Dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency for the management of intractable vertebral metastatic pain: a case series.

OBJECTIVE

Metastatic bone pain is characteristic of cancer pain and is a form of refractory cancer pain, as the pain includes not only nociceptive but also neuropathic pain. Although some drugs are effective in the management of painful bone metastases, pain while moving is one of the most refractory forms of pain. Although pulsed radiofrequency (RF) dramatically reduces neuropathic pain, chronic pain, and vertebral metastatic pain, the number of cases reported in these studies was very small (five or less).

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Single pain center.

PATIENTS

Fifteen patients suffering from intractable vertebral metastatic pain.

INTERVENTIONS

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) pulsed RF.

OUTCOME MEASURES

A numerical rating scale (NRS) of pain at rest and while moving.

RESULTS

Almost all patients experienced sound pain relief after the pulsed RF treatment. There were no severe side effects reported.

CONCLUSION

DRG pulsed RF procedure provided sound pain relief for patients with intractable vertebral metastatic pain. Metastatic bone pain is characteristic of cancer pain and is a form of refractory cancer pain, as the pain includes not only nociceptive but also neuropathic pain. Although some drugs are effective in the management of painful bone metastases, pain while moving is one of the most refractory forms of pain. DRG pulsed RF procedure provided sound pain relief for patients with intractable vertebral metastatic pain.