Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2025 Dec 28. doi: 10.1007/s00270-025-04310-5. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To develop expert consensus recommendations for patient selection and procedural techniques in cryoneurolysis for chronic pain management using a Delphi process.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A panel of 22 international interventionists participated in a two-round Delphi process. Participants rated 42 statements on a 10-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 10 = strongly agree). Consensus was predefined as ≥ 75% of ratings ≥ 7. Descriptive statistics (n, mean ± SD, % ≥ 7) were calculated.
RESULTS: High agreement supported cryoneurolysis for localized chronic pain refractory to conservative therapies (mean 8.55 ± 0.60; 100% ≥ 7) and cases with identifiable peripheral nerve targets (8.45 ± 0.74; 100% ≥ 7). Imaging guidance was deemed essential for nerve identification and probe placement (8.91 ± 0.29; 100% ≥ 7). The panel endorsed individualized freeze-thaw cycles to achieve Sunderland II injury (8.27 ± 0.83; 91% ≥ 7) and emphasized thorough patient education (9.0 ± 0.0; 100% ≥ 7). Experts recommended repeat cryoneurolysis within weeks if initial response was incomplete (8.64 ± 0.65; 100% ≥ 7) and alternative therapies after two unsuccessful sessions (8.36 ± 0.73; 95% ≥ 7). No consensus was reached on restricting treatment to a single anatomical region (5.82 ± 2.91; 50% ≥ 7) or routine prophylactic antibiotics (6.27 ± 2.57; 54% ≥ 7).
CONCLUSION: This Delphi study establishes expert-derived consensus standards for cryoneurolysis, highlighting careful patient selection, mandatory imaging guidance, and flexible freeze protocols while identifying areas requiring further research.
PMID:41457159 | DOI:10.1007/s00270-025-04310-5
