Investigation of the Effects of Pulsed Radiofrequency Application of the Thoracal Dorsal Root Ganglion on Postherpetic Neuralgia and Post-thoracotomy Pain Syndromes

Authors : Çağatay KÜÇÜKBİNGÖZ, Fidan MARUFOGLU, Tamer BAYRAM, Ayşe BAHŞİ, Hayri ÖZBEK

Pages : 262-266

Doi:10.36516/jocass.1299024

View : 110 | Download : 55

Publication Date : 2023-08-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: The causative agent of herpes zoster insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(HZ); is the reactivated varicella-zoster virus. HZ leads to severe and painful rashes that can be accompanied by long-term pain, i.e., postherpetic neuralgia insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PHN);. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IASP);, post-thoracotomy pain syndrome insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PTPS); is defined as “recurrent or persistent pain along the thoracotomy incision at least two months after surgery”⁸. Methods: In this study, the medical records of all the patients were reviewed for age, gender, size, thoracic level, cause of pain, and visual analog scale insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(VAS); and DN4 scores from the patient files maintained in the archive of the Department of Algology. Two cycles of pulse radiofrequency insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PRF); were administered for 2 min each. Then, a total of 5 ml of dexamethasone, lidocaine, bupivacaine, and isotonic solutions of 4 mg, 20 mg, 5 mg, and 5 mg, respectively, were added through the RF cannula at the DRG level in each application. Results: In total, 40 patients, including 25 men insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(62.5%); and 15 women insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(37.5%);, were analyzed in this study. The mean age of the patients was 60.5 ± 12.4 years, and the median duration of pain was 2 years insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.2–15 years);. When PHN and PTPS groups were compared on the basis of the pain etiology, the VAS values before treatment were not statistically different insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p = 0.129);, whereas the VAS values after treatment were significantly lower in the PTPS group than in the PHN group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p = 0.001);. Conclusions: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of DRG PRF therapy on the causes of chronic thoracic pain and in different etiologies. The results revealed that PRF therapy is more effective in treating patients with PTPS than those with PHN. We also found that factors such as age, gender, and size did not significantly affect the treatment. Keywords: Postherpetic neuralgia, post-thoracotomy pain syndrome, pulsed radiofrequency
Keywords : Postherpetik nevralji, posttorakotomi ağrı sendromu, pulsed radyofrekans, torakal dorsal kök gangliyonu

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