ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the effects of transforaminal peripheral nerve stimulation(PNS) and spinal cord stimulation(SCS) in treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.Methods A total of 64 patients with postherpetic neuralgia in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2016 were divided into PNS group and SCS group according to random number table.Both two groups were treated with PNS or SCS for 14 days,respectively.Visual analogue scale(VAS) and piasburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) were adapted to assess the effects at the different time of preoperation, postoperation 1 day,1 week,1 month,2 months.Results At the preoperation and 2 months postoperation,in PNS group,the VAS were (8.4±1.6) and (1.4±1.0),the PSQI were (16.1±2.1) and (5.8±1.3),respectively;meanwhile in the SCS group,the VAS were (8.6±1.8) and (2.9±1.2),the PSQI were (15.6±2.3),(7.5±1.5),respectively.Obviously,the VAS and PQSI at different follow-up stages were improved after transforaminal PNS or SCS treatment, the differences were signicant(P<0.05).Moreover,the PNS group had lower VAS and higher PQSI compared with the SCS group at different follow-up stages,the differences were signicant(P<0.05).Conclusion The transforaminal PNS achieved satisfying outcomes on pain relief and quality of sleep improvements for the postherpetic neuralgia patients,which was superior to that of the SCS.