• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.312-318
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• 1995

Stellate ganglion block is extensively performed in pain closing to treat a diversity of diseases. Stellate ganglion phenol neurolysis, however, has not been not popular because of risk and complications such as: permanent horner's syndrome, hoarseness, pneumothorax and intravascular or intraspinal injection. But Racz recently performed stellate ganglion phenol neurolysis successfully, under fluoroscopic guide, minus significant complication. Three patients were recently treated at our pain clinic by repeated stellate ganglion block with local anesthetics. Patients showed immediate signs of improvement but prolonged pain relief was not achieved. Therefore we reported to performing stellate ganglion phenol neurolysis following Racz's technique. We successfully treated: two cases of reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the upper extremity, and a case of postherpetic neuralgia of jaw, neck and upper chest wall, by stellate ganglion phenol neurolysis, devoid of any significant complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.164-168
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• 2011

Obturator nerve block has been commonly used for pain management to prevent involuntary reflex of the adductor thigh muscles. One of several options for this block is chemical neurolysis. Neurolysis is done with chemical agents. Chemical agents used in the neurolysis of the obturator nerve have been alcohol, phenol, and botulinum toxin. In the current case, a patient with spasticity of the adductor thigh muscle due to cervical cord injury had obturator nerve neurolysis done with botulinum toxin type B (BoNT-B). Most of the previous studies have used BoNT-A with only a few reports that have used BoNT-B. BoNT-B has several advantages and disadvantages over BoNT-A. Thus, we report herein a patient who successfully received obturator nerve neurolysis using BoNT-B to treat adductor thigh muscle spasm.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.155-159
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• 1998

Epidural neurolysis with phenol has appeared in literature since 1960. Complications due to accidental subdural block is a rare and unexpected sensory and/or motor disturbance, but it does occur. A 74 years old woman had postherpectic neuralgia for 3 weeks and VAS score of 10. She was treated with intercostal nerve block and intravenous infusion of lidocaine for 7 days and VAS score decreased to 6. To proceed further, we decided to perform epidural neurolysis with 4% phenol 1.5 ml. During thoracic epidural catherization, we encountered unexpected subdural catheterization in subdurographic finding, but we could not precisely rule out subdural catheterization. We had to check CT for exact location of catheter tip. We then performed subdural neurolysis with phenol. This procedure reduced VAS score to between 3 and 4, and we removed the catheter. She had no complication.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 1989

Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the diseases which cause most chronic and intractable pain on the facial area. Several drugs includding analgegics, anticonvulsants, tranquilizers, vitamins or hormonal preparations have been expected to be effective but no drug could effectively relieve the patients from the pain. The pain could be relieved by surgical neurectomy or neurolysis of the Gasserian ganglion or the involved branches with absolute alcohol alternatively. Surgical microvascular decompression may be performed if the pain resulted from compression of the nerve by adjucent arterial loops. 4 cases of trigeminal neuralgia are presented. They were treated with alcohol neurolysis of the involved peripheral nerves combined with or without carbamazepine and/or amitriptyline with favorable result of pain relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2019

Radiofrequency neurolysis (RFN) of the genicular nerves has recently become accepted as an effective technique to alleviate knee pain particularly in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) or postoperative pain. However, genicular nerve RFN can produce high procedure and equipment costs, longer procedural times, procedure-related pain, and failure rate of over 25%. We are presenting two cases of alcohol neurolysis of the genicular nerve using fluoroscopy and ultrasonography in patients with knee OA or persistent postsurgical pain of the knee. Alcohol neurolysis of the genicular nerve with dual imaging modality can be a cheap, safe and effective method in patients with chronic knee pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.363-366
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• 2012

Objective : Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a syndrome of pain and/or dysesthesia in the anterolateral thigh that is caused by an entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) at its pelvic exit. Despite early accounts of MP, there is still no consensus concerning the effectiveness of neurolysis or transaction treatments in the long-term relief for medically refractory patients with MP. We retrospectively analyzed available long-term results of LFCN neurolysis for medically refractory MP in an effort to clarify this issue. Methods : During the last 7 years, 11 patients who had neurolysis for MP were enrolled in this study. Nerve entrapment was confirmed preoperatively by electrophysiological studies or a positive response to local anesthetic injection. Decompression of the LFCN was performed at the level of the iliac fascia, inguinal ligament, and fascia of the thigh distally. The outcome of surgery was assessed 8 weeks after the procedure followed at regular intervals if symptoms persisted. Results : Twelve decompression procedures were performed in 11 patients over a 7-year period. The average duration of symptoms was 8.5 months (range, 4-15 months). The average follow-up period was 33 months (range, 12-60 months). Complete and partial symptom improvement were noted in nine (81.8%) and two (18.2%) cases, respectively. No recurrence was reported. Conclusion : Neurolysis of the LFCN can provide adequate pain relief with minimal complications for medically refractory MP. To achieve a good outcome in neurolysis for MP, an accurate diagnosis with careful examination and repeated blocks of the LFCN, along with electrodiagnosis seems to be essential. Possible variation in the course of the LFCN and thorough decompression along the course of the LFCN should be kept in mind in planning decompression surgery for MP.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 2015

The goal of cancer treatment is generally pain reduction and function recovery. However, drug therapy does not treat pain adequately in approximately 43% of patients, and the latter may have to undergo a nerve block or neurolysis. In the case reported here, a 42-year-old female patient with lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) developed paraplegia after receiving T8-10 and $11^{th}$ intercostal nerve neurolysis and T9-10 interlaminar epidural steroid injections. An MRI results revealed extensive swelling of the spinal cord between the T4 spinal cord and conus medullaris, and T5, 7-11, and L1 bone metastasis. Although steroid therapy was administered, the paraplegia did not improve.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.346-368
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• 2021

Background: Recalcitrant disc herniation may result in chronic lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica. Fluoroscopically directed epidural injections and other conservative modalities may provide inadequate improvement in some patients. In these cases, percutaneous neurolysis with targeted delivery of medications is often the next step in pain management. Methods: An evidence-based system of methodologic assessment, namely, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used. Multiple databases were searched from 1966 to January 2021. Principles of the best evidence synthesis were incorporated into qualitative evidence synthesis. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with significant pain relief and functional improvement (≥ 50%). Duration of relief was categorized as short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months). Results: This assessment identified one high-quality randomized controlled trial (RCT) and 5 moderate-quality non-randomized studies with an application of percutaneous neurolysis in disc herniation. Overall, the results were positive, with level II evidence. Conclusions: Based on the present systematic review, with one RCT and 5 non-randomized studies, the evidence level is II for percutaneous neurolysis in managing lumbar disc herniation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2004

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of nerve decompression for restoration of plantar sweating and sensation in diabetic neuropathic feet, and we selected diabetic neuropathic patients with the possibility of overlying entrapmental neuropathy. Materials and Methods: From June 2002 to May 2003, we have investigated and follow-up examed 10 patients with diabetic neuropathic feet, with decreased sensation in their lower limb, who underwent peripheral nerve decompression. The surgical procedure was multiple neurolysis of the common peroneal nerve, posterior tibial nerve and its three branches of one limb. We compared the operated limb with the opposite, unoperated limb. We performed history taking, physical examination, sweat secretion test, touch sensory test using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and electrodiagnostic study, pre-operatively and post-operatively. Results: On 6 months after the operation, the post-operative tests showed that there were noticeable improvements to sensation, statistically (P<0.05), but there was no change in the sweat secretion test. According to the Cseuz criteria, 7 patients out of the 10 patients who received the multiple neurolysis showed excellent or good results. Conclusion: We observed that the peripheral nerve neurolysis could be benefit for improving sensation and alleviating pain of the diabetic neuropathic feet with nerve entrapmental symptoms, but there was no change in the sweat secretion on short-term follow-up. To identify whether the effect will be continued or not, additional follow-up will be required.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.357-362
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• 1995

Percutaneous/intrathecal chemical neurolysis of sacral nerve with 12% phenol was performed on 13 cases of hyperreflexic bladder to augment bladder capacity and to reduce bladder pressure. Urodynamic evaluations were done before and after chemical neurolysis. Mean bladder capacity increased significantly after chemical neurolysis (from 171.4 ml to 375 ml). No significant changes in bowel or injection sites were noted. The result suggests that the chemolysis of sacral nerve was available modality for hyperreflexic bladder patients, who did not respond to anticholinergic medication, before decide the more aggressive alternatives such as augmentation cystoplasty or urinary diversion.