A Case Report of Refractory Notalgia Paresthetica Treated with Lidocaine Infusions

Patient: Female, 50 Final Diagnosis: Notalgia parethetica Symptoms: Hyperalgesia • Pruritus Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Intravenous lidocaine infusion Specialty: Anesthesiology OBJECTIVE: Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment BACKGROUND: Notalgia paresthetica is a neuropathic condition that manifests as a chronic itch in the thoraco-dorsal region. It is often resistant to treatment, and specific guidelines for its management are lacking. As such, we present a treatment approach with intravenous lidocaine infusions. CASE REPORT: The case involves a 50-year-old woman with spinal cord injury caused by an epidural abscess. The patient developed notalgia paresthetica and sublesional neuropathic pain following its drainage. In the course of her pain management, she was treated with intravenous lidocaine which resulted in profound relief of notalgia paresthetica. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous lidocaine was effective in relieving neuropathic itch in the patient case presented.