Characteristics of Postradical Neck Pain Syndrome: A Report of 25 Cases

Abstract

The postradical neck pain syndrome has been briefly described in the literature, but detailed characterization has not been reported. To further define this syndrome, 25 patients with persistent pain for at least 1 month following neck dissection were evaluated. The sample consisted of 13 men and 12 women with moderate to severe pain ranging from 1 month to 27 years in duration. All patients had at least one type of neuropathic pain: spontaneous, continuous burning pain (81%), shooting pain (69%), and/or allodynia (88%). Neuropathic pain sites were within the distribution of the superficial cervical plexus (SCP). Regional myofascial pain was also common (72%). Seventeen patients agreed to undergo diagnostic local anesthetic injections. Ten of these patients had both neuropathic and somatic (myofascial) pain. Local anesthetic injection of the SCP temporarily eliminated all neuropathic pain in the 17 patients who underwent the procedure. The 10 patients who also had myofascial pain reported temporary relief of their somatic pain following myofascial trigger point injections (TPI). Criteria for the postradical neck pain syndrome are proposed: (1) persistent, nonprogressive neuropathic pain involving one or more branches of the SCP, which may be accompanied by (2) regional nonprogressive somatic pain associated with myofascial pain trigger points in head and neck muscles.