Dextrose Injection in Stellate Ganglion Block: A Case Report

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating condition with severe chronic pain in the affected regions of the body. Stellate ganglion block is used as one of the treatment modalities for sympathetically mediated chronic pain like Complex regional pain syndrome(CRPS) and various peripheral vascular diseases. 5%dextrose injection as compared to steroid injections have various beneficial effects for stellate ganglion block. We report a case of Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with various motor, sensory and autonomic changes in her right upper limb.Ultrasound guided diagnostic right stellate ganglion block with 5% dextrose was done with immediate pain relief. Patient reported significant reduction in her symptoms (>80% ).Later after 1 week C-arm guided radiofrquency of T2-T3 sympathetic gangion was performed .Use of 5% dextrose injection in pain medicine could be one of the promising methods for diagnosing and treating various painful conditions. Perineural dextrose injection in stellate gangion seems to be more beneficial compared to steroid injections due to the close vicinity of the gangion to various vascular structures in the neck.