Therapeutic effect of computed tomography-guided dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency regulation combined with platelet-rich plasma injection on postherpetic neuralgia: A retrospective study

Introduction:
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the common refractory neuropathic pains. Oral drug treatment has great side effects and poor efficacy. To study the efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) targeting dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), this retrospective observation was performed.

Material and methods:
All patients with PHN were divided into the control group, PRF group, and PRF + PRP group based on their different treatment methods. The control group (45 cases) received drug treatment, the PRF group (45 cases) received CT-guided PRF treatment targeted to DRG, and the PRF + PRP group received PRF and PRP treatment. The changes of the numeric rating scale (NRS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) levels, and short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) before treatment and 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, and 90 days after treatment were compared among three groups.

Results:
NRS and PSQI scores in the PRF + PRP group were lower than those in the PRF group and control group at 90 days after treatment (p < 0.001). At 90 days after the operation, the scores of SF-36 in the PRF + PRP group were obviously elevated compared with the data of the control group and PRF group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
The pain degree, quality of sleep of patients, and quality of life with PHN were significantly improved after PRF combined with PRP treatments.