Pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of the median nerve in a patient with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome: A case report

Park, Il Bong; Kim, Yu Yil; Lee, Jun Hak; Song, Dong Un; Song, Jae Wook

Case Report

Spinal Pain

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2012;7(2):114-116.
Published online May 1, 2012.

Pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of the median nerve in a patient with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome: A case report

Il Bong Park, Yu Yil Kim, Jun Hak Lee, Dong Un Song, Jae Wook Song

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Korea. zion_yuyill@yahoo.co.kr

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome, compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel at the wrist, is the most common entrapment syndrome of peripheral nerve. It is characterized by sensory and motor symptoms and signs in the distribution of the median nerve. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation is a neuroablative treatment for various chronic pain disorders, but is associated with neural injury, neuritis, and occasional neuroma. Unlike RF, pulsed radiofrequency, the use of the high current intensity and electrical fields, has been proposed for the modulation of the excited nervous system pathway of pain without neuro-destruction and other potential complications. We report a case of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome that was relieved after PRF lesioning of both median nerves.

Key Words: Carpal tunnel syndrome, Median nerve, Pulsed radiofrequency