Intraspinal segmental alcohol block for relief of intractable pain: A preliminary report

Abstract

A method is suggested for relieving intractable pain due to cancer or other conditions by a simple procedure which accurately places a minimal amount of alcohol at the posterior root ganglion. There do not appear to be any harmful effects from the procedure. It may be useful also in peripheral vascular diseases of the lower extremity in which pain and vasospasm are factors without harmful complications. 35 In one case of osteoarthritis of the spine in which 1 2 m. of alcohol was used at D-12 and L-1, 2 and 3, there was not only relief of pain but also a hot, dry extremity indicating sympathetic paralysis on this side. The increase in skin temperature was 4 degrees over that of the opposite foot. This sympathetic paralysis persisted for over a month.