Effects of glossopharyngeal nerve injection with adriamycin guided by nerve stimulator in the treatment of patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Abstract

Objective To explore the safety and effects of adriamycin injection in glossopharyngeal nerve guided by nerve stimulator in the treatment of patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Methods Twenty-one patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia, 6 males and 15 females, aged 47-78 years old, from January 2012 to March 2018 in the department of Pain Medicine of Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, were treated by nerve block with adriamycin in glossopharyngeal nerve guided by nerve stimulator. The injected drugs included 1% adriamycin 0.3 ml and compound betamethasone 0.5 ml (containing betamethasone dipropionate 2.5 mg and betamethasone sodium phosphate 1 mg). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded before the treatment and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the treatment. The effects and the complications were observed after the treatment. Results VAS was (7.87±0.60), (3.76±0.42), (3.12±0.28), (2.98±0.33), (2.57±0.50) and (1.65±0.36) respectively before the treatment, and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year after the treatment in the 21 patients. The difference was statistically significant (F=102.45, P<0.05). The therapeutic effect tended to stabilize at one month after the treatment. The total effective rate was 90.5% (20/21 cases) . No complications were observed in all patients. Conclusion Adriamycin injection in glossopharyngeal nerve guided by nerve stimulator is a safe and effective method for the treatment of patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Key words: Doxorubicin; Glossopharyngeal nerve diseases; Physical stimulation