Treatment of Chronic Pain Due to Slipping Rib Syndrome Using Ultrasound-Guided Intercostal Cryoneurolysis: A Case Report

TL;DR

A patient with chronic pain from slipping rib syndrome was treated with a minimally-invasive ultrasound-guided freezing procedure, providing long-term pain relief.

Contribution

This case report introduces ultrasound-guided intercostal cryoneurolysis as a novel treatment for slipping rib syndrome.

Findings

Ultrasound-guided cryoneurolysis was successfully used to treat SRS at T7, T8, and T9 levels.

The procedure provided long-term analgesia for the patient with minimal invasiveness.

Abstract

Slipping rib syndrome (SRS) is an underdiagnosed condition, in which some ribs are not connected to the sternum, which may cause increased laxity of the interchondral ligament. This may result in pain in the lower chest and upper abdomen area. Treatment typically includes conservative measures, steroid injections, and surgery. Ultrasound-guided intercostal cryoneurolysis is a minimally-invasive procedure that may provide long-term analgesia in patients with SRS. This case report describes the procedure for a patient treated with right-sided ultrasound-guided cryoneurolysis of the intercostal nerves at the levels T7, T8, and T9.

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