Clinical Experience of Herpes Zoster Developing within Recent Surgical Scar Area

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Herpes zoster is a common dermatologic disease characterized by unilateral pain and vesicular lesions over the unilateral sensory dermatomes being caused by the reactivation of Varicella zoster virus and its incidence seems to be increasing recently. In case of involving the ganglion of the fifth cranial nerve(trigeminal nerve), it can descend down the affected nerve into skin, then producing an eruption in the dermatome. Among the patients, about 40-50% had associated conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver diseases, peptic ulcer, hypothyroidism, pharyngitis but rare facial trauma. METHODS: Retrospective study was done for 3 cases of Herpes zoster from May 2000 to May 2007, which had been treated with acyclovir and steroid. RESULTS: The clinical course was uneventful. Follow- up length was about 3 months. After treatment, the patients became stable and there was no complications. CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster was commonly associated with systemic disorders and the treatment duration was prolonged in associated diseases. But herpes zoster occurring specifically at the site of previously traumatized facial skin has not yet been reported. We experienced the treatment of herpes zoster developing within recent operative facial scar and three cases are presented with the review of literatures. Finally, facial trauma might be a risk factor for herpes zoster in traumatized patients.