Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
Audio Summaries

Impact of continuous serratus plane analgesia on quality of recovery after video-assisted thoracic surgery: a prospective double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Jun 23, 2026

The authors aimed to determine whether continuous serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) infusion, combined with multimodal analgesia, could enhance the quality of recovery (QoR-40) after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Although the SAPB group showed higher QoR-40 scores and reduced opioid consumption compared to the control group, these differences were not statistically significant for the primary outcome. The study concludes that while continuous SAPB may have some benefits, larger trials are needed to confirm its impact on patient-reported recovery.

Novel ultrasound-guided rotator cuff interval injection using the biceps long-axis approach: a cadaveric study

Jun 11, 2026

The authors aimed to describe and validate a novel ultrasound-guided long-axis injection technique for the rotator cuff interval (RCI) to improve intra-articular delivery while minimizing the risk of tendon injury. In a cadaveric study involving six shoulders, the technique demonstrated accurate injectate spread without complications such as intratendinous injection or unintended accumulation. The findings suggest that this approach may enhance visualization and reduce the complexity of the procedure, though further clinical studies are necessary to assess its safety and effectiveness.

Transcriptomic decoding of dynamic brain activity alterations in chronic non-specific low back pain

Jun 10, 2026

This study investigates the dynamic alterations in brain activity associated with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) and their relationship with regional gene expression profiles. Using resting-state functional MRI and a hidden Markov model, the authors identified distinct neural activity patterns in CNLBP patients compared to healthy controls, revealing significant changes in brain dynamics and their correlation with gene expression linked to nociceptive and inflammatory pathways. The findings enhance the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying CNLBP and suggest a connection between altered brain activity and genetic factors.

National patterns and variation in regional anesthesia use for shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle arthroplasty: a National Inpatient Sample analysis

Jun 10, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the patterns and variations in the use of regional anesthesia (RA) for shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle arthroplasties across different patient and hospital characteristics. Their analysis of the National Inpatient Sample revealed that RA was utilized in 7.0% of cases, with significant variations based on procedure type, hospital size, location, teaching status, and geographic region, but limited differences based on patient demographics. These findings indicate a need for further research to understand the underlying factors influencing RA utilization in arthroplasty procedures.