Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods The database was searched systematically and comprehensively, including PubMed, Cochrane library, Medalink, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang data and VIP data, from database creation to February 15, 2018. Manual retrieval was supplemented. The Cochrane Handbook 5.1 was used to evaluate the studies, and Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results Seven literature were selected, including 486 patients. The Meta-analysis result showed that pain relief at 48 h, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after PRF was significantly better than that after traditional therapy in patients with PHN ( MD or SMD ＝-1.21,-1.38,-1.46,- 0.99 and- 0.95;95% CI-1.54 to-0.88,-1.58 to-1.17,-1.67 to-1.26,-1.31 to-0.67 and-1.13 to-0.77, P＜0.01). The incidence of short-term complications and adverse reactions was 4.9% (12/243), and the patients were able to relieve himself after 15 d. Conclusions PRF is more effective than traditional treatment for PHN, and the treatment effect and safety is more obvious within 6 months.