• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.246-250
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• 2007

We report here on a case of right side spasmodic torticollis (ST) that was refractory to botulinum toxin type A injection and medication. The patient finally underwent a selective ramisectomy with ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) resection, but the remaining symptoms slowly aggravated, and a contralateral left side SCM spasm began. As conservative therapy for reducing the spasmodic symptoms, accessory nerve block, upper cervical plexus block and stellate ganglion block were performed twice in a week. After 6 months, the spasmodic symptoms significantly decreased. The Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) decreased by more than 70%. After one year of serial intermittent local anesthetic blockade therapy, the patient became almost free from the original ST symptoms (TWSTRS = 1). Serial local anesthetic interventions for the ST patient may have a beneficial role on the pathological peripherocentral neural activity of the ST patient and can modulate motor-sensory integration in the patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2011

Meralgia paresthetica is a rarely encountered sensory mononeuropathy characterized by paresthesia, pain or sensory impairment along the distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) caused by entrapment or compression of the nerve as it crossed the anterior superior iliac spine and runs beneath the inguinal ligament. There is great variability regarding the area where the nerve pierces the inguinal ligament, which makes it difficult to perform blind anesthetic blocks. Ultrasound has developed into a powerful tool for the visualization of peripheral nerves including very small nerves such as accessory and sural nerves. The LFCN can be located successfully, and local anesthetic solution distribution around the nerve can be observed with ultrasound guidance. Our successfully performed ultrasound-guided blockade of the LFCN in meralgia paresthetica suggests that this technique is a safe way to increase the success rate.