ObjectiveTo study the efficacy and safety of low-temperature plasma ablation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) combined with drug in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

MethodsSixty patients with PHN were randomly divided into the oral medicine group (group A), oral medicine combined with paravertebral nerve block group (group B), and oral medicine combined with low-temperature plasma ablation of dorsal root ganglion (group C) (20 cases each group).The pain degrees of patients before treatment and after 1 week, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks of treatment were investigated using short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the occurrence of complications was recorded.

ResultsBefore treatment, the differences of the PRI, VAS and PPI scores of SF-MPQ among three groups were not staistically significant (P>0.05).After 1, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the PRI, VAS and PPI scores in group B and group C were significantly lower than those in group A (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).After treatment, the differences of the PRI, VAS and PPI scores of SF-MPQ between group B and group C were not statistically significant (P>0.05).Compared with before treatment, the PRI, VAS and PPI scores in three groups were significantly decreased after treatment (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).After treatment, no obvious adverse reaction was found in group B and group C.The varying degrees of dizziness and lethargy in group B and group C were found, the patients could tolerate, and the symptoms significantly alleviated or disappeared after treatment.

ConclusionsThe low-temperature plasma ablation of dorsal root ganglion combined with drug in treating PHN is safe and effective.