Acute cervical radiculopathy after anterior scalene muscle massage: A case report.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE Deep tissue massage (DTM) is a form of therapeutic massage therapy for muscles and is often used to treat musculoskeletal pain. This was an uncommon case of acute cervical radiculopathy that occurred after DTM. PATIENT CONCERNS A 47-year-old Asian woman with low weight visited our clinic due to complaints of sudden unilateral paralysis, radiating pain in the left shoulder, and wrist weakness after undergoing a 3-minute DTM of the anterior scalene muscle. Electrodiagnostic examination indicated acute injuries in the left cervical 5 and 6 (cervical 5 and cervical 6) nerve roots. DIAGNOSES Acute cervical radiculopathy associated with anterior scalene DTM. INTERVENTION The patient underwent ultrasound-guided cervical 5 and cervical 6 selective nerve root block twice through the injection of 0.25% lidocaine and 20 mg dexamethasone and regularly participated in a biweekly rehabilitation program and a home exercise program. OUTCOME: After a 6-month follow-up, the patient's shoulder and wrist strength had recovered, and the electrodiagnostic findings had improved. LESSONS DTM of the anterior scalene muscle should be carefully performed to avoid cervical nerve root injury, particularly in underweight patients.