The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD Symptoms

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The aim of this study was to determine if performing ultrasound-guided, bilateral, two-level cervical sympathetic chain blocks (2LCSBs) (performed on subsequent days) improves symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) that do not overlap with pos...

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Main Authors: Sean W. Mulvaney, James H. Lynch, Sanjay Mahadevan, Kyle J. Dineen, Kristine L. Rae Olmsted
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1193
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author Sean W. Mulvaney
James H. Lynch
Sanjay Mahadevan
Kyle J. Dineen
Kristine L. Rae Olmsted
author_facet Sean W. Mulvaney
James H. Lynch
Sanjay Mahadevan
Kyle J. Dineen
Kristine L. Rae Olmsted
author_sort Sean W. Mulvaney
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The aim of this study was to determine if performing ultrasound-guided, bilateral, two-level cervical sympathetic chain blocks (2LCSBs) (performed on subsequent days) improves symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) that do not overlap with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective chart review was conducted between August 2022 and February 2023. We identified twenty patients who received bilateral 2LCSBs for PTSD and anxiety symptoms and who also had a history of TBI. Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) scores were collected at baseline, one week, and one month post treatment in 13 males and 7 females. A sub-analysis of the first ten questions of the NSI, which we identified as not overlapping with PTSD or anxiety symptoms, generated an NSI sub-score. <b>Results</b>: Out of 20 patients, all showed improvement in their NSI scores and NSI sub-scores. The NSI sub-scores had a baseline average of 15.45 (on a 40-point scale); the average score at one week post treatment was 8.30; and that at one month post treatment was 7.80. This represents a 49.51% improvement in TBI symptoms which did not overlap with PTSD or anxiety symptoms between baseline and one month. <b>Conclusions</b>: The use of bilateral 2LCSBs may be helpful in treating patients with TBI, regardless of the presence of comorbid PTSD symptoms.
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spelling doaj-art-b19cc0c58e7b49e4b0b03adf01c2500d2025-08-20T02:53:37ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-11-011412119310.3390/brainsci14121193The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD SymptomsSean W. Mulvaney0James H. Lynch1Sanjay Mahadevan2Kyle J. Dineen3Kristine L. Rae Olmsted4Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USADepartment of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USAOrthobiologics Research Initiative Inc., 11200 Rockville Pike #230, North Bethesda, MD 20852, USAOrthobiologics Research Initiative Inc., 11200 Rockville Pike #230, North Bethesda, MD 20852, USARTI International, 3040 E Cornwallis Rd., Research Park, NC 27709, USA<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The aim of this study was to determine if performing ultrasound-guided, bilateral, two-level cervical sympathetic chain blocks (2LCSBs) (performed on subsequent days) improves symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) that do not overlap with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective chart review was conducted between August 2022 and February 2023. We identified twenty patients who received bilateral 2LCSBs for PTSD and anxiety symptoms and who also had a history of TBI. Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) scores were collected at baseline, one week, and one month post treatment in 13 males and 7 females. A sub-analysis of the first ten questions of the NSI, which we identified as not overlapping with PTSD or anxiety symptoms, generated an NSI sub-score. <b>Results</b>: Out of 20 patients, all showed improvement in their NSI scores and NSI sub-scores. The NSI sub-scores had a baseline average of 15.45 (on a 40-point scale); the average score at one week post treatment was 8.30; and that at one month post treatment was 7.80. This represents a 49.51% improvement in TBI symptoms which did not overlap with PTSD or anxiety symptoms between baseline and one month. <b>Conclusions</b>: The use of bilateral 2LCSBs may be helpful in treating patients with TBI, regardless of the presence of comorbid PTSD symptoms.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1193stellate ganglion blocktraumatic brain injuryneurobehavioral symptom inventoryposttraumatic stress disordertwo-level cervical sympathetic chain block
spellingShingle Sean W. Mulvaney
James H. Lynch
Sanjay Mahadevan
Kyle J. Dineen
Kristine L. Rae Olmsted
The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD Symptoms
Brain Sciences
stellate ganglion block
traumatic brain injury
neurobehavioral symptom inventory
posttraumatic stress disorder
two-level cervical sympathetic chain block
title The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD Symptoms
title_full The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD Symptoms
title_fullStr The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD Symptoms
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD Symptoms
title_short The Effect of Bilateral, Two-Level Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks on Specific Symptom Clusters for Traumatic Brain Injury, Independent of Concomitant PTSD Symptoms
title_sort effect of bilateral two level cervical sympathetic chain blocks on specific symptom clusters for traumatic brain injury independent of concomitant ptsd symptoms
topic stellate ganglion block
traumatic brain injury
neurobehavioral symptom inventory
posttraumatic stress disorder
two-level cervical sympathetic chain block
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1193
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