A Study for the Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block on Herpes Zoster Oticus

Facial palsy of herpes zoster oticus has rapid onset, is usually severe in degree, and poorer inprognosis than Bells palsy. In the past, herpes zoster oticus has usually been treated with acyclovir and steroid, but recently,applying stellate ganglion block for herpes zoster oticus has been recognized as an additional treatment that may improvefacial palsy. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of stellate ganglion block on herpes zoster oticus. Subjects andMethod：We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 30 patients with herpes zoster oticus who were treated withacyclovir, steroid and stellate ganglion block between January 1995 and December 2004. The follow-up period was at leastover than 6 months. Results：All patients suffered from otalgia, vesicle, and facial palsy. The average degree of House-Brackmann classification on admission was 3.26 in the complete recovery patients and 4.61 in the incomplete recovery patients.Seventeen patients were completely recovered from facial palsy (56.7%), and 13 showed residual facial palsy 13 patients(43.3%). The poor prognosis may be related with early onset of facial palsy, high degree of House-Brackmann classificationon admission and high degenerative ratio on electroneurography of facial nerve. Conclusion：The additional treatment ofstellate ganglion block in herpes zoster oticus may not be effective on improving the complete recovery rate and prognosis.