Computed tomography guided lumbar sympathetic block for complex regional pain syndrome in a child: a case report and review

Interventional pain management of CRPS in the pediatric population: A literature review

Background

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that causes persistent and debilitating pain. It is often associated with physical injury but can also occur without identifiable trauma or ongoing injury. There are no published guidelines for CRPS treatment in the pediatric population, but interdisciplinary care, medication, and physical therapy are common approaches. Sometimes, interventional procedures such as regional anesthesia may be required to manage symptoms.

Objective

The objective of this literature review is to explore the different interventional pain management approaches that are currently being used and have shown effectiveness in the management of CRPS in the pediatric population.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search strategy with an experienced librarian and input from the study's principal investigator from January 1st, 2000 to April 2nd, 2024. The search was conducted in multiple databases using controlled vocabulary and keywords to identify studies relevant to invasive treatments for pediatric CRPS.

Results

Of 825 studies screened, 27 met inclusion criteria, predominantly case reports (70%). The analysis included 183 patients aged 7-18 years, with female predominance (81.4%). Lower extremities were most commonly affected (70.49%), and most cases (83.06%) were triggered by identifiable trauma. IASP and Budapest criteria, though not validated for pediatric populations, were inconsistently utilized across studies for CRPS diagnosis. Interventional procedures were typically implemented after failed conservative management (92.89%), which included multiple medications (e.g., pregabalin, amitriptyline, NSAIDs) combined with physical and psychological therapy. Multiple interventional procedures were often required to achieve pain relief or functional improvement. Follow-up periods were not reported in most studies and, when reported, were short, limiting the assessment of long-term intervention efficacy.

Conclusions

This review summarizes the different interventional pain management methods utilized to treat pediatric CRPS. While techniques such as continuous epidural anesthesia, lumbar sympathetic blocks, peripheral procedures, and spinal cord stimulation have been safely and successfully used as part of a multimodal treatment strategy, the lack of high-quality evidence and specific protocols for CRPS diagnosis and management in pediatric patients calls for further research.

Lumbar Sympathetic Block with Botulinum Toxin Type A and Type B for the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

A lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSB) is a therapeutic method for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) affecting the lower limbs. Recently, LSB with botulinum toxin type A and B was introduced as a novel method to achieve longer duration of analgesia. In this study, we compared the botulinum toxin type A (BTA) with botulinum toxin type B (BTB) in performing LSB on patients with CRPS. LSB was performed with either BTA or BTB on patients with CRPS in their lower extremities. The length of time taken for patients to return to the pre-LSB pain score and the adverse effect of LSB with BTA/BTB were investigated. The median length of time taken for the patients to return to the pre-LSB pain score was 15 days for the BTA group and 69 days for the BTB group (P = 0.002). Scores on a visual analogue scale decreased in the patients of both groups, and no significant adverse effects were experienced. In conclusion, the administration of either BTA or BTB for LSB is a safe method to prolong the sympathetic blocking effect in patients with CRPS. BTB is more effective than BTA to prolong the sympathetic blocking effect in CRPS patients.

A brief report on a technical description of ultrasound-guided lumbar sympathetic block

The lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSGB) is widely used for diagnosing and treating sympathetically maintained pain disorders. The LSGB has been conventionally carried out under fluoroscopy or computed tomography guidance. However, as ultrasound technology improved, ultrasound-guided interventions have been expanding their territory to deeper structures. Ultrasound guidance provides many benefits including protecting vascular injection, shortening procedure time in some cases, and reducing the emission of radiation. In this report, we describe a successful case of a US-guided LSGB without major complications. We expect that US-guided LSGBs can be implemented and furnished in the daily outpatient clinical setting by highly trained pain physicians.

Erythromelalgia in the pediatric patient: role of computed-tomography-guided lumbar sympathetic blockade

Erythromelalgia (EM) is an uncommon condition characterized by erythema, increased skin temperature, and burning pain, most frequently occurring in the lower extremities. The pain is generally very severe and treatment can be extremely challenging, especially in the pediatric and adolescent population. We report a series of three cases of primary EM in pediatric patients involving the lower extremities, refractory to medical treatment that responded favorably to computed-tomography-guided lumbar sympathetic blockade. There was a significant improvement in pain scores, quality of life, and overall function as well as decreased analgesic requirements. Lumbar sympathetic blockade should be considered as a therapeutic modality in pediatric and adolescent patients with EM who are refractory to other treatments.

Invasive treatments for complex regional pain syndrome in children and adolescents: a scoping review

This review aimed to synthesize the current evidence on the effectiveness of invasive treatments for complex regional pain syndrome in children and adolescents. Studies on children and adolescents with complex regional pain syndrome that evaluated the effects of invasive treatment were identified in PubMed (search March 2013). Thirty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Articles reported on a total of 173 children and adolescents with complex regional pain syndrome. Generally, many studies lack methodological quality. The invasive treatments applied most often were singular sympathetic blocks, followed by epidural catheters and continuous sympathetic blocks. Rarely, spinal cord stimulation and pain-directed surgeries were reported. An individual patient frequently received more than one invasive procedure. Concerning outcome, for approximately all patients, an improvement in pain and functional disability was reported. However, these outcomes were seldom assessed with validated tools. In conclusion, the evidence level for invasive therapies in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome in children and adolescents is weak.

[Chronic pain and regional anesthesia in children]

Chronic pain is usually underestimated in children, due to lack of knowledge and its specific signs. In addition to suffering, chronic pain causes a physical, psychological, emotional, social, and financial burden for the child and his family. Practitioners may find themselves in a situation of failure with depletion of medical resources. Some types of chronic pain are refractory to conventional systemic treatment and may require the use of regional anesthesia. Cancer pain is common in children and its medical management is sometimes insufficient. It is accessible to neuroaxial or peripheral techniques of regional anesthesia if it is limited to an area accessible to one of these techniques and no contraindications (e.g., thrombopenia) are present. Complex regional pain syndrome 1 is not rare in children and adolescents, but it often goes undiagnosed. Regional anesthesia may contribute to the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome 1, mainly in case of recurrence, because it provides rapid effective analgesia and allows rapid implementation of intensive physiotherapy. These techniques have also shown interest in phantom limb pain after limb amputation, but they remain controversial for erythromelalgia pain or chronic abdominopelvic pain. Finally, the treatment of postdural puncture headache due to cerebrospinal fluid leak can be treated by performing an epidural injection of the patient's blood, called a blood-patch. Finally, the management of children with chronic pain should be multidisciplinary (pediatrician, physiotherapist, psychologist, surgeon, anesthesiologist) to support the child and her problem in its entirety.

[Please don't hurt me!: a plea against invasive procedures in children and adolescents with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)]

BACKGROUND

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS; formerly known as Morbus Sudeck/reflex dystrophy) is diagnosed in children and adolescents, but the clinical presentation is often atypical. Unfortunately, potentially harmful, invasive treatments are used in pediatric patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart study of pediatric chronic pain patients with CRPS was performed.

RESULTS

Over the course of 6 years, 37 (35 girls) children and adolescents took part in a multidisciplinary chronic pain inpatient program. At admission, patients took on average 4.4 (range 1-10) different medications and 29 different pharmaceuticals were used overall. Prior to admission, invasive pain treatments were performed without success in 16 of the children (43%). At least 13 children received two or more invasive treatments. Although sympathetic blocks were most prevalent, operations and regional anesthesia were also used.

CONCLUSION

Despite a lack of evidence for invasive procedures, these continue to be used in children and adolescents with CRPS, who later respond positively to conventional treatment. The English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink (under "Supplemental").

Successive multisite peripheral nerve catheters for treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I is a painful and disabling syndrome that is accompanied by physical changes in the affected extremity. It generally occurs after trauma, manifesting as pain that is out of proportion to the inciting event. Treatment of the disorder is difficult, with many patients being refractory to multiple pharmacologic regimens. Regional anesthetic techniques, including neuraxial blockade, sympathetic blockade, Bier block, or peripheral nerve catheters, have been used with varying degrees of success. We describe, for the first time, the use of multiple peripheral nerve catheters to treat CRPS type I in a 10-year-old girl when multimodal pharmacologic regimens failed. At separate times, a peripheral nerve catheter was placed to treat CRPS of the distal left lower extremity as well as the right upper extremity. The goal of this therapy was to relieve pain and thereby allow the reinitiation of intensive physical therapy. A continuous infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine was infused via the catheters for ~60 hours. The patient was subsequently able to participate in physical therapy as well as activities of daily living with improved eating, sleeping, and mood. Although many therapeutic modalities have been tried in CRPS type I, given the debilitating nature of the disorder and the variable response to therapy, new and alternative therapeutic interventions, such as continuous peripheral nerve catheters, are needed.

Neuropathic pain in children: Special considerations

Neuropathic pain is relatively uncommon in children. Although some syndromes closely resemble those found in adults, the incidence and course of the condition can vary substantially in children, depending on developmental status and contextual factors. There are some neuropathic pain syndromes that are rare and relatively unique to the pediatric population. This article discusses the array of neuropathic pain conditions in children and available treatment strategies. Data are limited by small numbers and few randomized controlled trials. Research and clinical implications are discussed.