Saturday, February 15, 2014

PubMed Update January 2014

10 papers this month, half of which relate to the United Kingdom. We continue to move forward.

Cropsey KL, Martin S, Clark CB, McCullumsmith CB, Lane PS, Hardy S, Hendricks PS, Redmond N.
J Opioid Manag. 2013 Nov-Dec;9(6):393-400.
Comments: Valuable survey of persons in the corrections system, under community supervision. Nearly half had used opioids and 40% of those had experienced an opioid overdose. Those who had overdosed were more likely to be white, female, and have higher educational attainment; they were also much more likely to have witnessed overdose, have seen someone die of overdose, and want training in overdose prevention and management.

Chaparro LE, Furlan AD, Deshpande A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Atlas S, Turk DC.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014 Jan 29. [Epub ahead of print]
Comments: A review of studies evaluating short term use of opioids for chronic lower back pain. The studies evaluated all have major shortcomings so we’re left with little new information.

Adrish M, Duncalf R, Diaz-Fuentes G, Venkatram S.
Am J Case Rep. 2014 Jan 15;15:22-6
Comments: Being “down” with an overdose for a prolonged period can lead to complications such as rhabdomyolysis and nerve compression. This patient developed compartment syndrome, which is to say high pressure within the fascial compartment of the buttocks, requiring surgical intervention to spare her extremity.