Efficacy of pulse radiofrequency combined with medical ozone injection in selective nerve root on patients with chest-costal postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy of pulse radiofrequency combined with medical ozone injection in selective nerve root on patients with chest-costal postherpetic neuralgia. Methods Forty patients with postherpetic neuralgia, aged 50-74 years, weighing 45-90 kg, were randomly divided into two groups: pulse radiofrequency group (PRF group) and pulse radiofrequency combined with medical ozone injection group (PRF-O3 group), 20 cases in each group. The patients in PRF group received selective nerve root pulse radiofrequency therapy guided by DSA, in PRF-O3 group received the same selective nerve root pulse radiofrequency therapy, and 40% medical ozone 5 ml injected after that. After the treatment, oral gabapentin capsule 300 mg was given if VAS in patients was more than 3, each time interval of 8 h. The VAS, self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were recoreded at 1 d before the treatment and 1, 3, 30, 90 d after the treatment respectively. Dose of gabapentin capsules and side effects were observed in both groups. Results Compared with pretreatment, the VAS, SDS and SAS of the two groups were significantly decreased, with even more significantly lower in PRF-O3 group at 1, 3, 30, 90 d after the treatment (P<0.05). Dose of gabapentin capsules was significantly lower in PRF-O3 group than that in PRF group (P<0.05). Dizziness, palpitation, chest tightness and other complications were not found in all patients. Three patients in PRF-O3 group felt pain during ozone injected and disappeared in 5-10 min later. Conclusion Pulse radiofrequency combined with medical ozone injection in selective nerve root can safely and effectively relieve chest-costal postherpetic neuralgia, ease depression and anxiety, and reduce the dose of gabapentin capsules. Key words: Neuralgia, postherpetic; Medical ozone; Pulse radiofrequency; Spinal nerve roots