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Regional Anesthesia with Cryoneurolysis: an Ancient Technique with New Possibilities for Acute Pain

  • Regional Anesthesia (P Kukreja, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review summarizes the history, mechanism, and current understanding of cryoneurolysis. It discusses the implications for utilizing percutaneous cryoneurolysis for both elective perioperative and traumatic acute pain.

Recent Findings

The goal of cryoneurolysis is Wallerian degeneration with preservation of endoneurium to provide a lattice for axonal regeneration without neuroma formation. Ultrasound guidance has expanded the use of percutaneous cryoneurolysis as an analgesic option in the perioperative period. The quantity of data supporting percutaneous cryoneurolysis in the setting of acute postoperative pain management continues to grow for both patients undergoing planned elective surgical procedures and patients with traumatic injuries.

Summary

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis can prolong postoperative analgesia. Studies focusing on efficacy and complications for both perioperative and traumatic acute pain remain limited, and more randomized controlled trials are needed to further elucidate long-term benefits and risks.

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Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 167 Ashley Avenue, Suite 301, MSC 912, Charleston, SC, 29425-9120, USA

    Sylvia H. Wilson

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Houston, Houston, USA

    Nadia Hernandez

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA

    Engy Said

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  1. Sylvia H. Wilson
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  2. Nadia Hernandez
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All authors wrote the main text and reivewed the manuscript. SW prepared Fig. 1 and Table 1.

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Correspondence to Sylvia H. Wilson.

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Conflict of Interest

Sylvia H. Wilson: This author receives research funding unrelated to this topic from the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine. (Translational Team Science Grant: Astrocyte Modulation and Suppression of Opioid Intake and Relapse Vulnerability; Role: Co-Investigator (PI Michael Scofield).

Nadia Hernandez: This author has nothing to disclose.

Engy Said: The University of California San Diego has received funding and/or product from the following companies for other research studies: Epimed International (Dallas, Texas, USA), SPR Therapeutics (Cleveland, Ohio, USA), Infutronix (Natick, Massachusetts, USA), Avanos Medical (Irvine, California, USA), Masimo (Irvine, CA, USA), and Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, California, USA).

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Wilson, S.H., Hernandez, N. & Said, E. Regional Anesthesia with Cryoneurolysis: an Ancient Technique with New Possibilities for Acute Pain. Curr Anesthesiol Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-024-00608-1

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