Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in a patient with Dejerine-Roussy syndrome

Dejerine-Roussy syndrome or Central Post-Stroke Pain (CPSP) is one of the most debilitating complications of cerebrovascular accidents. Sympathetic block such as stellate ganglion block (SGB) is one of the modalities used for this condition. Ultrasound guidance provides advantages for these procedures by increasing accuracy and practicality with lower exposure to radiation. A 43-year-old man came to our clinic with chronic pain which started nine years earlier after an episode of hemorrhagic stroke. The pain was refractory to analgesics, which were prescribed by healthcare facilities he visited. Further examination revealed a burning sensation and allodynia on the left side of his body. We then proceeded to perform ultrasound-guided SGB using 8 ml of 1% lidocaine along with dexamethasone 5 mg as an adjuvant agent. After two procedures within two months, SGB decreased the patient's pain by 50-85%. Ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion appears to be safe and effective as a treatment for Dejerine-Roussy syndrome.