Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Pulsed Radiofrequency as a Treatment for Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome in comparison to Anterior Neurectomy.
Chronic abdominal pain can be due to entrapped intercostal nerves (anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome [ACNES]). If abdominal wall infiltration using an anesthetic agent is unsuccessful, a neurectomy may be considered. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) applies an electric field around the tip of the cannula near the affected nerve to induce pain relief. Only limited retrospective evidence suggests that PRF is effective in ACNES. ⋯ PRF appears to be an effective and minimally invasive treatment option and may therefore be considered in patients who failed conservative treatment options before proceeding to a neurectomy procedure. Anterior neurectomy may possibly lead to a greater pain relief compared with PRF in patients with ACNES, but potential complications associated with surgery should be discussed.