Diagnostic Biomarkers for Upper Extremity Chronic Pain Conditions

Cyril S Gary; Max E Horowitz; Aviram M Giladi

doi:10.1016/j.jhsg.2022.01.004

Diagnostic Biomarkers for Upper Extremity Chronic Pain Conditions

J Hand Surg Glob Online. 2022 Feb 10;5(1):116-120. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsg.2022.01.004. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Cyril S Gary^{1

2}, Max E Horowitz^{1

3}, Aviram M Giladi¹

Affiliations

¹ The Curtis National Hand Center, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD.
² Department of Plastic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.
³ Tulane University, School of Science and Engineering, New Orleans, LA.

Abstract

Hand surgery patients often experience chronic pain conditions. However, there are few reliable ways to measure pain, making diagnosis and subsequent management of these conditions notably challenging for the hand surgeon. Various diagnostic biomarkers have been actively studied in the chronic pain management field with promising results. This review discusses the development of diagnostic biomarkers for chronic pain conditions of the upper extremity, including complex regional pain syndrome, osteoarthritis, and neuropathic pain. Techniques involving the measurements of heart rate variability, molecular biomarkers including inflammatory and noninflammatory molecules, metabolites, and exosomes, magnetic resonance imagining and electroencephalography, as well as skin biopsy, are discussed. Future potential applications are proposed.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Complex regional pain syndrome; Diagnostic biomarkers; Hand surgery; Heart rate variability; Neuropathic pain; Osteoarthritis; Upper extremity surgery.

Publication types

Review