A cohort study on neuropathic pain of the saphenous nerve—factors influencing surgical outcome

The purely sensory saphenous nerve is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. It becomes subcutaneous around 10 cm above the medial epicondyle of the femur and then passes along the tibial side of the leg, accompanied by the great saphenous vein [1]. At its superficial location at knee level, the nerve is vulnerable to injury by trauma or surgery around the knee joint [2]. Injury to a nerve may lead to neuroma formation as the result of irregular or disorganized neuronal regeneration [3]. Additionally, per se uninjured nerves running through a surgical field can be affected by scar tethering, also leading to neuropathic pain. These affections of the nerve can cause saphenous nerve–originated neuropathic pain leading to severe disability. Patients will have neuropathic pain in a defined neural anatomical distribution along with a history of nerve injury [4]. Saphenous nerve neuroma is often caused by an injury during prior surgery like knee arthroscopy [5]. Different surgical techniques to treat neuroma have been described. Techniques involving neuroma excision and implantation/burying in muscle or bone have historically been the most commonly used [6‐8]. Several studies have shown that a significant number of patients will still report severe persistent pain despite surgical treatment [4, 8].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of surgical revision of the saphenous nerve in neuropathic pain in our department and to identify outcome influencing factors.

This retrospective cohort study was performed with the approval of the local ethics committee. We identified all patients who underwent surgery on the saphenous nerve or its branches for neuropathic pain and suspected neuroma of the saphenous nerve at our department for plastic surgery and hand surgery between March 2010 and December 2020. The initial query yielded 29 consecutive patients who were all included in the analysis.

A medical chart review was performed to collect patient-, pain-, and treatment-specific factors. Pain relief following diagnostic injection, if performed, was noted based on the medical charts. Symptoms pre- and postoperatively were noted, and follow-up was defined as the date of surgery until the last visit to our department. The treatment or trauma leading to neuropathic pain of the sural nerve was registered as well as the time between first symptoms and surgical treatment.

Between 2010 and 2020, 29 consecutive saphenous nerve revision surgeries for chronic saphenous nerve–associated neuropathic pain were performed in 10 male and 19 female patients with a median age of 45 years (IQR, 29 to 53 years) (Table 1). Post saphenous nerve revision surgery, 16 (55.2%) patients suffered from persisting pain. The median time between symptom causing event and surgery was 28.5 months (IQR 17–68). Neuropathic pain was secondary to traumatic injury in 8 cases, specifically deep skin lacerations around the knee, attributable to a prior surgery in 17 cases (orthopedic surgeries including knee joint arthroscopies, corrective osteotomies, fracture fixations, and ligament reconstructions) and due to other reasons in 4 cases (2 patients with prior sclerotherapy of varicose veins, one patient with a cystic lesion from the medial meniscus, and one idiopathic case). All patients relied on pain medication prior to saphenous nerve revision surgery (Table 2). Other treatments prior to surgery included physical therapy (n = 11, 37.9%), opiate pain medication (n = 10, 34.5%), neuropathic pain medication (pregabalin) (n = 14, 48.3%) or topical anesthetics (n = 17, 58.6%), or a combination of the aforementioned. A diagnostic injection prior to surgery was performed in 19 patients (65.5%). Of those, 18 patients (94.7%) reported significant relief after injection; one patient (5.3%) reported no relief (Table 2).

Prior to revision surgery, all patients complained of pain (n = 29). Numbness was reported in 13 cases, hyperesthesia in 8 cases, and a Tinel sign was documented in the medical records in 26 patients (Table 1). Table 3 illustrates/summarizes the surgical approach, as well as postoperative symptoms and treatments. Patients were treated with neurolysis only (10 patients) if the nerve was found to be in continuity but scar tethered. If the nerve showed a macroscopic injury resulting in neuroma, neurectomy was performed far enough proximal to the neuroma to allow for the distal nerve end to be surrounded by healthy fatty tissue (8 patients). In cases of combined neuroma(s) and scar tethering, neurectomy was performed and the nerve was stripped proximal to Hunter’s canal using a ring stripper (11 patients). Mean follow-up time was 205 days.

In univariable logistic regression models evaluating the risk of persisting pain post saphenous nerve revision surgery, smoking could be identified as a predictor of higher risk for persisting pain. As female gender and opiate consumption both presented a p value of 0.06 in the univariable models, they were also included in the multivariable logistic regression models. In multivariable logistic regression models evaluating the risk of persisting pain post revision surgery (see Table 4), smoking (odds ratio [OR]: 17.5, p = 0.02) and preoperative opiate consumption (OR: 20.8, p = 0.03) represented independent predictors of higher risk for persisting pain.

Prior studies have demonstrated that surgical treatment of neuroma pain does not tend to be effective in all patients [9]. Different factors can lead to a symptomatic affection of the saphenous nerve around the knee, especially surgeries in this area. Mochida and Kikuchi showed that these type of surgery are associated with a 22.2% incidence rate of sensory disturbances in the area where the infrapatellar branch is distributed, and they suggested that the incidence can be minimized by clarifying the distribution of the infrapatellar nerve branch in relation to palpable landmarks [10]. Numerous surgical techniques have been described for neuroma treatment, but so far, no significant differences could be identified between these different surgical techniques [11]. We also found no difference between different surgical techniques, but instead, this study was focused on identifying predictors for persisting pain. Our study yielded several noteworthy findings.

First, smoking could be identified as a predictor of higher risk for persisting pain. Smoking has been identified as a risk factor for neuropathic pain even in the absence of physical trauma to a nerve [12]. The same correlation could be demonstrated after brachial plexus injury [13]. It has been suggested that quitting to smoke might have a direct effect on the severity of neuropathic pain [14]. Behavioral therapy including smoking cessation in combination with physical therapy can be a first-line intervention for patients with chronic pain [15]. It might therefore be worthwhile to suggest smoking cessation to patients after nerve injury.

Second, opiate consumption prior to neuroma surgery represented an independent predictor of higher risk for persisting pain. According to a Cochrane review published in 2013, the analgesic efficacy of opioids in chronic neuropathic pain is subject to considerable uncertainty [16]. Other pain-related studies have shown that patients using opioids preoperatively have less favorable outcomes [17]. A study on injury-related hyperemia of the rat sciatic vasa nervorum found that exogenous opioids dampen early inflammatory microvasodilation and could have important influences on the nerve regenerative milieu. With these factors in mind, the indication for opioids after nerve injury should always be evaluated especially critical. Also, studies have shown that pain scores will be higher in patients with prior opioid exposure as these patients might have less coping reserves [18].

Third, we did not find a correlation between persisting pain and the duration of pain like it has been suggested by Stokvis et al. [19]. In the treatment of neuropathic pain of the peripheral nerves, secondary hyperalgesia, due to sensitization in the central nervous system, has to be considered a risk factor for persisting pain after neuroma surgery. If central sensitization evolves such that nociceptive signaling becomes independent of inputs from primary afferents, then treating the peripheral nerve may no longer be therapeutically useful [20]. However, these mechanisms, their time frame, and contributing factors are not yet fully understood, suggesting that neuroma surgery might be effective even longer periods after injury to the nerve, like in our cohort.

Fourth for patient with chronic pain, not only a full relief of symptoms but also a reduction of overall pain might be considered a favorable outcome. We saw a reduction or full relief of pain in 55% (16/29) of our patients. Reduction of pain severity has shown a direct relationship with changes in function, anxiety, depression, and sleep in patient-reported outcomes [21]. Therefore, surgical intervention might still be considered a partial success as long as pain reduction is achieved and should be discussed with the patient as such prior to surgery.

There are several limitations to this study. It is a retrospective study and thus may be prone to observer bias. As peripheral nerve surgeons, we are aware that there might be other factors affecting outcomes of neuropathic pain management. Thus, our conclusions will need to be supported by prospective data for greater impact. Additionally, as we are presenting consecutive cases, patients were operated on by different surgeons. These adhere to a department standard concerning the postoperative regime, but minor deviations based on personal preference might have been made. Another critical point is that we do not have a quantification of pain or amount of pain medication consumed for all patients postoperative. Therefore, the question whether or not a pain reduction potentially significant to the patient could be achieved was not answered; this however could have a significant influence on patients’ quality of life and ability to return to work.

Lastly, we did not specifically assess and describe functional outcomes or document the return to work, which are key factors when evaluating the outcome of neuropathic pain treatment.

Surgical treatment of peripheral neuroma remains a clinical challenge. Patients should be coached toward smoking cessation in the presence of peripheral nerve injury. Whenever possible, forgoing of opiate treatment in the presence of peripheral nerve injury might be beneficial. Prospective studies are required to support the findings of this investigation.