-procedural anxiety.
Methods: A total of 166 patients were randomized into 2 groups: a group that received an explanatory leaflet (LG) and a control group. Both groups were given verbal information, while the LG was also given an illustrated leaflet describing the injection process. All of the patients were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale before the TFESI. The numerical rating scale and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess disability and pain before and after the TFESI. Major complications that occurred before and during the procedure were recorded and analyzed.
Results: The patient characteristics were similar in both groups (age, body mass index, depression level, pre-procedural pain, and ODI). The anxiety level was also similar in both groups (p>0.05). When both groups were evaluated at the first hour after the procedure, the numerical rating scale level of pain intensity was also similar (p>0.05). No major complication was observed in either group.
Conclusion: The detailed leaflet did not affect the patients’ pre-procedural anxiety or acute post-procedural pain level. However, the importance of informed consent and comprehensive information should not be overlooked.

Objectives: Headache is the most common complaint in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and it may sometimes be the only symptom in these patients. This retrospective and prospective study was an investigation of any differences in terms of clinical risk factors, radiological findings, or prognosis in patients with CVST who presented with isolated headache (IH) and cases with other concomitant findings (non-isolated headache [NIH]).
Methods: A total of 1144 patients from a multicenter study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST study) were enrolled in this research. The demographic, biochemical, clinical, and radiological aspects of 287 IH cases and 857 NIH cases were compared.
Results: There were twice as many women as men in the study group. In the IH group, when gender distribution was evaluated by age group, no statistically significant difference was found. The onset of headache was frequently subacute and chronic in the IH group, but an acute onset was more common in the NIH group. Other neurological findings were observed in 29% of the IH group during follow-up. A previous history of deep, cerebral, or other venous thromboembolism was less common in the IH group than in the NIH group. Transverse sinus involvement was greater in the IH group, whereas sagittal sinus involvement was greater in the NIH group. The presence of a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) mutation was significantly greater in the IH group.
Conclusion: IH and CVST should be kept in mind if a patient has subacute or chronic headache. PAI, which has an important role in thrombolytic events, may be a risk factor in CVST. Detailed hematological investigations should be considered. Additional studies are needed.

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the efficiency of local heat and cold application to decrease vaccine-associated pain among infants 2–6 months of age.
Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. The study universe comprised infants aged 2–6 months who were brought to 4 family health centers in the Safranbolu district of Karabuk Province, Turkey, for a pneumococcal vaccination June 1-November 30, 2016. A total of 96 infants (heat application: 31, cold application: 32, and control group: 33) were enrolled in the the study. The data were collected using an infant ınformation form and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) pain scale.
Results: The mean FLACC score of the infants was 5.531±1.934 in the cold application group, 8.710±1.346 in the heat application group, and 9.152±1.661 in the control group. The difference between the mean scores of the groups was statistically significant (KW=49.043; p=0.000).
Conclusion: Local cold and heat application methods applied to the vaccination area before a pneumoccal vaccine reduced vaccine-associated pain in the infants, and the application of cold was more effective than heat.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following hand/wrist injuries.
Methods: The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and details regarding the presence of an occupational accident, the type of hand/wrist injury (bone, tendon, nerve, mixed), the Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) (minor, moderate, severe, major), and the presence of CRPS were obtained from the hospital information system and analyzed.
Results: A total of 311 patient files were included in the study. In all, 23.8% of the patients developed CRPS and 49.2% had mixed-type injuries. There was a relationship between the lesion type and the development of CRPS: a mixed type of injury was most common (p=0.015). Isolated nerve injuries were also associated with the development of CRPS (p=0.001). A significant difference was noted in the MHISS and CRPS occurrence in cases of major injury (p=0.003).
Conclusion: A high MHISS and/or nerve injury in patients with hand/wrist injuries may be a risk factor for the development of CRPS.

Objectives: This study was an analysis of the effect of different dosages of intrathecal meperidine (40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg) on hemodynamic parameters, the duration of neural blockade, and the incidence of meperidine-related side effects in patients who underwent an open prostatectomy.
Methods: Sixty patients who underwent an open prostatectomy with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia were included. The patients were allocated to receive 1 of 4 different dosages of intrathecal meperidine (n=15 for each group): Group I: 40 mg, Group II: 50 mg, Group III: 60 mg, and Group IV: 70 mg. The duration of the block procedure, surgery duration, highest sensory block level, and anesthetic complications were recorded and analyzed.
Results: At 20 minutes after the spinal injection, the maximum sensory block level was T6 in Group I and II, and it was T5 in Group III and IV. The mean motor block scores at 20 minutes after the spinal injection were lower in Group I compared with the other groups (p<0.001 for all). The motor block duration was significantly shorter in Group I and II than in Group III and IV (p<0.001 for all). Surgeon satisfaction was greater in Group II, III, and IV compared with Group I (p<0.001 for all). Patient satisfaction was better in Group III and IV compared with Groups I and II (p<0.001 for all).
Conclusion: Intrathecal meperidine at a dose of 60 mg exerted a sufficient analgesic effect with minimum side effects in patients undergoing open prostatectomy.

Vestibular migraine (VM) is one of the most common causes of episodic vertigo, but it can be missed in patients complaining of dizziness. This report describes the case of a 46-year-old woman with episodic vertigo attacks and a history of migrainous headaches. Some of the vertigo attacks were accompanied by a migraine. Gaze-induced nystagmus was present during attacks, but regressed with medication. Ear, nose, and throat evaluation; laboratory; imaging findings; and hearing test results were normal. Treatment with 500 mg valproic acid led to a rapid response in this case. VM should be considered in neurological examinations on the basis of clinical symptomatology.

Combined peripheral nerve blocks can be used as an alternative anesthetic technique for lower limb amputations in high-risk patients. The approach may vary according to the clinical condition of the patient. Presently described is the use of a combination of peripheral nerve blocks used for above-the-knee amputation in a high-risk patient: a sciatic nerve block with an anterior approach, a femoral nerve block, and a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block.

Trigeminal neuralgia attributed to multiple sclerosis (TNMS) occurs in 2% to 5% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although treatment strategies are similar to those for classic trigeminal neuralgia, TNMS tends to become medically resistant and require polytherapy. Demyelinating lesions in critical regions are the most common etiology. However, therapies used to treat MS may trigger trigeminal neuralgia, as well as other pain disorders, like migraines or daily headaches. Presently reported is the case of a patient with MS who suffered severe trigeminal neuralgia 5 months after switching to teriflunomide, an oral immunomodulator drug approved for relapsing-remitting MS, and a discussion of possible etiological factors for the development of trigeminal neuralgia.

In addition to medical approaches, laser revascularization, transmyocardial laser revascularization, angiogenesis, growth factor gene therapy, thoracic epidural anesthesia, and spinal cord simulation are used to treat chronic refractory angina pectoris. A unilateral left stellate ganglion block is another alternative. It may particularly be considered as a palliative intervention in patients with a short life span. Described here is the case of a 66-year-old male patient for whom a unilateral left stellate ganglion blockade was used to treat chronic refractory angina pectoris.

Dermoscopic examination is a very effective and practical method that significantly reduces the need for invasive diagnostic procedures in many skin diseases. Dermoscopic features of many cutaneous conditions have been well described, however, only one single case report has defined dermoscopic features of notalgia paresthetica so far. The clinical presentation of this entity can mimic many dermatological conditions including lichen simplex chronicus, cutaneous amyloidosis, and tinea versicolor. We tried to identify dermoscopic findings of the notalgia paresthetica, aiming to facilitate the diagnosis.