Pulsed radiofrequency to stellate ganglion for brachial plexus injury-induced complex regional pain syndrome: A case series

Ajit Kumar; Baibhav Bhandari; Aditya Mahiswar; Ravi S Sharma; Gaurav Purohit

doi:10.4103/sja.sja_20_23

Pulsed radiofrequency to stellate ganglion for brachial plexus injury-induced complex regional pain syndrome: A case series

Saudi J Anaesth. 2023 Jul-Sep;17(3):423-426. doi: 10.4103/sja.sja_20_23. Epub 2023 Jun 22.

Authors

Ajit Kumar¹, Baibhav Bhandari¹, Aditya Mahiswar¹, Ravi S Sharma¹, Gaurav Purohit¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Anaesthesia, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.

Abstract

Brachial plexus injury (BPI) occurs commonly in young adults following trauma. This may result in the development of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following injury, which is difficult to treat. We present a group of patients with CRPS secondary to BPI. These patients were managed with neuromodulation of the stellate ganglion (SG) with pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and followed up for a period of 3 months to assess for pain relief and a decrease in the intake of medications after the intervention. PRF to SG was found to have significant pain relief lasting around three months.

Keywords: Brachial plexus; causalgia; complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS); hyperalgesia; injury and wounds; neuralgia; stellate ganglion; upper extremity.

Publication types

Case Reports