Journal of Pain Research (Dec 2020)

Ultrasonography-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Painful Stump Neuromas to Relieve Postamputation Pain: A Pilot Study

  • Pu S,
  • Wu J,
  • Han Q,
  • Zhang X,
  • Lv Y,
  • Xu Y,
  • Li C,
  • Du D

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 13
pp. 3437 – 3445

Abstract

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Shaofeng Pu,1 Junzhen Wu,1 Qingjian Han,2 Xin Zhang,3 Yingying Lv,1 Yongming Xu,1 Chen Li,1 Dongping Du1 1Department of Pain Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China; 2Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China; 3Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USACorrespondence: Dongping DuDepartment of Pain Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200233, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 21 2405 8896Fax +86 21 2405 8330Email [email protected]: Postamputation pain (PAP) is a serious problem, and thus far, there is no perfect treatment strategy. Clinically, minimally invasive treatments for peripheral neuromas are simple and feasible. This study aimed to investigate the immediate and long-term effects of ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on PAP.Methods: Eighteen PAP subjects with painful peripheral neuromas were treated with ultrasonography-guided RFA.Results: A total of 18 PAP subjects were included in the final analyses. Fourteen of the 17 subjects with residual limb pain (RLP) (82.4%) had successful outcomes. A successful outcome was noted in 9 of the 13 subjects with phantom limb pain (PLP) (69.2%). There were no significant associations between symptom relief and sex, age, or the duration of symptoms. There were no severe complications.Conclusions: Ultrasonography-guided RFA for painful stump neuromas can effectively relieve stump pain and PLP in amputees with PAP (follow-up time was 12 months). Ultrasonography-guided RFA is easy and safe and does not involve radiation exposure, making it very suitable for clinical applications.Keywords: postamputation pain, neuroma, ultrasonography-guided, radiofrequency ablation

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