Role of Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Management of Chronic Pain From Inoperable Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Associated Neurofibromas: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic condition resulting in tumor formation around neural structures, including peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and brain. Patients afflicted with NF can develop a constellation of symptoms ranging from cutaneous findings to sensory deficits and pain. When pain occurs, it could be associated with compression of neural structures or development of neuropathy itself.

CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old woman with a history of NF Type 1 (NF1) presented to our clinic for evaluation of left arm pain. Despite several neuropathic medications and surgical procedures, she continues to have neuropathic arm pain associated with neurofibromas in her brachial plexus. Further surgery was advised against by her surgeons, and she underwent a supraclavicular nerve block with us, with sustained relief of her pain.

CONCLUSIONS: Here, we present a patient diagnosed with NF1 and neuropathic pain due to an inoperable brachial plexus neurofibroma burden in the left axilla, successfully managed by supraclavicular nerve blocks.