Interventional procedure overview of percutaneous image-guided cryoablation of peripheral neuroma for chronic pain

Infection

Local cellulitis around the cryoprobe entry point was reported in 1 patient in the case series of 20 patients with Morton's neuroma. This fully resolved after 5 days of oral antibiotic therapy (Cazzato 2016).

Pain

Pain that needed additional anti-inflammatory prescription medication was reported in 29% (6/21) of patients during the initial days after the procedure in the case series of 21 patients with refractory phantom limb pain (Prologo 2017).

Anecdotal and theoretical adverse events

In addition to safety outcomes reported in the literature, professional experts are asked about anecdotal adverse events (events that they have heard about) and about theoretical adverse events (events that they think might possibly occur, even if they have never happened).

For this procedure, professional experts listed the following anecdotal adverse events: worsening pain and fat necrosis around the procedure site. They listed the following theoretical adverse events: persistent pain, bruising and generation of scar tissue, which might make revision surgery more challenging.