CT-guided Combined RF Thermocoagulation of Dorsal Root Ganglion and Sympathetic Nerve in Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of CT-guided radiofrequency(RF) thermocoagulation of dorsal root ganglion and sympathetic nerve on postherpetic neuralgia(PHN).Methods Forty PHN outpatients admitted to Xuanwu Hospital from 2005 to 2009 were divided randomly into control group and treatment group,20 in each.Control group were treated with dorsal root ganglion 85 ℃ consecutive RF thermocoagulation,treatment group with combined 85 ℃ consecutive RF thermocoagulation of dorsal root ganglion and sympathetic nerve.Visual analogue scale(VAS),quality of life(QOL) scores,numbness score and complications were compared 1 week,1 month,6 months,2 years after treatment.Results VAS scores decreased gradually in 2 groups,significantly different between 2 groups 1 week or 6 months after treatment(P0.05);QOL increased gradually,but there was not difference 1 week,1 month,6 months,2 years after treatment(P0.05).Numbness scores decreased,there was difference 6 months,2 years after treatment(P0.05).After treatment no related complications were noted in control group,but in treatment group 1 case of Homer′s syndrome and 1 compensatory hyperhidrosis,not influencing curative effects.Conclusion CT-guided combined RF thermocoagulation of dorsal root ganglion and sympathetic nerve,having good middle-and long-curative effects on PHN,can improve numbness effectively but may easily cause related complications such as Homer′s syndrome and unsatisfactory pain control in some patients,the mechanism of which needs to be further confirmed.