CT-guided stellate ganglion blockade vs. radiofrequency neurolysis in the management of refractory type I complex regional pain syndrome of the upper limb
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
2012, DOI: 10.1007/s00330-012-2704-y
Leonardo da Vinci: Vitruvian Man |
Abstract
Objective
To describe and evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of CT-guided radiofrequency neurolysis (RFN) vs. local blockade of the stellate ganglion in the management of chronic refractory type I complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) of the upper limb.
Methods
Sixty-seven patients were included in this retrospective study between 2000 and 2011. All suffered from chronic upper limb type I CRPS refractory to conventional pain therapies. Thirty-three patients underwent stellate ganglion blockade and 34 benefited from radiofrequency neurolysis of the stellate ganglion. CT guidance was used in both groups. The procedure was considered effective when pain relief was ≥50 %, lasting for at least 2 years.
Results
Thirty-nine women (58.2 %) and 28 men (41.8 %) with a mean age of 49.5 years were included in the study. Univariate analysis performed on the blockade and RFN groups showed a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher success rate in the RFN group (67.6 %, 23/34) compared with the blockade group (21.2 %, 7/33) with an odds ratio of 7.76.
Conclusion
CT-guided radiofrequency neurolysis of the stellate ganglion is a safe and successful treatment of chronic refractory type I CRPS of the upper limb. It appears to be more effective than stellate ganglion blockade.
Key Points
• Complex regional pain syndrome is painful, disabling and often refractory to treatment.
• Sixty-seven percent of patients had lasting pain relief (2 years) after radiofrequency neurolysis.
• Retrospective study showed a significantly higher success rate for radiofrequency neurolysis.
• CT guidance is mandatory for a successful and safe procedure.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
- Radiology Department, University Hospital CHU Gabriel Montpied, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Radiology and Interventional Pain Unit, University Hospital CHU Jean Minjoz, Besancon, France
- I4S Laboratory-EA 4268-IFR 133, Franche Comté University, Besancon, France
- Clinical Investigation Center, University Hospital CHU St Jacques, Besancon, France
- Pain evaluation and Management Unit, University Hospital CHU Jean Minjoz, Besancon, France
- Hôpital Gabriel Montpied, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 58 Rue Montalembert, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
REFERENCES
- Roberts WJ (1986) A hypothesis on the physiological basis for causalgia and related pains. Pain 24:297–311
- Quisel A, Gill JM, Witherell P (2005) Complex regional pain syndrome: which treatments show promise? J Fam Pract 54:599–603
- Cepeda MS, Carr DB, Lau J (2005) Local anesthetic sympathetic blockade for complex regional pain syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4):CD004598
- Yucel I, Demiraran Y, Ozturan K, Degirmenci E (2009) Complex regional pain syndrome type I: efficacy of stellate ganglion blockade. J Orthop Traumatol 10:179–183
- Nascimento MS, Klamt JG, Prado WA (2010) Intravenous regional block is similar to sympathetic ganglion block for pain management in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I. Braz J Med Biol Res 43:1239–1244
- Kastler A, Aubry S, Barbier-Brion B, Jehl J, Kastler B (2012) Radiofrequency neurolysis in the management of inguinal neuralgia: preliminary study. Radiology 262:701–707
- Chua NH, Vissers KC, Sluijter ME (2011) Pulsed radiofrequency treatment in interventional pain management: mechanisms and potential indications-a review. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 153:763–771
- Ellis H, Feldman S (1979) Anatomy for the anaesthtists, 3rd edn. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford
- Hogan QH, Erickson SJ (1992) MR imaging of the stellate ganglion: normal appearance. AJR Am J Roentgenol 158:655–659
- Merskey HBN (1994) Classification of chronic pain. IASP Press
- Collins SL, Moore RA, McQuay HJ (1997) The visual analogue pain intensity scale: what is moderate pain in millimetres? Pain 72:95–97
- Kastler B (2006) Interventional radiology in pain treatment. Springer, Berlin
- Wang JK, Johnson KA, Ilstrup DM (1985) Sympathetic blocks for reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Pain 23:13–17
- Ackerman WE, Zhang JM (2006) Efficacy of stellate ganglion blockade for the management of type 1 complex regional pain syndrome. South Med J 99:1084–1088
- Schurmann M, Gradl G, Wizgal I et al (2001) Clinical and physiologic evaluation of stellate ganglion blockade for complex regional pain syndrome type I. Clin J Pain 17:94–100
- Albazaz R, Wong YT, Homer-Vanniasinkam S (2008) Complex regional pain syndrome: a review. Ann Vasc Surg 22:297–306
- Hogan QH, Abram SE (1997) Neural blockade for diagnosis and prognosis. A review. Anesthesiology 86:216–241
- Higa K, Hirata K, Hirota K, Nitahara K, Shono S (2006) Retropharyngeal hematoma after stellate ganglion block: Analysis of 27 patients reported in the literature. Anesthesiology 105:1238–1245, discussion 1235A–1236A
- Chaturvedi A, Dash H (2010) Locked-in syndrome during stellate ganglion block. Indian J Anaesth 54:324–326
- Carron H, Litwiller R (1975) Stellate ganglion block. Anesth Analg 54:567–570
- Allen G, Samson B (1986) Contralateral Horner’s syndrome following stellate ganglion block. Can Anaesth Soc J 33:112–113
- Abdi S, Zhou Y, Patel N, Saini B, Nelson J (2004) A new and easy technique to block the stellate ganglion. Pain Physician 7:327–331
- Elias M (2000) Cervical sympathetic and stellate ganglion blocks. Pain Physician 3:294–304
- Moore DC, Bridenbaugh LD Jr (1956) The anterior approach to the stellate ganglion use without a serious complication in two thousand blocks. J Am Med Assoc 160:158–162
- Hogan QH, Erickson SJ, Haddox JD, Abram SE (1992) The spread of solutions during stellate ganglion block. Reg Anesth 17:78–83
- Guntamukkala M, Hardy PA (1991) Spread of injectate after stellate ganglion block in man: an anatomical study. Br J Anaesth 66:643–644
- Bogduk N, Macintosh J, Marsland A (1987) Technical limitations to the efficacy of radiofrequency neurotomy for spinal pain. Neurosurgery 20:529–535
- Cosman ER, Rittman WJ, Nashold BS, Makachinas TT (1988) Radiofrequency lesion generation and its effect on tissue impedance. Appl Neurophysiol 51:230–242
- Forouzanfar T, van Kleef M, Weber WE (2000) Radiofrequency lesions of the stellate ganglion in chronic pain syndromes: retrospective analysis of clinical efficacy in 86 patients. Clin J Pain 16:164–168
- Geurts J, Stolker R (1993) Percutaneous radiofrequency lesion of the stellate ganglion in the treatment of pain in upper extremity reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Pain Clin 6:17–25
Articles and abstracts that may also be of interest:
Interventional Therapies, Allen W. Burton, MD
CRPS and Sympathectomy
Paresthesiae During Radiofrequency Neurolysis of Lumbar Sympathetic Trunk in CRPS: Human Evidence of a Sympatho-Sensory Connection?
Management of Lower Limb Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome Type 1: An Evaluation of Percutaneous
Radiofrequency Thermal Lumbar Sympathectomy Versus
Phenol Lumbar Sympathetic Neurolysis—A Pilot Study
Haynsworth RF, Noe CE. Percutaneous lumbar sympathectomy: a comparison of Radiofrequency denervation versus phenol neurolysis.
Evidence-based interventional pain medicine according to clinical diagnoses. 16. Complex regional pain syndrome.
Cervico-thoracic or lumbar sympathectomy for neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome.
Indications and Technique of Thoracic(2) and Thoracic(3 )Neurolysis.
No comments:
Post a Comment
The Haddock Corporation's newest dictate: Anonymous comments are no longer allowed. It is easy enough to register and just takes a moment. We look forward to hearing from you non-bots and non-spammers!