Pulsed Radiofrequency of Lumbar Dorsal Root Ganglia for Treatment of Chronic Inguinal Herniorrhaphy Pain: A case report / 대한통증학회지

ABSTRACT

Inguinal hernia repair can result in paresthesia and/or pain in the inguinal region. Pharmacological and surgical management often yield inconsistent results associated with considerable risks and side effects. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RF) is a neuro-destructive treatment for severe pain, but associated with hypoesthesia, neuritis-like reactions, and occasional neuroma formation. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), unlike RF, delivers high intensity currents in pulses, is non-neurodestructive, and therefore less painful, without the potential complications. Here we report on PRF in chronic postoperative inguinal pain. A 23-year-old male who received right inguinal hernia repair and complained of right sided groin pain for approximately 10 years underwent PRF at the L1 and L2 dorsal root ganglia (DRG). He then reported a decrease in pain from 80-90/100 mm to 15-30/100 mm on a visual analogue scale (VAS), which lasted for twelve months.