Chemical Neurolysis Research Articles

MRI-guided neurolysis for the treatment of chronic refractory knee pain: a case report.

Chronic refractory pain poses a significant challenge in knee joint pathologies, especially after exhaustion of conservative, arthroscopic, and endoprosthetic therapy options. This case report illustrates an innovative approach using MRI-assisted chemical neurolysis of a genicular nerve to manage persistent knee pain after arthroscopy. A 62-year-old male patient with chronic refractory knee pain, primarily localized at the inferomedial part of the knee, underwent high-resolution MRI to visualize the genicular nerves. This allowed for targeted ethanol-based neurolysis of the inferomedial genicular nerve. Following the procedure, the patient experienced substantial pain reduction for the follow-up duration of 4months. The successful use of MRI-assisted chemical neurolysis offers a promising alternative treatment for patients with refractory knee pain, providing long-lasting pain relief without major side effects. This technique has the potential to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from chronic knee pain While these initial results are encouraging, it is important to note that further research, including both short-term and long-term studies, as well as randomized controlled trials, is warranted to establish the efficacy and safety of this treatment method in broader populations before it can be considered for routine incorporation into pain management practices.

Chemical neurolysis of genicular nerves for chronic non-cancer knee pain: A scoping review.

Chemical neurolysis of the genicular nerves is a treatment option for intractable non-cancer knee pain. This scoping review synthesizes the available literature on the effectiveness, adverse effects and procedural techniques of chemical neurolysis of genicular nerves for the management of knee pain. Scoping review. All clinical and research settings. Adult participants with chronic non-cancer knee pain undergoing chemical neurolysis of genicular nerves. A literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library was conducted up to 4 September 2023. Articles were searched via terms and keywords relating to "knee", "pain", "knee osteoarthritis", "ablation", "alcohol", "phenol" and "chemical neurolysis". Included articles were full text primary studies and in English. Data was extracted using an electronic database by 2 independent reviewers. There were 8 studies included in this review (including 1 randomized controlled trial), comprising 192 patients. There were 4 studies that used phenol, 3 studies that used alcohol, and 1 study that used either alcohol or phenol for chemical neurolysis. Both fluoroscopy and/or ultrasound guidance were utilized for nerve target identification. All studies demonstrated that chemical neurolysis resulted in improved pain and/or functional outcomes, with no serious adverse events reported. Chemical neurolysis of the genicular nerves is a promising treatment strategy for chronic knee pain. Interpretation of the available studies are limited by study heterogeneity and small sample sizes. High-quality randomized controlled trials are required to clarify the selection of appropriate nerve targets, choice of image guidance, and to compare with other ablative modalities.

Localizing motor entry points of adductor muscles of thigh for motor point procedures in the treatment of adductor spasticity.

Spasticity which is focal or segmental such as affecting a single muscle group or limb can be treated by chemical neurolysis or surgical denervation at the neurovascular hilus. This study determines the motor entry points (MEPs) of adductor muscles of the thigh in the adult Indian population and identifies precise anatomical landmarks for the successful performance motor point procedures for the relief of muscle spasticity. A total of 10 adult lower limbs were dissected, and nerve branches to adductor muscles were carefully exposed up to their MEP. The morphometry of adductor muscles, precise locations of proximal and distal MEPs, and ideal sites for motor point procedures were identified. The median number of MEPs in adductor longus was two. Most of them were located between 40% and 50% of the muscle length i.e., in the third-fifth of the total muscle length. Adductor magnus and gracilis had a median number of one and six MEPs respectively. The ideal site of motor point procedures is in the second-fifth of the muscle length for both. This preliminary study describes the location of MEPs and ideal sites of motor point procedures in the adductor muscle of the thigh. However, further cadaveric and electromyographic studies with larger samples are necessary to investigate precise locations of MEPs aiding in the treatment of spasticity.

Chemical neurolysis for the conservative treatment of hip fractures.

Aim: Hip fracture management is challenging when surgical risks outweigh benefits. Inadequate analgesia from conservative treatments prompted new procedures targeting hip capsule denervation. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of single injection chemical hip neurolysis in the pericapsular nerve group plane.Materials & methods: In eligible patients, an ultrasound-guided diagnostic block was performed using 5ml of 2% lidocaine in the pericapsular nerve group plane. If positive, 6ml of 99.9% alcohol was administered.Results: From May 2022 to May 2023, five patients underwent hip neurolysis. None reported pain at day 5 or during follow-up. There were no adverse effects.Conclusion: Chemical neurolysis seems to provide effective and safe conservative treatment for hip fractures, offering reliable analgesia for nonsurgical candidates.

Buerger's Disease of Hand; my Experience with Phenol Chemical Neurolysis of Stellate Ganglion: Case Series of Six Patients.

Buerger's disease is common in 74.70% of cases in the lower limb but in 20.20% of cases, it is found in the upper limb or hand. The disease usually starts from pain in the finger/thumb or hand and then to more centrally.Patients presented with pain in the hand with gangrene of fingers. Pain aggravated on lifting hand above the shoulder level or above heart level in upright or lying in the bed, respectively. In almost all patients, there was a history of smoking except one and all patients had involvement of digits of the right or left hand. Diagnosis of Buerger's disease was made based on the history of smoking, weak or absent pulse, lack of bleeding, swelling, edema, blackening, stony hard fingers or thumb on clinical examination, and color Doppler study of the limb.In all patients, Stellate ganglion chemical neurolysis with 8% phenol was done at C7-T1 under fluoroscopic and radiocontrast dye (Iohexol 300) guidance.After successful neurolysis patients got excellent pain relief, their wounds started healing, the vascularity of the diseased part increased and the disease stopped progressing. Stellate ganglion chemical neurolysis with phenol in Peripheral vascular disease or Buerger's disease of hand is an effective method to stop the disease procession, promoting wound healing, controlling ischemic pain, and avoiding surgical amputation.

Phenolysis for Advanced Shoulder Osteoarthritis: A Case Series of a Novel Ultrasound-Guided Approach to Anterior and Posterior Glenohumeral Articular Nerve Branches.

The shoulder is one of the joints most affected by osteoarthritis, with a prevalence of almost 20% in adults over 65 years of age. Various treatments have been proposed to control osteoarthritis pain, including radiofrequency, pulsed and thermal, and recently cryoanalgesia. We propose in this series of cases a new approach to analgesic therapy with chemical denervation with phenol. Patients who underwent phenolysis for shoulder osteoarthritis at our institutions in Italy and Australia between August 2022 and May 2023 were included. All patients included in our report provided written consent for publication. This chemical neurolysis technique consisted of two injections. First, the anterior shoulder capsule was denervated by a modified deep SHAC (Shoulder Anterior Capsule) approach to cover the anterior terminal articular branches of the axillary nerve, lateral pectoral nerve, and subscapularis nerve. Second, the posterior shoulder capsule was denervated by a posterior glenoid approach to cover the terminal articular branches of the suprascapular nerve (SSN). Results: We included a total of 11 patients in this case series. Ten of 11 patients were affected by shoulder osteoarthritis, of which three had rotator cuff tendinopathy and three had full-thickness cuff tears. One patient had chronic subluxation of a shoulder prosthesis. After treatment, all patients significantly reduced pain immediately after treatment and, two weeks later, recovered joint movement and improved quality of life. No adverse events or loss of motor function following treatment. We presented a novel chemical approach to shoulder denervation, which was shown to be another effective way of improving pain and function in advanced glenohumeral arthritis.

Selective Tibial Neurotomy for Spastic Equinovarus Foot: Operative Technique.

Spastic equinovarus foot (SEF) is a common complication of stroke and other upper motor neuron injuries. It is characterized by a plantigrade and inverted foot, often with toe curling, causing significant disability from pain, gait, and balance difficulties. Management includes physical therapy, antispasticity drugs, orthoses, chemical neurolysis, or botulinum toxin, all of which may be insufficient, sedating, or transient. Selective tibial neurotomy (STN) provides a surgical option that is effective and long-lasting. Our goal is to provide a concise description of our technique for performing the STN for treatment of SEF. We discuss the standard posterior approach with surgical variations used by other groups and a medial approach, should the posterior approach be insufficient. A posterior leg approach allows access to the tibial nerve and its branches to the bilateral gastrocnemius muscles, soleus, posterior tibialis, and extrinsic toe flexors. A medial approach is used if the toe flexors cannot be accessed sufficiently from the posterior approach. Nerve branch targets identified by preoperative functional assessment are carefully exposed and fully neurolysed distally to identify all terminal branches to each muscle of interest before neurotomy. The STN is a powerful tool for treating SEF, with an immediate and lasting effect. Approximately 80% of the target muscle should be denervated to ensure long-term efficacy while maintaining adequate function of the muscle through collateral innervation. The STN is a safe and effective outpatient procedure that can be performed by an experienced nerve surgeon to improve balance and ambulation and reduce pain for patients with SEF. Large clinical trials are necessary to further establish this underutilized procedure in the United States.

Refractory cancer pain therapy with intrathecal neurolytic technique—a retrospective tertiary care cancer centre experience

Background: The objective of this study is to observe the efficacy of refractory cancer pain therapy with an intrathecal neurolytic technique. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who received an intrathecal neurolytic technique between December 2016 and June 2020 at the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine of Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center. The data of the patients were retrieved from hospital information system (HIS). Patients were included who had numerical rating score (NRS) ≥8, after monopharmacy or polypharmacy including opioids/neuropathic drugs. Follow-up was conducted by the pain consultant and pain resident post-procedure at 1 week and 4 weeks. Data were documented on a spreadsheet in Microsoft XL and analysed on SPSS version 20. Results: Among 23 patients, numerical rating scale pain score pre-procedure was 8.91 (1.24). It was 3.83 (3.20) and 4.82 (3.41) at 1 and 4 weeks follow-up, respectively. Oral medications were reduced to half of their pre-procedure consumption in 57% of the patients and totally stopped in 30% (n=7) of patients. Complications were reported in 17.4% patients. Hypotension in 13%, and bowel incontinence and leg numbness in 4.3% patients were recorded. Conclusion: This study showed that with appropriate patient selection, understanding of pathophysiology of pain, choice of correct treatment can result in higher success rate. Intrathecal chemical neurolysis can be offered to a subset of patients who have not benefited from other pharmacological therapies.

Treatment of anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome using an ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane block

Introduction: Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is increasingly being considered to be a common cause of abdominal pain. Unfortunately, ACNES is a condition that is frequently overlooked and misdiagnosed resulting in chronic abdominal wall pain, unnecessary investigations, procedures, and repeat admissions. Patients diagnosed with ACNES present with well-localized abdominal pain, a positive Carnett’s sign, somatosensory disturbance of the surrounding skin and symptomatic relief secondary to a trigger point injection. Current treatment strategies include modification of physical activity, simple analgesia, trigger point injections, chemical neurolysis, pulsed radiofrequency, and anterior neurectomy. Despite the plethora of treatment modalities, it is evident that a majority of patients will only experience temporary pain relief. Case Series: We describe two cases in which ultrasound-guided transverse abdominal plane blocks have successfully provided long-term symptomatic relief in patients diagnosed with ACNES. The first being a 45-year-old female and the second is a 52-year-old male who both presented with ACNES which were successfully treated with an ultrasound-guided transverse abdominal plane (TAP) block with 20 mL of 0.25% Marcaine and 4 mg of Dexamethasone. Conclusion: We provide evidence supporting the use of an ultrasound-guided TAP block for long-term symptomatic relief in patients with ACNES. However, further research is required to assess its efficacy.

Peregrine system infusion catheter for neurolytic renal denervation in hypertension: an overview of its safety and efficacy

ABSTRACT Introduction Resistant hypertension (HTN), despite the tremendous advances in pharmacotherapy, is a major global problem. Transcatheter renal denervation (RDN) could be a pertinent strategy for resistant HTN and patients with poor pharmacotherapy adherence. Nonetheless, the adoption of energy-based RDN in clinical practice is slow and alternative approaches are needed. Areas covered The review focuses on the assessment of the Peregrine System Infusion Catheters. The system is designed for chemically mediated transcatheter RDN by the infusion publications on the Peregrine system. The theoretical assumptions for chemically mediated RDN, design of the system, data from preclinical and clinical studies, and further perspectives are discussed. Expert opinion Peregrine System Infusion Catheters are the only catheter on the market designed for chemically mediated RDN by the infusion of the neurolytic agent. Chemical neurolysis more efficiently destroys nerves around the renal artery in comparison to energy-based catheters, due to deeper tissue penetration and circumferential distribution resulting in a wider range of effective nerve injury. Chemically mediated RDN by the infusion of the neurolytic agent (alcohol) has an excellent safety profile as confirmed in initial clinical trials which also suggested high efficacy. Currently, there is an ongoing phase III sham–control study. Other possible applications of this technology include clinical settings like heart failure or atrial fibrillation.

A Case of Refractory Intractable Bladder Pain Syndrome Treated with Superior Hypogastric Nerve Chemical Neurolysis

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a severely debilitating condition. BPS is a symptom complex affecting the urinary bladder, which is characterized by pelvic pain, urinary urgency, frequency, and nocturia. In this case report, we have presented a patient with BPS who was not responsive to conventional treatment and was managed successfully by diagnostic superior hypogastric plexus block followed by alcohol neurolysis.

Letter: Neurolysis Versus Nerve Release: Is It Time for a Change in Terminology?

To the Editor: The decompression of nerves is a primary tenant of nerve surgery and represents the most common technique for improving nerve function in the setting of compressive neuropathies. Despite neuronal decompression being the most common technique used by surgeons practicing nerve surgery, the terminology regarding these procedures remains archaic and nonspecific. Specifically, the term neurolysis is a frequently used term for both decompressive procedures and destructive procedures of the nerve. The term neurolysis is derived from the Greek terms “vevpo” meaning neuro and “Λύσις” meaning loosening, breaking down, or decompensation.1 Within medicine, the term neurolysis is frequently used to describe both destructive procedures and decompressive procedures making terminology confusing to both trainees and professionals alike. For instance, although neurolysis of the median nerve for carpal tunnel syndrome is a common procedure involving decompression with intentional preservation of the nerve, neurolysis is also used to describe destructive lesioning as in cryotherapy or radiofrequency ablation.1,2 This terminology is rooted in history as well with the first report of chemical neurolysis being described by Luton in 1863 and later in 1904 by Schloesser who was the first to report an alcohol neurolysis for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.3 By the same token, other techniques involving the suffix ‘lysis’ have similar implication. Chemonucleolysis meant chemically dissolving the herniated nucleus pulposus.4 Hemolysis refers to destruction of red blood cells. As our knowledge and technical capabilities continue to evolve, we owe it to ourselves and the future of our field to also evolve our terminology to be accurate, precise, and minimize confusion. Given this, the authors suggest that nerve release or decompression be the preferred term and neurolysis be reserved for referencing destructive techniques. We believe that this should also be fixed in coding terminology.

Patient and provider radiation exposure during fluoroscopy guided chemical and thermal neurolysis of genicular nerves: A prospective cohort comparison study

PurposeTo evaluate the differences in radiation dosimetry, fluoroscopy time and procedure time between fluoroscopy-guided chemical and thermal genicular neurolysis techniques. MethodsThis single-site, open label observational cohort was done at an urban, tertiary medical center pain clinic. Board certified pain medicine physicians with at least 5 years of experience with genicular neurolysis procedures performed or supervised all interventions. Clinical characteristics and procedural details were collected at each procedure. Patients underwent chemical neurolysis using phenol or cooled radiofrequency neurolysis. Radiation dosimetry was the primary outcome and was compared between the between chemical and radiofrequency neurolysis groups. ResultsThirty-one subjects (15 had chemical and 16 had radiofrequency neurolysis procedures) underwent a total of 43 interventions. Twelve underwent bilateral procedures. Radiation dosimetry per procedure was 1.66 (0.89 to 2.45) Gy-cm2 for chemical and 1.76 (1.08 to 2.28) Gy-cm2 for radiofrequency neurolysis, adjusted mean difference −0.092 (−0.60 to 1.114, P ​= ​0.864) Gy-cm2. Procedure times were shorter for chemical compared to radiofrequency neurolysis procedures, difference 9.2 (95% CI 6.8 to 11.6, P ​< ​0.001) minutes; but no between treatment group differences in fluoroscopy time or interventionalist radiation exposure were observed. Higher BMI and advanced Kellgren-Lawrence grades were associated with increased patient radiation dosimetry. ConclusionsWe found that patient radiation dose, fluoroscopy time, and interventionalist radiation exposure were not different between chemical and radiofrequency neurolysis. Genicular neurolysis was more rapidly performed using chemical as compared to radiofrequency neurolysis. BMI and Kellgren-Lawrence grade, but not procedural factors were associated with greater absorbed radiation doses.

Oral pain in the cancer patient.

Oral pain is a common complaint in patients with cancer. This review aims to summarize the knowledge on the causes and approach to management of oral pain garnered over the past 2 years. A systematic review and meta-analysis included in the review, assessed cannabinoid versus placebo and showed only a small effect on pain, physical function, and sleep quality. Another review showed that chemical neurolysis as an adjunctive therapy, is effective in patients with pain of shorter chronicity and refractory head and neck cancer-related pain. Patients with cancer frequently experience oral pain because of a variety of factors. Factors inherent in the type and location of the malignancy, the modality of cancer treatment, and a holistic approach to management together contribute to their overall pain experience. Basic oral care should be implemented wherever possible, before, during, and after cancer treatment.

Module 2

Spasticity management should be part of a well-coordinated and comprehensive rehabilitation program that is patient-centric and goal-specific. There are a variety of options available for the treatment of spasticity. A usual approach is starting with the least invasive treatment modalities initially and gradually increasing to more complex interventions as this is required. This curriculum considers oral antispasticity drugs in terms of mechanism of action, clinical use, efficacy, and adverse events. It also presents other treatment options, such as chemical neurolysis using phenol and alcohol and chemodenervation using botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A). Therapeutic intramuscular injections of BoNT-A require sound patient selection, accurate muscle selection, and precise localization. The common methods for achieving these are described. The importance of physiotherapy is explained, along with the necessity to combine treatment modalities to address spasticity and the various components of the upper motor neuron syndrome. Recognizing differences in various health-care systems across countries and regions, the authors aim to present various treatment options. While this section of the curriculum highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary effort in managing spasticity, it is understandable that not all treatment options are available uniformly. The challenge to clinicians is to make the most of the management options on hand to optimize outcomes.

Motor-Sparing Neural Ablation with Modified Techniques for Knee Pain: Case Series on Knee Osteoarthritis and Updated Review of the Underlying Anatomy and Available Techniques.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is ubiquitous. However, effective pain managements for patients with grades 3 or 4 KOA for whom conservative treatments are unsuccessful, but for whom surgery is not an option, remain lacking. This case series presented two motor-sparing interventional pain treatment modalities for five such patients. Three of the patients with a mean total WOMAC score of 41 underwent thermal radiofrequency (RF) ablation using a modified motor-sparing approach. One-week and four-week post-RF, the total score dropped to 27 (by 34%) and 19 (dropped 53.7%), respectively. Two other similar patients with a mean total WOMAC score 96 underwent chemical neurolysis using a motor-sparing approach with modified landmarks. The WOMAC score dropped to 58.5 (by 39.1%) and 49 (dropped by 49.0%), one-week and four-week postchemical neurolysis, respectively. A narrative review of the currently available approaches is also provided, with the conclusion that neural ablation using the modified landmarks approach may achieve better pain control and preserve the motor functions for patients with severe KOA for whom conservative treatment was unsuccessful and who are not candidates for surgery.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of peripheral maxillary nerve: Description of new methodology.

Sir, Maxillary nerve is the second most affected branch in trigeminal neuralgia. It is treated with medical drugs like carbamazepine and baclofen. For long-term pain relief, chemical neurolysis and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are commonly undertaken, of which RFA results in longer duration of pain relief, shorter onset and increased safety.[1] Chemical neurolysis of maxillary nerve can also result in serious complications.[2] RFA in chronic facial pain is being increasingly used with promising results.[3] We describe two patients where percutaneous RFA of peripheral maxillary nerve was undertaken without fluoroscopic/computed tomography (CT) guidance. A 60-year-old female, a diagnosed case of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia presented with electric, sharp shooting pain of Numerical rating scale (NRS) score 6/10 in the maxillary area with frequent exacerbations for the last two years. She had inadequate pain relief with oral medications such as carbamazepine, pregabalin, baclofen and tramadol/acetaminophen. For long-term relief, RFA of maxillary nerve via percutaneous approach was planned in the block area of the out-patient department (OPD). Anaesthesia machine, resuscitation equipment, monitor and emergency drugs were available in the OPD block area. After taking consent, intravenous line was secured and monitors (pulse oximetry, non-invasive blood pressure, electrocardiography) were attached. Under aseptic precautions, a 22 G radiofrequency needle (Cosman, 10 cm length, active tip – 1 cm) was inserted via coronoid notch on right side, in supine and neutral head position, after infiltration of local anaesthesia. After hitting lateral pterygoid plate, needle was directed 2–3 mm beyond the pterygoid plate antero-superiorly towards the root of the nose [Figure 1]. To identify maxillary nerve, sensory stimulation (50 Hz, 1 mA) was used to elicit paraesthesia in maxillary area, achieved in first attempt at 0.3 mV. Motor involvement was ruled out by 2 Hz and 2 mA. 1 ml of 1% lignocaine was injected which caused paraesthesia in affected area and was followed by RFA of maxillary neve of 3 cycles at 65° for 60 s followed by injection dexamethasone 4 mg. This patient became pain-free for the next six months. All medications were reduced and tablet baclofen and tramadol were stopped.Figure 1: Infrazygomatic approach of maxillary nerve block (left); Radiofrequency generator for ablation of nerve (right)The second case was a 66-year-old male patient of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia of one year duration with pain refractory to medical management. Maxillary nerve RFA was performed with similar methodology as above. Sensory stimulation was achieved at 0.4 mV and RFA was performed after excluding motor response. The patient was pain-free for the next eight months and his oral medications were considerably reduced. RFA of peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve (infraorbital, supraorbital, mental and mandibular nerves) was found equally efficacious to RFA of gasserian ganglion through foramen ovale for trigeminal neuralgia; however, RFA of maxillary nerve was not undertaken in the study.[4] In the commonly practised percutaneous infrazygomatic maxillary nerve blockade,[5] a reliable block requires the patient to report paraesthesia by block needle. Electrical stimulation has reported higher sensitivity of nerve identification than paraesthesia[6] which was utilised for RFA of maxillary nerve via CT- guided percutaneous infrazygomatic approach through foramen rotundum.[7] However, this is invasive, has radiation hazards and requires special area. We propose RFA of maxillary nerve via percutaneous infrazygomatic approach and locating it by electrical stimulation. Added advantages are that it has no radiation hazards, is less invasive and it is an OPD block procedure. Declaration of patient consent The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient has given his consent for his images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understands that his name and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.

Lumbar Facet Joint Radiofrequency Denervation Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Enhanced Outcome Compared With Chemical Neurolysis (Ethyl Alcohol 95% or Glycerol 20%).

It was hypothesized that radiofrequency denervation (RFD) of lumbar facet joints is associated with superior pain abolishment and less complications than chemical neurolysis (with ethyl alcohol or glycerol) in patients with chronic facet joint arthropathy. For this prospective cohort study, adult patients with chronic lumbar facet joint arthropathy were prospectively enrolled between 2017 and 2019. The following groups were compared before the intervention and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after the intervention: RFD, chemical neurolysis with ethyl alcohol 95% (EA-95), or glycerol 20% (Gly-20). Outcome parameters included the Core Outcome Measures Index for the back (COMI-back), World Health Organization (WHO) pain ladder level, and visual analog scale (VAS). P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. A total of 95 patients with a mean age of 63.7 years were included. Among them, 30 patients underwent RFD, 30 patients were treated with EA-95, and 35 individuals were treated with Gly-20. After 6 weeks, RFD patients had significantly lower VAS scores compared with the EA-95 group. After 6 months, both VAS and COMI were significantly lower in RFD patients than in the Gly-20 group. Twelve months after intervention, VAS scores were significantly lower in the RFD group compared with the Gly-20 group. This study reveals that RFD is associated with improved pain relief and quality of life compared with chemical neurolysis for facet joint-related chronic lower back pain and should be considered as the treatment of choice in patients with chronic low back pain due to facet joint arthropathy. The current study provides information that may improve clinical decision making in the treatment of chronic lumbar facet joint arthropathy and to appropriately counsel such patients about expected outcomes.

Retrospective Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Superior Hypogastric Plexus Block in Chronic Pelvic Pain

Objective: Chronic pain is a cause that negatively affects the quality of life and functional capacity. As with most chronic pain syndromes, chronic pelvic pain requires a multimodal approach. Hypogastric plexus blockade and neurolysis may be effective in cases that do not respond to conservative treatments. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the effect of hypogastric plexus blockade in patients with chronic pelvic pain. Methods: Forty patients with chronic pelvic pain (duration of pain&gt; 6 months) who underwent hypogastric plexus block under fluoroscopy were evaluated retrospectively. Neurolysis was performed after diagnostic block in 19 patients with chronic pelvic pain associated with pelvic cancer. Results: While the visual analogue scale (VAS) of the patients who underwent superior hypogastric block was 8.8 before the procedure, the VAS scores at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after the procedure were recorded as 3.7, 2.2, and 1.1, respectively (p&lt;0.05). While the mean Oswestry Disabilty Index (ODI) score of the patients before the procedure was 46.0% (severe disability), it was recorded as 3% at the 6th month. The changes in VAS and ODI scores were statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Hypogastric plexus blockade should be considered as an effective treatment option in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain. Keywords: Pelvic pain, nerve block, pain management, chemical neurolysis, fluoroscopy

Celiac plexus chemical neurolysis for refractory pain associated with superior mesenteric artery syndrome

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is caused by the compression of a part of the intestine between the aorta and SMA. It may lead to severe epigastric pain that is even refractory to conservative and surgical forms of therapy. Celiac plexus chemical neurolysis has been used in the past for debilitating pain associated with upper gastrointestinal malignancies and chronic pancreatitis. However, to date, this intervention has never been described in the literature for managing pain in SMA syndrome patients. Here, we describe the case of SMA syndrome whose pain was successfully managed with celiac plexus chemical neurolysis.