Brazilian Journal of Pain
https://brjp.org.br/article/doi/10.5935/2595-0118.20220012
Brazilian Journal of Pain
Case Report

Chronic postsurgical pain after emergency cervical fusion with iliac crest graft - a multimodal approach to a multifactorial problem. Case report

Dor crônica pós-operatória após artrodese cervical emergencial com enxerto de crista ilíaca - abordagem multimodal para um problema multifatorial. Relato de caso

Inês Pires Sousa; João Tiago Rodrigues; Ana Barreira Martins

http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/2595-0118.20220012 BrJP, vol.5, n1, p.83-86, 2022
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic postsurgical pain is a major surgical complication with an impact on quality of life. Persistent pain following cervical fusion with iliac crest graft can be due to patient positioning, cervical surgical technique or nerve injury during iliac crest harvesting. Treatment options for chronic postsurgical pain overlap with those recommended for neuropathic pain. However, other pain mechanisms may be present in these patients.

CASE REPORT: Male patient, 51-year-old, with persistent pain five years after emergency cervical arthrodesis with an iliac crest graft. The patient was referred to the chronic pain department (CPD) for management of meralgia paresthetica. However, other significant pain etiologies were found and treated such as nociceptive neck pain, myofascial lumbar pain, and inguinal neuropathic postsurgical pain. The therapeutic approach included multimodal pharmacotherapy with anticonvulsants, antidepressants, weak opioids, topical capsaicin 8% patch, as well as nerve blocks. After almost two years of follow-up, CPD discharge was possible, with minimal pain and return to baseline activity.

CONCLUSION: Although the patient had a long course of undertreated postsurgical pain, a multimodal approach targeting different pain etiologies allowed the achievement of satisfactory pain control and return to baseline physical activity.

Keywords

Chronic pain, Combined modality therapy, Drug therapy, Nerve block, Pain, Postoperative block

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor crônica pós-operatória é uma importante complicação cirúrgica com impacto na qualidade de vida. A dor persistente após artrodese cervical pode ser secundária ao posicionamento do paciente, abordagem cirúrgica cervical ou lesão nervosa durante colheita de enxerto ilíaco. As opções terapêuticas para dor crônica pós-operatória têm alguma sobreposição com o tratamento da dor neuropática. No entanto, outros mecanismos de dor podem estar presentes nestes pacientes.

RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 51 anos, que se apresentou com dor persistente cinco anos após artrodese cervical emergencial, com enxerto de crista ilíaca. Foi encaminhado para a unidade de dor crônica (UDC) para abordagem de meralgia parestésica. No entanto, foram encontradas e tratadas outras etiologias de dor: dor cervical nociceptiva; dor lombar miofascial e dor neuropática pós-operatória inguinal. A abordagem terapêutica utilizada incluiu farmacoterapia com anticonvulsivantes, antidepressivos e opioides fracos, adesivo de capsaicina a 8% e bloqueios regionais. Após quase dois anos de seguimento, foi possível oferecer alta da UDC com queixas álgicas mínimas e retorno da atividade física basal.

CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de o paciente ter passado por um longo período sob tratamento insuficiente de dor pós-operatória, uma abordagem multimodal tendo como alvo diferentes etiologias de dor permitiu obter um controle álgico satisfatório e o retorno à atividade física basal.

Palavras-chave

Bloqueio nervoso, Dor crônica, Dor pós-operatória, Terapia combinada, Tratamento farmacológico

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Submitted date:
04/26/2021

Accepted date:
01/20/2022

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