A Case Study in the Use of Capsaicin in the Treatment of Neuropathic Chest Wall Pain and Post-thoracotomy Intercostal Neuralgia

Charles Roberts, Leonard Morgan, Kanisha Hall, Prashant Kumar, Stacy J. Smith

Department of Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain.
LSU Health Science Center School of Medicine.
LSU Health Science Center School of Medicine, Shreveport, LA, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojanes.2012.24023                

Abstract

Off label use of Quetenza^? (capsaicin 8%) patch in relieving post-thoracotomy neuropathic pain proved temporarily effective, but to a degree indicating limited usefulness in a clinical setting.A 57 year-old male with chronic post-thoracotomy pain was treated with 8% capsaicin topically. Pre-procedure pain was rated as 8 on a 10 point scale, the 30 minute post procedure pain was reported as 2 - 3 on a 10 point scale. Neuralgia was completely resolved for the initial 48 hours post-procedure, then returned gradually over the next 5 days. Because pain transmission pathways are the same in post herpetic and post traumatic neuralgias, the use of 8% capsaicin merits additional study.

Keywords

Post-thoracotomy Neuralgia; Capsaicin; Qutenza^®

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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