Sara Moradi Tuchayi, MD, MPH

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Rank

Research Associate

Institution

MGH

BWH-MGH Title

Research Associate

Department

Dermatology

Authors

Sara Moradi Tuchayi MD MPH, Ying Wang MD PhD, Alla Khodorova PhD, Isaac J. Pence PhD, Conor L. Evans PhD, R. Rox Anderson MD, Ethan A. Lerner MD PhD, Clifford J. Woolf MB PhD, Lilit Garibyan MD PhD

Cryoneurolysis with Injectable Ice Slurry for Treatment of Cutaneous Pain

WMSS 2022

As a dermatology research associate in Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, my research is focused on development of novel therapies for skin disorders. The study presented here introduces a novel method of cryoneurolysis for treatment of cutaneous pain that is a common problem.

The Women in Medicine and Science Symposium is a great initiative to recognize the efforts of women across the Mass General Brigham system. Empowering women by highlighting their achievements not only helps with their career development it also guarantees development of the next generation of men and women in medicine and science.

Background

Cutaneous pain is a common symptom in clinic and available therapies are inadequate. We developed an injectable method of cryoneurolysis with ice slurry, which is neural selective and leads to long-lasting decrease in mechanical pain. The goal of this study is to determine if slurry injection treats cutaneous pain without inducing the side effects associated with conventional cryoneurolysis.

Methods

Using the rat sciatic nerve, we investigated effects of slurry on nerve structure and function in comparison to an FDA-approved cryoneurolysis device. Immunofluorescence staining and CARS microscopy were used to examine histological effects on the sciatic nerve and on downstream cutaneous nerve fibers. We used the CFA model of cutaneous pain to study the effect of the slurry on reducing pain.

Results

Structural changes in myelin induced by slurry were comparable with conventional cryoneurolysis that uses much colder temperatures. The decrease in mechanical pain with slurry was less profound but lasted longer without dysesthesia. Slurry did not induce reduction of epidermal nerve fibers or change in thermal pain sensitivity. Slurry treated rats showed reduced cutaneous mechanical pain in response to CFA.

Conclusions

Slurry injection can be used to successfully reduce cutaneous pain without causing dysesthesia.