Ilknur Albayrak1, Seza Apiliogullari2, Ozkan Onal3, Cengizhan Gungor4, Ali Saltali3, Funda Levendoglu4. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Selcuk University Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: ilknurftr@gmail.com. 2. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Pain Clinic, Selcuk University Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey. 3. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Selcuk University Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey. 4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Selcuk University Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Complex regional pain syndrome is a painful and disabling syndrome where the patient presents with neuropathic pain, edema, or vasomotor or pseudomotor abnormalities that are often refractory to treatment. Complex regional pain syndrome type 1 may occurs in stroke patients. Radiofrequency is a therapeutic modality that has been used for years for diseases associated with neuropathic pain. DESIGN: Case series report. SETTING: Selcuk University Hospital. PATIENTS: A 69-year-old woman and a 48-year-old women who suffered post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome type 1. INTERVENTIONS: Pulsed radiofrequency current application to the cervical dorsal root ganglia. MEASUREMENTS: Pain reduction. MAIN RESULTS: The patients had complete resolution of their symptoms, which was maintained at 10 and 5 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These cases illustrates that pulsed radiofrequency applied to cervical dorsal root ganglia might play a significant role in multi-modal approach of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 management after stroke. Further randomized, controlled studies are needed to support this argument.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Complex regional pain syndrome is a painful and disabling syndrome where the patient presents with neuropathic pain, edema, or vasomotor or pseudomotor abnormalities that are often refractory to treatment. Complex regional pain syndrome type 1 may occurs in strokepatients. Radiofrequency is a therapeutic modality that has been used for years for diseases associated with neuropathic pain. DESIGN: Case series report. SETTING: Selcuk University Hospital. PATIENTS: A 69-year-old woman and a 48-year-old women who suffered post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome type 1. INTERVENTIONS: Pulsed radiofrequency current application to the cervical dorsal root ganglia. MEASUREMENTS: Pain reduction. MAIN RESULTS: The patients had complete resolution of their symptoms, which was maintained at 10 and 5 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These cases illustrates that pulsed radiofrequency applied to cervical dorsal root ganglia might play a significant role in multi-modal approach of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 management after stroke. Further randomized, controlled studies are needed to support this argument.