Korean J Pain 2022; 35(1): 114-123
Published online January 1, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2022.35.1.114
Copyright © The Korean Pain Society.
Jianjun Zhu , Ge Luo
, Qiuli He
, Ming Yao
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Research Center, The First Hospital of Jiaxing or The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
Correspondence to:Ming Yao
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Research Center, The First Hospital of Jiaxing or The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, No. 1882 South Zhonghuan Road, Nanhu District, Jiaxing 314001, Zhejiang, China
Tel: +86-13456218632
Fax: +86-0573-82519999
E-mail: jxyaoming666@163.com
Handling Editor: Younghoon Jeon
*These authors contributed equally to this work.
Received: September 11, 2021; Revised: October 28, 2021; Accepted: November 12, 2021
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background: Different views have been proposed on the radiofrequency treatment modes and parameters of radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the spinal dorsal root ganglion for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). It is urgent to identify a more effective therapy for patients with PHN.
Methods: Patients who underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy for PHN were retrospectively reviewed and were divided into a radiofrequency thermocoagulation (CRF) and double neddles radiofrequency thermocoagulation (DCRF). The pain scores (numerical rating scale, NRS) were evaluated at the following time points: before the operation, 1 day, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after operation. The incidence of complications and the degree of pain relief were evaluated. The in vitro ovalbumin experiment was used to indicate the effects of radiofrequency thermocoagulation.
Results: Compared with the preoperative NRS scores, the postoperative NRS scores decreased significantly; the NRS scores of the DCRF group was lower than that of the CRF group at all time points from 6 months to 2 years following the operation. The total effective rate of the DCRF group was significantly higher than that of the CRF group at 2 years following the operation. The incidence of numbness in the DCRF group was higher than that noted in the CRF group. The ovalbumin experiments in vitro indicated that the effects of radiofrequency thermocoagulation were optimal when the distance between the two needles was 5 mm.
Conclusions: DCRF with a 5 mm spacing exhibits a longer duration and higher effective rate in the treatment of PHN and is worth promoting.
Keywords: Chronic Pain, Electrocoagulation, Ganglia, Spinal, Herpes Zoster, In Vitro Techniques, Incidence, Needles, Neuralgia, Postherpetic, Ovalbumin, Pain Management, Radiofrequency Therapy, Spine.