title: Ultrasound-guided alcohol neurolysis and radiofrequency ablation of painful stump neuroma: effective treatments for post-amputation pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-amputation pain (PAP) is highly prevalent after limb amputation, and stump neuromas play a key role in the generation of the pain. Presently, PAP refractory to medical management is frequently treated with minimally invasive procedures guided by ultrasound, such as alcohol neurolysis and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To record the immediate and long-term efficacy of alcohol neurolysis and RFA. We first used alcohol neurolysis and then, when necessary, we performed RFA on PAP patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain management center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen subjects were treated with ultrasound-guided procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were treated with neurolysis using alcohol solutions guided by ultrasound. Seven (54%) of 13 subjects achieved pain relief after 1-3 alcohol injection treatments. The remaining 6 subjects obtained pain relief after receiving 2 administrations of ultrasound-guided RFA. After a 6-month follow-up evaluation period, pain quantities were also assessed. Both stump pain (including intermittent sharp pain and continuous burning pain) and phantom pain were relieved. The frequency of intermittent sharp pain was decreased, and no complications were noted during the observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of ultrasound guidance for alcohol injection and RFA of painful stump neuromas is a simple, radiation-free, safe, and effective procedure that provides sustained pain relief in PAP patients. In this case series, RFA was found to be an effective alternative to alcohol injection.
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shaofeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yueping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dongping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Du
keywords: alcohol neurolysis; neuroma; post-amputation pain; radiofrequency ablation; ultrasound-guided