Radiofrequency for Chronic Post-mastectomy Pain: is it Better to Target Intercostal Nerves or Corresponding Dorsal Root Ganglia?

Radiofrequency for Chronic Post-mastectomy Pain: is it Better to Target Intercostal Nerves (T2-T5) or Their Corresponding Dorsal Root Ganglia?

neuropathic pain can occur following any surgical procedure on the breast ..

chronic pain affects the daily lives of post-surgical breast cancer patients. many of these patients were undertreated for pain and generally obtained poor pain relief.treated patients with chronic thoracic segmental pain including patients with post-mastectomy pain syndrome by radiofrequency for dorsal root ganglion reported longterm pain relief.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with chronic post-mastectomy pain for at least 3 months post operatively.
• patients with visual analogue scale for pain score > 4
• patients treated with more than one line of anti-neuropathic drugs.

Exclusion Criteria:

• patient refusal.
• coagulopathy.
• chest and back deformity.
• infection at the introduction site of the needle .