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Pneumothorax After Serratus Anterior Trigger Point Injection

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Challenging Cases and Complication Management in Pain Medicine

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Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is a common presenting complaint in the primary care setting as well as in specialized orthopedic, physiatry, and pain management clinics. Commonly, trigger points are found to be the underlying cause of this pain. Clinically they present with localized tenderness that radiates in well-defined patterns that may mimic other commonly treated conditions such as cervical or lumbar radiculopathy. Trigger point injections are often performed to help relieve pain and are generally safe when done appropriately, but serious complications including pneumothorax can occur. Providers should be vigilant for signs and symptoms following trapezius, upper back, and thoracic trigger point injections so that prompt treatment can be provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pain Management Center, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA

    Paul M. Scholten M.D.

Authors
  1. Paul M. Scholten M.D.
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Correspondence to Paul M. Scholten M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Magdalena Anitescu

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Honorio T. Benzon

  3. Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA

    Mark S. Wallace

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Scholten, P.M. (2018). Pneumothorax After Serratus Anterior Trigger Point Injection. In: Anitescu, M., Benzon, H., Wallace, M. (eds) Challenging Cases and Complication Management in Pain Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60072-7_44

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60072-7_44

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60070-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60072-7

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