Shoulder Denervation for Post Mastectomy Irradiation Shoulder Pain

Conditions studied

Breast Cancer

About this study

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer world-wide following lung cancer. It afflicts about 1.7 million patients annually, of which 60% mandate surgery of the breast and/or the axilla, and nearly 20-50% of them may develop post mastectomy pain syndrome . After breast cancer surgery, between 6% and 86% of people may develop tight bands of fibrous tissue under their skin, known as axillary web syndrome. These bands can cause pain in the shoulder area by trying to raise or extend the arm. Shoulder pain is a common side effect of breast cancer surgery and treatment. Various medical and interventional procedures have been tried for treating postmastectomy shoulder pain, with varying efficacy . Among the interventional procedures that may have a role for treatment. Innervation of the glenohumeral joint (GHJ) can be divided into anterior and posterior innervation from articular branches of the suprascapular nerve (SN):C5 \&6 (posterior-lateral), axillary nerve (AN):C5 \&6 (anterior-lateral, inferior, and posteriorlateral), and lateral pectoral nerve (LPN): C5 \&6 (anterior superior)

Interventions

• Device: (Shoulder individual nerves TRF (thermal radio frequency): Patients will receive shoulder individual nerves Thermal RF. — Shoulder individual nerves thermal RF technique: The patient will be put in the sitting position, monitored with electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, and non-invasive blood pressure. after disinfection A high-frequency linear transducer (10-15 Hz) will be placed parallel and cephalad to the spine of the scapula. The probe will be moved from cephalad to caudad until the trapezius and supraspinatus muscles were identified. The suprascapular nerve will be identified as a hyperechogenic structure in the suprascapular fossa deep to the superior transverse scapular ligament. A 10 cm radiofrequency needle, with a 10 mm active tip, will be inserted in plane with the ultrasound beam and advanced to reach the proximity to the nerve. A nerve stimulator was used as an additional nerve-finding modality.
• Drug: conservative treatment — Patients will receive conservative treatment Acetaminophen (paracetamol 1000 mg tid and pregabalin (lyrica) 75 mg bid; can be increased to 150 mg bid, oxycodone (oxynorm) 10mg IR PRN.

Primary outcomes

• Assess the changes in NPRS (numerical pain rating scale) for assessment of pain relief which will be recorded before treatment and at 1 month, 2 months and 3-month intervals following treatment. (1 month, 2 months and 3-month intervals following treatment.)

Eligibility information

Study locations

• National Cancer institute, Cairo, Cairo Governorate 002 Egypt