title: Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneously Controlled Ablation of the Thoracic Paravertebral Nerve Due to Thoracic Neuropathic Pain.
abstract: Patients with thoracic neuropathic pain often do not respond to medication and physical therapy. Coblation technology has been demonstrated to have potential for pain management.
  
  
  
  Fifteen patients underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous coblation to ablate the thoracic paravertebral nerve for their medication-resistant thoracic neuropathic pain. The pain intensity was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) 1 day before surgery and 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, and the difference between preoperative and postoperative VAS values was determined to evaluate the pain relief effectiveness. Patients who achieved > 50% pain relief were defined as responders, and the ratio in all patients was calculated. The number of patients who reported mild pain (VAS ≤ 3) was recorded, and the ratio in all responders was calculated. In addition, adverse effects were also recorded to investigate the security of procedure.
  
  
  
  Twelve (80%) responders achieved > 50% pain relief. The VAS score of responders significantly decreased from 7.42 ± 1.38 before surgery to 2.17 ± 1.11 (P = 0.000), 1.92 ± 1.16 (P = 0.000), 1.75 ± 0.97 (P = 0.000), and 1.58 ± 1.08 (P = 0.000) at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, respectively. The number of responders with mild pain was 10 (83.3%), 11 (91.7%), 12 (100%), and 12 (100%) at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, respectively. All responders and 1 nonresponder reported slight numbness after the surgery.
  
  
  
  Percutaneous thoracic paravertebral nerve coblation guided by computed tomography is a potential method for the treatment of thoracic neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li-Qiang
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Yi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5513-7608
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: neuropathic pain; plasma-mediated technology; radiofrequency ablation; spinal computed tomography; thoracic nerves