Korean J Pain.  2010 Mar;23(1):60-64.

Sacral Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Chronic Intractable Anorectal Pain: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. demoon@catholic.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.

Abstract

Despite recent methodological advancement of the practical pain medicine, many cases of the chronic anorectal pain have been intractable. A 54-year-old female patient who had a month history of a constant severe anorectal pain was referred to our clinic for further management. No organic or functional pathology was found. In spite of several modalities of management, such as medications and nerve blocks had been applied, the efficacy of such treatments was not long-lasting. Eventually, she underwent temporary then subsequent permanent sacral nerve stimulation. Her sequential numerical rating scale for pain and pain disability index were markedly improved. We report a successful management of the chronic intractable anorectal pain via permanent sacral nerve stimulation. But further controlled studies may be needed.

Keyword

anorectal pain; sacral nerve stimulation

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Nerve Block

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Fluoroscopic images of anteroposterior (A) and lateral (B) projections. (A) The right-sided quadripolar electrode is placed via 15-gauge Tuohy needle at L3-4 intervetebral space, and left-sided electrode is threading via another needle at L4-5 intervertebral space. (B) Fluoroscopic lateral view; each quadripolar electrode is placed at bilateral S2-3 foramen.

  • Fig. 2 A post operative abdominal anteroposterior X-ray image. A permanently implanted pulse generator is shown at left lower abdominal quadrant.


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