Stellate Ganglion Injection

About This Treatment

To administer stellate ganglion injections, the chin is slightly raised as the skin in the front of the neck, next to the "voice box", is cleaned with antiseptic solution. The needle is then inserted through the skin and deeper tissues (like a "tetanus shot") so slight discomfort can be expected.

Stellate ganglion injections take a matter of minutes and are administered with the patient lying flat or reclined. Throughout the process, the patient is monitored with a blood pressure cuff and blood oxygen-monitoring device.

What to expect following the injection

While local anesthetic wears off within a few hours, the blockage of sympathetic nerves may last longer. Typically, the duration of relief extends with each injection.

If you respond to the first injection, additional injections are recommended; this is often necessary to treat the problem. Response to injections and total number of injections will vary from patient to patient.

What is a stellate ganglion injection?

A stellate ganglion injection is an injection of local anesthetic in the sympathetic nerve tissue, located on either side of the voice box, in the neck. The injection blocks the sympathetic nerves, which may reduce pain, swelling, color and sweating changes in the upper extremity and improve mobility.

Patients may receive a stellate ganglion injection as part of treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), sympathetic maintained pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and herpes zoster (shingles) involving upper extremity or head and face.