Phrenic Nerve Infiltration in Neck Pain

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Bupivacaine: The experimental intervention will consist of ultrasound-guided anesthetic blockade of the phrenic nerve at the laterocervical supraclavicular level with 1 ml of lidocaine without vasoconstrictor 2% to infiltrate the skin and 3ml of bupivacaine without vasoconstrictor 0.25% for neural blockade, making the local anesthetic surround the nerve between the anterior scalene muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Placebo (physiological saline serum infiltration): The placebo intervention will be similar in relation to 2% lidocaine without vasoconstrictor for the skin, but an ultrasound-guided puncture will be performed at the level of the subcutaneous cellular tissue by injecting 3 ml of physiological saline.

Study summary

Neck pain frequently present comorbidities in peridiaphragmatic organs. The innervation of these organs include the phrenic nerve. It is known that peridiaphragmatic organs trigger referred pain in the neck area. As well, previous studies have shown that visceral disorders increase sensitization in somatic tissues. This study aims to analyze the ability of phrenic nerve infiltration to diminish sensitization and improve neck symptoms in the absence of neurological, traumatic or infectious pathology that justifies the pain, by means of a randomized controlled trial.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change from baseline in algometry — Pre-intervention. Post-intervention: 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 days and 7 days
  Pressure pain threshold in neck tissues. PPT levels defined as the minimum necessary pressure to evoke pain will be evaluated using a handheld electronic pressure algometer.

Trial sites (2)

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