CT-guided intervertebral foramen puncture and radiofrequency thermocoagulation through the superior margin of costotransverse joint for the treatment of refractory post-herpetic neuralgia in the upper thoracic segment / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency thermocoagulation with CT-guided transforaminal puncture of intervertebral foramen through the superior margin of costotransverse joint for refractory post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the upper thoracic segment.Methods:Thirty patients with PHN in the upper thoracic segment underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation with CT-guided intervertebral foramen puncture. The visual analogue scale and self-rating depression scale were used to evaluate the degree of postoperative pain and mental state before and after treatment, and patients were followed by telephone or outpatient visit.Results:No infection occurred after radiofrequency thermocoagulation in all 31 PHN patients. After operation, all patients had hypoesthesia in skin of the original pain area, the pain was significantly relieved, and the mental state improved significantly. The VAS scores were 5.94±0.93, 2.74±0.69, 2.68±0.70 and 2.45±0.51 before and 3 hours, 1 week, 1 month after treatment( t=18.80, t=18.80, t=16.44, all P<0.01). The SDS scores were 58.6±12.2, 47.7±4.4, 48.1±4.8 before and 1 week, 1 month after treatment( t=6.75, t=5.86, all P<0.01). There were 13 patients with moderate or severe depression before treatment, while no patients with moderate or severe depression after treatment; only 5 patients had mild depression one month after surgery. There was no hypoxemia under nasal catheter during the operation. Intraoperative hypertension was found in 19 cases; after treatment with Urapidil (12.5 - 50.0 mg), the blood pressure was not higher by 20% of the basal blood pressure and<180/100 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). No pneumothorax, perioperative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents occurred. Conclusion:Radiofrequency thermocoagulation with CT-guided intervertebral foramen puncture through the superior margin of costotransverse joint can effectively relieve refractory PHN of the upper thoracic segment with safety.