BACKGROUND: Patients with thoracic neuropathic pain often do not respond to medication and physical therapy. Coblation technology has been demonstrated to have potential for pain management. METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous coblation to ablate the thoracic paravertebral nerve for their medication-resistant thoracic neuropathic pain. The pain intensity was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) 1 day before surgery and 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, and the difference between preoperative and postoperative VAS values was determined to evaluate the pain relief effectiveness. Patients who achieved > 50% pain relief were defined as responders, and the ratio in all patients was calculated. The number of patients who reported mild pain (VAS ≤ 3) was recorded, and the ratio in all responders was calculated. In addition, adverse effects were also recorded to investigate the security of procedure. RESULTS: Twelve (80%) responders achieved > 50% pain relief. The VAS score of responders significantly decreased from 7.42 ± 1.38 before surgery to 2.17 ± 1.11 (P = 0.000), 1.92 ± 1.16 (P = 0.000), 1.75 ± 0.97 (P = 0.000), and 1.58 ± 1.08 (P = 0.000) at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, respectively. The number of responders with mild pain was 10 (83.3%), 11 (91.7%), 12 (100%), and 12 (100%) at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, respectively. All responders and 1 nonresponder reported slight numbness after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous thoracic paravertebral nerve coblation guided by computed tomography is a potential method for the treatment of thoracic neuropathic pain.
BACKGROUND:Patients with thoracic neuropathic pain often do not respond to medication and physical therapy. Coblation technology has been demonstrated to have potential for pain management. METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous coblation to ablate the thoracic paravertebral nerve for their medication-resistant thoracic neuropathic pain. The pain intensity was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) 1 day before surgery and 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, and the difference between preoperative and postoperative VAS values was determined to evaluate the pain relief effectiveness. Patients who achieved > 50% pain relief were defined as responders, and the ratio in all patients was calculated. The number of patients who reported mild pain (VAS ≤ 3) was recorded, and the ratio in all responders was calculated. In addition, adverse effects were also recorded to investigate the security of procedure. RESULTS: Twelve (80%) responders achieved > 50% pain relief. The VAS score of responders significantly decreased from 7.42 ± 1.38 before surgery to 2.17 ± 1.11 (P = 0.000), 1.92 ± 1.16 (P = 0.000), 1.75 ± 0.97 (P = 0.000), and 1.58 ± 1.08 (P = 0.000) at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, respectively. The number of responders with mild pain was 10 (83.3%), 11 (91.7%), 12 (100%), and 12 (100%) at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, respectively. All responders and 1 nonresponder reported slight numbness after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous thoracic paravertebral nerve coblation guided by computed tomography is a potential method for the treatment of thoracic neuropathic pain.