Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis for the Treatment of Pain following Traumatic Rib Fracture: A Randomized, Active-Controlled, Participant- and Observer-Masked Study.

Background: Traumatic rib fractures are associated with pain lasting weeks to months and a decreased ability to inspire deeply or cough to clear secretions. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis involves reversibly ablating peripheral nerve(s) using exceptionally low temperature with a transdermal probe, resulting in a prolonged nerve block with a duration measured in months. We hypothesized that cryoneurolysis would improve analgesia and inspired volume following rib fracture.

A Narrative Review of Ultrasound-Guided and Landmark-based Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain.

Purpose Of Review: Cryoneurolysis refers to the process of reversibly ablating peripheral nerves with extremely cold temperatures to provide analgesia for weeks to months. With ultrasound-guidance or landmark-based techniques, it is an effective modality for managing both acute and chronic pain. In this review, we summarize the reported literature behind its potential applications and efficacy.

Smallest Clinically Meaningful Improvement in Amputation-Related Pain and Brief Pain Inventory Scores as Defined by Patient Reports of Global Improvement After Cryoneurolysis: a Retrospective Analysis of a Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: The smallest meaningful improvement in pain scores (minimal clinically important difference [MCID]) after an analgesic intervention is essential information when both interpreting published data and designing a clinical trial. However, limited information is available for patients with chronic pain conditions, and what is published is derived from studies involving pharmacologic and psychological interventions. We here calculate these values based on data collected from 144 participants of a previously published multicenter clinical trial investigating the effects of a single treatment with percutaneous cryoneurolysis.

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis for Perioperative Analgesia Following Major Lower Extremity Amputation: A Randomized, Participant- and Observer-Masked, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: Extremity amputations are associated with pain in both the residual limb and the phantom limb. This pain, which is often debilitating, may be prevented by excellent perioperative pain control. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis is an analgesic modality offering pain control for weeks or months following surgery.

A Comparison of Precision and Safety using Three Recognized Ultrasound-Guided Approaches to Cervical Medial Branch Blocks: A Cadaver Study.

Background: Ultrasound (US) guidance is widely used for needle positioning for cervical medial branch blocks (CMBB) and radiofrequency ablation, however, limited research is available comparing different approaches.

Objective: We aimed to assess the accuracy and safety of 3 different US-guided approaches for CMBB.

Study Design: A cadaveric study divided into ultrasound-guided needle placement and fluoroscopy evaluation stages.

Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis to Treat Chronic Postamputation Phantom Limb Pain: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postamputation phantom pain is notoriously persistent with few validated treatments. Cryoneurolysis involves the application of low temperatures to reversibly ablate peripheral nerves. The authors tested the hypothesis that a single cryoneurolysis treatment would decrease phantom pain 4 months later.

A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study Using Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis of the Infrapatellar Branch of the Saphenous Nerve for Analgesia Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is frequently associated with severe, prolonged postsurgical pain, and therefore local anesthetic-based peripheral nerve blocks are commonly used for postoperative analgesia. Cryoneurolysis involves the use of freezing temperatures to provide a reversible sensory (and motor) block with a duration measured in weeks and months, more commensurate with the typical period of post-TKA pain. We therefore conducted a randomized controlled pilot study to evaluate the use of this modality for the treatment of pain following TKA to (1) determine the feasibility of and optimize the study protocol for a subsequent definitive clinical trial; and (2) estimate analgesia and opioid reduction within the first 3 postoperative weeks.

Preoperative Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis for the Treatment of Pain after Mastectomy: A Randomized, Participant- and Observer-masked, Sham-controlled Study.

Background: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis is an analgesic technique in which a percutaneous probe is used to reversibly ablate a peripheral nerve(s) using exceptionally low temperature, and has yet to be evaluated with randomized, controlled trials. Pain after mastectomy can be difficult to treat, and the authors hypothesized that the severity of surgically related pain would be lower on postoperative day 2 with the addition of cryoanalgesia compared with patients receiving solely standard-of-care treatment.

Methods: Preoperatively, participants at one enrolling center received a single injection of ropivacaine, 0.

Superior and Middle Cluneal Nerve Entrapment: A Cause of Low Back and Radicular Pain.

Background: The superior and middle cluneal nerves are sources of low back, buttock, and leg pain. These nerves are cutaneous branches of the lateral branches of the dorsal rami of T11- S4. Pain arising from entrapment or dysfunction of one or more of these nerves is called "cluneal nerve syndrome.

Intercostal Cryo Nerve Block in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: The Prospective Randomized FROST Trial.

Introduction: Intercostal cryo nerve block has been shown to enhance pulmonary function recovery and pain management in post-thoracotomy procedures. However, its benefit have never been demonstrated in minimal invasive thoracotomy heart valve surgery (Mini-HVS). The purpose of the study was to determine whether intraoperative intercostal cryo nerve block in conjunction with standard of care (collectively referred to hereafter as CryoNB) provided superior analgesic efficacy in patients undergoing Mini-HVS compared to standard-of-care (SOC).

Peripheral Nerve Entrapments in Cancer Pain.

Peripheral nerve entrapments can occur anywhere in the head and body and can cause significant pain. Cancer pain can be caused by these entrapments, triggered by a variety of etiologies, including tumor invasion, surgical trauma, chemotherapy, or scarring. Knowing the cause of pain can help the physician treat the problem effectively, and will decrease unnecessary and potentially worsening surgeries and high dose opioid therapies, as well as unnecessary pain.

Clinical Implications of Opioid Therapy.

Although opioids are potent central acting broad-spectrum analgesics, their effectiveness is diminished by various factors pertaining to their metabolism, drug interactions, genetic issues, adverse/side effects, and potential for abuse. All these factors present potential barriers to effective analgesia requiring specific considerations in clinical practice, which include monitoring and case-based intervention.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review of Effectiveness and Safety.

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) was the first application of neuromodulation. Widespread application of PNS was limited by technical concerns. Recent advances now allow the percutaneous placement of leads with ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance, while the transcutaneous powering of these leads removes the need for leads to cross major joints.

Insulin Resistance is Associated with Central Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a pathological condition in which cells fail to respond normally to insulin. IR has been associated with multiple conditions, including chronic pain. Fibromyalgia (FM) is one of the common generalized chronic painful conditions with an incidence rate affecting 3% to 6% of the population.

Research design considerations for randomized controlled trials of spinal cord stimulation for pain: Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials/Institute of Neuromodulation/International Neuromodulation Society recommendations.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an interventional nonpharmacologic treatment used for chronic pain and other indications. Methods for evaluating the safety and efficacy of SCS have evolved from uncontrolled and retrospective studies to prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Although randomization overcomes certain types of bias, additional challenges to the validity of RCTs of SCS include blinding, choice of control groups, nonspecific effects of treatment variables (eg, paresthesia, device programming and recharging, psychological support, and rehabilitative techniques), and safety considerations.

Ultrasound practice for chronic pain procedures: A comprehensive review.

Chronic pain management techniques have evolved in recent years. With regard to this, ultrasound (US) technology has become a standard for most acute pain procedures and essential for postsurgical pain relief and enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. This manuscript summarizes clinical studies evaluating US use for chronic pain management and compares efficacy with standard techniques including fluoroscopy (FL).

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous intercostal cryoanalgesia for multiple weeks of analgesia following mastectomy: a case series.

Background: Acute post-mastectomy pain is frequently challenging to adequately treat with local anesthetic-based regional anesthesia techniques due to its relatively long duration measured in multiple weeks.

Case: We report three cases in which preoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous intercostal nerve cryoneurolysis was performed to treat pain following mastectomy. Across all postoperative days and all three patients, the mean pain score on the numeric rating scale was 0 for each day.

New Technique for Cryoneuroablation of the Proximal Greater Occipital Nerve.

Study Design: Description of a new technique.

Objectives: To describe a safe ultrasound (US)-guided cryoneuroablation technique of the proximal greater occipital nerve (GON).

Background: Cryoneuroablation is a treatment option for occipital neuralgia, providing more sustained relief when steroid injections fail.

Nerve Entrapment Headaches at the Temple: Zygomaticotemporal and/or Auriculotemporal Nerve?

Background: Temple headaches are common, yet the anatomic etiology of headaches in this region is often confusing. One possible cause of temple headaches is dysfunction of the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN), a branch of the third division of the trigeminal nerve. However, the site of pain is often anterior to the described path of the ATN, and corresponds more closely to a portion of the path of a small branch of the second division of the trigeminal nerve called the zygomaticotemporal nerve (ZTN).

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis for Postoperative Analgesia After Limb Amputation: A Case Series.

Pain after limb amputation is frequently challenging to adequately treat with local anesthetic-based regional anesthesia techniques due to its relatively long duration. Furthermore, uncontrolled pain in the immediate postoperative period is associated with persistent postsurgical pain, and frequently phantom limb pain. Cryoneurolysis is an alternative regional analgesic method to local anesthesia-based techniques.