The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Ultrasound-guided Pulsed Radiofrequency Lesioning of the Ulnar Nerve in a Patient with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome -A case report-

팔꿉굴증후군 환자에서 초음파를 이용한 척골신경의 박동성고 주파술의 경험 -증례보고-

  • Ghil, Bo-Gyoung (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine) ;
  • Kil, Ho-Yeong (Kil Ho Yeong Pain Clinic)
  • 길보경 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학과) ;
  • 길호영 (길호영통증의학과)
  • Received : 2008.09.16
  • Accepted : 2008.11.05
  • Published : 2008.12.30
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Abstract

Ulnar nerve compression in the cubital tunnel is a common entrapment syndrome of the upper limb. Pulsed radiofrequency lesioning (PRFL) has been reported as a treatment method for relieving neuropathic pain. Since the placement of the electrode in close proximity to a targeted nerve is very important for the success of PRFL, ultrasound seems to be well suited for this technique. A 36-year-old woman presented with complaints of numbness and pain on the medial aspect of the elbow and the pain radiated down to the $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ fingers for 10 years after she suffered an elbow contusion, we then scheduled this woman for the ultrasound guided PRFL of the ulanr nerve. The initial ultrasound examination demonstrated a swollen nerve, loss of the fascicular pattern and an increased cross sectional area of the ulnar nerve. After confirmation of the most swollen site of the nerve via ultrasound, two sessions of PRFL were performed. The postprocedural 10 cm visual analog scale score decreased from 8 to 1 after the two sessions of PRFL.

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References

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