Ablation (destruction) of the lumbar sympathetic chain was tried with radiofrequency ablation as well as with injection of phenol (highly concentrated alcohol), known as Chemical Lumbar Sympathectomy, to destroy the sympathetic chain. Even though those were tried the success rate was not proven to be high because in both methods the precise location of the sympathetic chain and the effectiveness of those materials applied did not prove itself. More so with the injection of phenol some serious complications occurred because once the toxic phenol was injected it reached some other important structures in the vicinity causing serious complications.
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For radiofrequency the same problems can occur when radiofrequency ablation (destruction) is applied. The reason here is that there is no exact knowledge of how much energy should be applied to the area and also the pinpoint nature of the procedure makes it very difficult to eliminate the appropriate segment of the lumbar sympathetic chain.