title: Patient-guided peripheral nerve exploration for the management of chronic localized pain.
abstract: This technique represents a surgical adjunct for the management of chronic, localized pain in patients who continue to have pain despite exhaustive prior evaluation and treatment. The patient-guided approach was used in 10 patients referred with "intractable pain" and yielded good to excellent results in all but one patient. When applied selectively to cases with significantly distorted anatomy or previous failed interventions, this simple technique can minimize dissection and unnecessary resection, while offering relief to a patient population otherwise resigned to a life with chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, V.
authors.affiliation: Chicago, Ill.; and Omaha, Neb. From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Ake N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Nystrom
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dumanian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009463:Neuroma / Q000601:surgery; D010173:Palpation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*