Pulsed radiofrequency of brachial plexus under ultrasound guidance for refractory stump pain: a case report

Abstract

The post-amputation (pain) syndrome, including stump pain, phantom limb sensation, and phantom limb pain is common but difficult to treat. Refractory stump pain in the syndrome is an extremely challenging and troublesome clinical condition. Patients respond poorly to drugs, nerve blocks, and other effective treatments like spinal cord stimulation and surgery. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) technique has been shown to be effective in reducing neuropathic pain. This report describes a patient with persistent and refractory upper limb stump pain being successfully relieved with PRF of brachial plexus under ultrasound guidance after a 6-month follow-up period, suggesting that PRF may be considered as an alternative treatment for refractory stump-neuroma pain.

Keywords:

• ultrasound guidance
• pulsed radiofrequency
• brachial plexus
• refractory stump pain

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81500956), 1.3.5 project for excellent disciplines of West China Hospital (ZY2016101), and national key clinical specialty construction project of MOH.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.