Chronic pain after cervical spine surgery by anterior approach
Reminder
- Explain chronic pain
- Cicatricial neuropathies
- Associated myofascial syndromes that modify the clinical symptoms of cicatricial neuropathies.
Description
Anterior cervical spine surgery is done through an anterior and lateral incision in the midline of the neck. The orientation of the opening is variable depending on the vertebral level operated and the habits of the surgeon.
The scarring pain (remember to re-read the article on the characteristics of scarring neuropathy) induced by this type of surgery includes (the discomfort and painful areas are not necessarily present concomitantly):
- Anterior neck pain radiating to the face and head for some.
- Neck pain that may radiate to the back of the neck, head
- Pain radiating to the shoulder and the arm which can go so far as to reproduce true cervico-brachial neuralgia.
- Swallowing discomfort is sometimes described (slightly altered voice, swallowing discomfort, laryngeal foreign body sensation).
- Discomfort in extension and rotation of the neck.
- A myofascial syndrome of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle is often associated.
Clinical case(s)
Treatment
- Treatment of neuropathic pain
- Treatment with 1% lidocaine injection: an injection under the scar along its entire length can make all the symptoms described disappear in a few minutes.