Korean J Pain.  2006 Dec;19(2):228-232. 10.3344/kjp.2006.19.2.228.

The Sphenopalatine Ganglion Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation on a Patient of CRPS with Facial Pain and Pruritus:A report of 2 cases

• Park SJ
• Moon DE
• Kim WY
• Park JJ
• Cho EJ
• Yang SW

• KMID: 2073935
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2006.19.2.228

Abstract

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1 is characterized by the presence of pain, which is severe, diffuse and associated with allodynia, and is also associated with autonomic and trophic changes. The sensitization phenomena of CRPS also cause allodynia and itching, as well as pain. These symptoms are the issues associated with the treatment of CRPS. Under normal conditions, an antagonistic interaction exists between the pain and itching, but the patterns of peripheral and central sensitization phenomena for the pain and itching are very similar. The chronic pain and chronic itch have similar characteristics in their developmental and therapeutical principles. Herein, our experience of 2 cases of CRPS, which showed improvement of these facial symptoms after sphenopalatine ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation, but were not controlled by spinal cord stimulation or other conservative treatments, is reported.

Keyword

allodynia; CRPS type 1; itch; sphenopalatine ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation

MeSH Terms

Central Nervous System Sensitization
Chronic Pain
Electrocoagulation*
Facial Pain*
Ganglion Cysts*
Humans
Hyperalgesia
Pruritus
Spinal Cord Stimulation