RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Erector Spinae Plane Block: A Novel Analgesic Technique in Thoracic Neuropathic Pain JF Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine JO Reg Anesth Pain Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 621 OP 627 DO 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000451 VO 41 IS 5 A1 Mauricio Forero A1 Sanjib D. Adhikary A1 Hector Lopez A1 Calvin Tsui A1 Ki Jinn Chin YR 2016 UL http://rapm.bmj.com/content/41/5/621.abstract AB Abstract Thoracic neuropathic pain is a debilitating condition that is often poorly responsive to oral and topical pharmacotherapy. The benefit of interventional nerve block procedures is unclear due to a paucity of evidence and the invasiveness of the described techniques. In this report, we describe a novel interfascial plane block, the erector spinae plane (ESP) block, and its successful application in 2 cases of severe neuropathic pain (the first resulting from metastatic disease of the ribs, and the second from malunion of multiple rib fractures). In both cases, the ESP block also produced an extensive multidermatomal sensory block. Anatomical and radiological investigation in fresh cadavers indicates that its likely site of action is at the dorsal and ventral rami of the thoracic spinal nerves. The ESP block holds promise as a simple and safe technique for thoracic analgesia in both chronic neuropathic pain as well as acute postsurgical or posttraumatic pain.