Published online Mar 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i9.2153
Peer-review started: January 5, 2021
First decision: March 8, 2021
Revised: March 10, 2021
Accepted: March 15, 2021
Article in press: March 15, 2021
Published online: March 26, 2021
Despite of the efficacy of ganglion impar block alone or pulsed radiofrequency alone for treating perineal pain, the puncture is usually conducted under the guidance of X-ray or computed tomography imaging. The efficacy of ganglion impar block combined with pulsed radiofrequency (GIB-PRF) for treating perineal pain remains unclear.
This study provides references to the clinical practices of real-time ultrasound-guided GIB-PRF in patients with perineal pain or coccygeal pain.
This study evaluated the safety and clinical efficacy of real-time ultrasound-guided GIB-PRF in treating perineal pain.
Thirty patients with perineal pain who were treated by GIB-PRF with guided by real-time ultrasound imaging were analyzed. Complications were recorded to observe the safety of the treatment. VAS scores at 24 h before and after the treatment, and 1, 3, and 6 mo later were performed to evaluate clinical efficacy.
Ultrasound-guided GIB-PRF was performed successfully in all patients, and no complications occurred. Compared with pretreatment VAS scores, the VAS scores significantly decreased at the four time points after the GIB-PRF. Compared with the VAS score at 24 h after the GIB-PRF, the scores were slightly lower at 1 and 3 mo and significantly lower at 6 mo after treatment. There was a tendency toward lower VAS scores at 6 mo after GIB-PRF compared with those at 1 and 3 mo.
Ultrasound-guided GIB-PRF was a safe and effective way to treat perineal pain. The 6-mo short-term clinical outcomes were favorable.
The findings from this study help to establish and provide the groundwork for further studies to compare outcomes of block alone or pulsed radiofrequency alone vs the combination of these two treatments and to investigate the long-term outcomes.