title: Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve stimulation for neuropathic pain after brachial plexus injury: two case reports.
abstract: Brachial plexus injury (BPI) often causes severe neuropathic pain that becomes chronic and difficult to treat pharmacologically or surgically. Here, we describe two cases of successful treatment of BPI with peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). Both patients had experienced severe neuropathic pain after incomplete BPI for a long time (32 and 17 years) and did not response to medication, radiofrequency neuroablation, or spinal cord stimulation. After PNS using ultrasound, their pain was relieved by more than 50% over the course of 1 year. Both patients were satisfied with their improved sleep and quality of life. We conclude that PNS could be an alternative therapeutic modality for neuropathic pain after BPI as it provides direct nerve stimulation, has few complications, and is easy to perform.
authors.affiliation: Gotbareun Intervention Pain Management Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Rong
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Choon Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07345, Republic of Korea. mhsjshgma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ho Sik
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9446-7335
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000628:therapy*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
keywords: Brachial plexus injury; Neuropathic pain; Peripheral nerve; Stimulation; Ultrasound