Where to needle 2022

...in two tricky muscles! Inspired by Yi et al & Lee et al 2022.[1,2] Drawing by MC to illustrate the 3 different sets of fibres making up QL (left) and the just the costotransverse fibres (right).Screenshot from the BMAS Points Resource (QL) with QL fibres and their attachments drawn in over the image. SR – … Continue reading Where to needle 2022

Where to start in LBP

Stimulated by Harwood et al 2022.[1] Photo by Adam Jones on Unsplash. Photo by Olenka Kotyk on Unsplash. LBP – low back painUS – United States of AmericaHCCI – Heath Care Cost InstituteED – emergency departmentEM – emergency medicinekey to acronyms This is very large retrospective observational cohort from the US examining opioid use, other … Continue reading Where to start in LBP

Burkholderia pseudomallei

Inspired by Xiao et al 2022.[1] Cerevisae, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.  DM – diabetes mellitusT6SS – type VI secretion systemT3SS – type III secretion systemCT – computed tomographyTB – tuberculosisMRI – magnetic resonance imagingIV – intravenouskey to acronyms Also known as Pseudomonas pseudomallei, sure enough this Gram-negative, bipolar, aerobic, motile, rod bacterium appears … Continue reading Burkholderia pseudomallei

PID regression 2021

Inspired by Hu et al 2021.[1] Photo by Neonbrand on Unsplash. PID – prolapsed intervertebral discIMHO – in my humble opinionMRI – magnetic resonance imagingkey to acronyms Over the years I have seen many patients with back pain, including those with the source of pain in the back that presents as pain somewhere in the … Continue reading PID regression 2021

Needle retrieval 2021

Inspired by Ikoma et al 2021.[1] Photo by SUNBEAM PHOTOGRAPHY on Unsplash. I have mentioned embedded needle fragments and the surgical retrieval of such fragments several times previously on this blog. But this is the first account of successful image-guided percutaneous retrieval of needle fragments using myocardial biopsy forceps. myocardial biopsy forceps The report includes … Continue reading Needle retrieval 2021

Fatal bilateral pneumothoraces

Inspired by Yamaguchi et al 2021.[1] PMCT – post-mortem computed tomographyEA – electroacupunctureCPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitationCXR – chest x ray filmBMI – body mass indexkey to acronyms Photo by Robina on Unsplash. This case report comes from Tokyo and involves PMCT. The last reported case was from Shanghai, and I highlighted it on this blog in November 2018. … Continue reading Fatal bilateral pneumothoraces

Does acupuncture reduce opioid use?

Stimulated by Pham et al 2021.[1] Photo by Alexandru G Stavrică on Unsplash.Woman in a field of poppies... the original source of opiates – the natural subset of opioids. NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsPT – physical therapyTENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationED – emergency departmentkey to acronyms This is another large retrospective observational cohort trial, … Continue reading Does acupuncture reduce opioid use?

Context effects in LBP

Stimulated by Bishop et al 2021.[1] Photo by Benjamin Wedemeyer on Unsplash. LBP – low back painRCT – randomised controlled trialRMDQ – Rowland Morris Disability QuestionnaireMCID – minimum clinically important differencekey to acronyms I have been interested in context effects since Fabrizio Benedetti described the dramatic difference between open and closed administration of opioids in … Continue reading Context effects in LBP

POCUS for pneumothorax

Stimulated by Weagle et al 2020.[1] Photo by Pavan Krishna on Unsplash. POCUS – point of care ultrasoundPOTUS – president of the United StatesUS – ultrasoundTV – television (the original ones were black and white)key to acronyms Not another case report of pneumothorax I hear you cry, that is not news to the acupuncture community. … Continue reading POCUS for pneumothorax