The Effect of Sympathetic Blocks in the Prevention of Postherpetic Neuralgia.
- Author:
Woo Seok KOH
1
;
Sang Man PARK
;
Band Soon KIM
;
Dong Yeop SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Posrherpetic neuralgia;
Sympathetic blocks
- MeSH:
Acute Pain;
Herpes Zoster;
Humans;
Nerve Block;
Neuralgia, Postherpetic*;
Research Personnel
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
1997;35(4):620-626
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Many investigators have advocated neural and especially regional sympathetic blockade for acute herpe. zoster pain. Some believe that nerve blocks not only relieve acute pain but also, if given early in the course of clinical disease, prevent progression to postherpetic neuralgia. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of sympathetic blockade on herpes zoster METHODS: Fifteen patients with herpes zoster were treated with sympathetic blocks according to the severity of pain. RESULTS: The total score of pain degree decreased from 3.4 to 1.1 with sympathetic blocks in 15 patients in 2 months. Sympathetic blocks prevented or relieved postherpetic neuralgia in more than 90% of patients treated within 2 weeks of the onset of the acute phase of the disease and in more than 85% of patients over 60. CONCLUSION: Sympathetic blocks are effective in preventing postherpetic neuralgia if applied soon after the onset of the acute phase of herpes zoster.
