Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Intercostal Cryoneurolysis for Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated chronic abdominal pain condition.

CASE REPORT: An 18-year-old man with ACNES reported 4 years of diffuse, constant abdominal pain and cramping that severely impacted his quality of life. Prior interventions of ultrasound-guided abdominal trigger point injections and transversus abdominis plane blocks only provided minimal pain relief. At our clinic, he received bilateral ultrasound-guided T9-T11 intercostal cryoneurolysis and reported complete pain relief for 5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Cryoneurolysis may be an option for ACNES in refractory cases prior to considering a surgical approach.