Efficacy of High-Voltage Pulsed Radiofrequency for the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Acute Herpes Zoster Neuralgia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency in comparison with standardvoltage pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of elderly patients with acute herpes zoster neuralgia. METHODS: Sixty-four elderly acute herpes zoster neuralgia patients were randomly assigned to the standard-voltage pulsed radiofrequency group (i.e., group S, 32 cases) and the high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency group (i.e., group H, 32 cases), which received the standardvoltage and high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency treatment, respectively. The doses of gabapentin and tramadol for analgesia were adjusted based on pain degree of patients. The therapeutic effectiveness were assessed using the numeric rating scale and the sleep quality scale. The doses of gabapentin and tramadol before pulsed radiofrequency and 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after pulsed radiofrequency were measured. The incidence of clinically meaningful postherpetic neuralgia (pulsed radiofrequency) 12 weeks after pulsed radiofrequency was noted. RESULTS: After pulsed radiofrequency, the numeric rating scale score and the doses of gabapentin and tramadol in group H were significantly lower than those in group S, respectively (p<0.05). The sleep quality scale score in group H was significantly higher than that in group S (p<0.05). The incidence of clinically meaningful pulsed radiofrequency in group H was significantly lower than that in group S (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: For the treatment of elderly patients with acute herpes zoster neuralgia, when compared with the standard-voltage pulsed radiofrequency, the high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency can rapidly and steadily reduce the pain degree, improve the sleep quality, reduce the doses of anticonvulsants and analgesics, and decrease the incidence of clinically meaningful postherpetic neuralgia.

Automated summary

High-voltage pulsed radiofrequency treatment for elderly patients with acute herpes zoster neuralgia can significantly reduce pain intensity, improve sleep quality, decrease doses of anticonvulsants and analgesics, and reduce the incidence of clinically meaningful postherpetic neuralgia when compared to standard-voltage pulsed radiofrequency.