A Narrative Review of Ultrasound-Guided and Landmark-based Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain

Here, we summarize several studies (from case reports to clinical trials) describing the use of ultrasound-guided and landmark-based cryoneurolysis for acute and chronic pain. Acute pain indications included pain related to knee arthroplasty, limb amputations, mastectomies, shoulder surgery, rib fractures, and burn. Chronic pain indications included chronic knee pain (due to osteoarthritis), shoulder pain, painful neuropathies, postmastectomy pain syndrome, phantom limb pain, facial pain/headaches, foot/ankle pain, inguinal pain, and sacroiliac joint pain. For both acute and chronic pain indications, more high quality randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to definitively assess the efficacy of cryoneurolysis versus other standard therapies for a multitude of pain conditions.