Pulsed radiofrequency lesioning for treatment of chronic breast neuropathic pain after breast reduction

Abstract

Breast surgery is a common procedure performed in women. Many women who undergo breast surgery suffer from ill-defined pain syndromes. A nerve block is used in the treatment of the acute and chronic pain, but the effectiveness of the treatment has been limited because of its short duration. Recently, the advent of pulsed radiofrequency lesioning (PRF) has proved a successful treatment for chronic refractory pain involving the peripheral nerves. We experienced a case of a 52-year-old female patient complaining of chronic breast neuropathic pain after breast reduction, which was relieved after PRF lesioning of the 4th thoracic spinal nerve and its root. Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Anesthesiologists.