Bony Decompression of a Chronically Painful Intercostal Nerve Yields Immediate and Long-Lasting Pain Relief: A Case Report

Marcel G. Brown; Michael C. Laroque; Peter A. Cole

doi:10.2106/JBJS.CC.21.00631

Bony Decompression of a Chronically Painful Intercostal Nerve Yields Immediate and Long-Lasting Pain Relief: A Case Report

Marcel G. Brown, Michael C. Laroque, Peter A. Cole

Orthopaedic Surgery

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Case:The case of an active 16-year-old adolescent girl who presented with rib malunion and 1 year of unremitting intercostal nerve pain after sustaining multiple rib fractures is presented. She underwent successful bony and soft-tissue decompression of her eighth and ninth intercostal nerves to relieve neurogenic symptoms.Conclusion:When conservative treatment fails, chronic intercostal nerve pain due to chest wall trauma may be effectively managed with surgical bony decompression of the offending intercostal bundle(s). Anatomic knowledge of the intercostal nerve and a critical history and physical examination were critical for accurate diagnosis and surgical decompression of the patient's intercostal nerve.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e21.00631
Journal	JBJS case connector
Volume	12
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.CC.21.00631
State	Published - Apr 27 2022

Bibliographical note

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© 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Keywords

ACNES
anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome
bony decompression
chest wall injury
cryoablation
intercostal groove
intercostal muscles
intercostal nerve entrapment neuropathy
intercostal neuralgia
nerve decompression
neurovascular bundle
rib malunion

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Case Reports
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abstract = "Case:The case of an active 16-year-old adolescent girl who presented with rib malunion and 1 year of unremitting intercostal nerve pain after sustaining multiple rib fractures is presented. She underwent successful bony and soft-tissue decompression of her eighth and ninth intercostal nerves to relieve neurogenic symptoms.Conclusion:When conservative treatment fails, chronic intercostal nerve pain due to chest wall trauma may be effectively managed with surgical bony decompression of the offending intercostal bundle(s). Anatomic knowledge of the intercostal nerve and a critical history and physical examination were critical for accurate diagnosis and surgical decompression of the patient's intercostal nerve.",

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Bony Decompression of a Chronically Painful Intercostal Nerve Yields Immediate and Long-Lasting Pain Relief: A Case Report

Abstract

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Keywords

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