Nemecek, Zdenek; Sturm, Constanze; Rauen, Anna C; Reisig, Florian; Streitberger, Konrad; Harnik, Michael A (2023). Ultrasound-controlled cryoneurolysis for peripheral mononeuropathies: a retrospective cohort study. Pain management, 13(6), pp. 363-372. Future Medicine 10.2217/pmt-2023-0053
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Aim: Cryoneurolysis is a potential therapy for peripheral mononeuropathies, but randomized studies of its effects on the duration of pain reduction are lacking. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the analgesic effects of cryoneurolysis on patients with refractory peripheral mononeuropathy. We included 24 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided cryoneurolysis between June 2018 and July 2022. The daily maximum pain level was recorded using a numerical rating scale before and 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure. Results: At 1 month, 54.2% of patients reported pain reduction of at least 30%. This percentage was significantly lower at 3 and 6 months (13.8 and 9.1%, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that repeated cryoneurolysis may be a viable treatment for refractory mononeuropathy. Further investigations are needed.