Interventional procedures in children and adolescents with chronic non-cancer pain as part of a multidisciplinary pain treatment program

Background: Interventional procedures are part of multidisciplinary pain treatment programs to treat chronic non-cancer pain conditions in children and adolescents. However, the real benefit of these interventions remains unclear. Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the potential benefits of the interventional procedures in children and adolescents with chronic non-cancer pain in the setting of a multidisciplinary pain treatment program. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 98 children and adolescents receiving 314 diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. We applied the following definitions of efficacy Short-term positive therapeutic effect: block that produced a minimum of 50% reduction in pain intensity for at least 4 weeks. Long-term positive therapeutic effect: a patient with a minimum of 50% reduction in pain intensity for at least 6 months Full recovery: a patient free of pain, not taking analgesics with normal physical and role functioning 6 months after the last procedure. Results: Seventy-six of 112 diagnostic blocks (68%) were associated with a 50% reduction in pain intensity for at least 4 weeks after the procedure. One hundred and sixty-six of 202 therapeutics blocks (82%) were associated with a short-term benefit. Seventy-two of 98 patients (73%) referred a 50% reduction in their pain intensity (17%) or had full recovery 6 months after the procedures (56%) and a MPTP. Psychiatric comorbidity and more advanced age were factors associated with failure to respond to interventional procedures. Conclusion: The use of interventional procedures may represent a valid therapeutic option, associated with positive clinical outcomes within a multidisciplinary program.