Abstract
Background
Abdominal wall pain (AWP) is an important cause of chronic abdominal pain. History and physical examination are critical to the diagnosis of AWP. Trigger point injection (TPI) using either a steroid or a local anesthetic or a combination of both is often used to treat AWP.
Aim
To determine the efficacy of ultrasound-guided TPI and to determine the predictors of a successful response.
Methods
Patients who received ultrasound-guided TPI between July 2010 and June 2011 were surveyed. The primary outcome was determined using the Treatment Efficacy Questionnaire (TEQ). Electronic medical records were reviewed to determine patient, pain and TPI characteristics. Linear regression was used to determine the predictors of a successful response on the TEQ.
Results
Right upper quadrant was the most common site of AWP, and the median pain duration was 12 months. Pain was rated as >8 (1–10 scale) by 57 % and 30 % described it as an ache. Narcotic use was reported in 38 %, and 73 % had a history of at least one abdominal surgery. Forty-four of the 120 (37 %) patients met the criteria for responder on the TEQ. Compared to before treatment, 36 % reported being “significantly better” and 22 % “slightly better.” Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher somatization negatively predicted response. None of the other historical, examination or TPI characteristics were associated with response to the TPI.
Conclusion
TPI can provide significant, long-term symptom relief in a third of patients with chronic abdominal pain attributed to AWP. Somatization was inversely related to the treatment success.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Lori R. Anderson for her assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Alnahhas, M.F., Oxentenko, S.C., Locke, G.R. et al. Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Trigger Point Injection for Abdominal Wall Pain. Dig Dis Sci 61, 572–577 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-015-3857-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-015-3857-8