Rectus sheath pulsed radiofrequency treatment for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome: A case report

Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome is pain caused by compression of the anterior cutaneous branch of the intercostal nerve as it passes from the posterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle through the rectus abdominis muscle. In this report, we describe a case of pulsed radiofrequency treatment to the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome. The patient was a 27-year-old man. He was diagnosed with anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome because of a single localized tender point on the right abdominal wall and positive Carnett’s sign, and repeated trigger point injections to the lateral rectus abdominis muscle three times, but only temporary pain reduction was obtained. After confirming the effect of rectus sheath block, pulsed radiofrequency treatment was performed in the same area. After two rounds of pulsed radiofrequency treatment, the pain disappeared. Pulsed radiofrequency treatment is suggested to be effective for long-term treatment of anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome with a minimally invasive technique.