Cryoanalgesia of the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve (AFCN) for the treatment of neuropathy-mediated anterior thigh pain: anatomy and technical description.

摘要: OBJECTIVE To describe and illustrate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anatomy of anterior femoral cutaneous nerve (AFCN) a new technique for cryoanalgesia AFCN long-term analgesic treatment recalcitrant AFCN-mediated neuropathic pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using procedural high-resolution MRI technique, we AFCN. Three patients (mean age, 48 years; range, 41-67 years) with selective block-verified thigh pain were enrolled to undergo Procedures performed under guidance using clinical wide-bore MR systems commercially available cryoablation system MR-conditional probes. Outcome variables included technical success, effectiveness including symptom relief measured on an 11-point visual analog scale, frequency complications, procedure time. RESULTS Procedural allowed successfully demonstrate course AFCN, accurate cryoprobe placement, monitoring ice ball, which resulted in technically successful iceball growth around all cases. All procedures clinically effective, median intensity decreasing from 8 (7-9) before 1 (0-2) after procedure. The effect persisted during 12-month follow-up period three patients. No major complications occurred. average total time was 98 min (range, 85-125 min). CONCLUSION We guidance, permits identification targeting, achieve relief.