Lumbar Sympathetic Block for Intractable Lower-Limb Postherpetic Neuralgia: Report of Two Cases

ÖZTÜRK E. C., ŞENCAN S., GÜNDÜZ O. H.

PAIN PRACTICE, cilt.21, sa.3, ss.353-356, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 21 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/papr.12958
  • Dergi Adı: PAIN PRACTICE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.353-356
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: lumbar sympathetic block, postherpetic neuralgia, neuropathic pain, HERPES-ZOSTER, GANGLION
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Lumbar sympathetic block is a commonly used technique for sympathetically mediated pain syndromes. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is also accepted to be associated with sympathetic system activation. While sympathetic blocks were utilized for upper-extremity or face-related PHN, there has not been any report regarding lower-extremity PHN, as it is an uncommon region. Here, we present two cases of systemic drug-resistant PHN in lower limb, relieved with lumbar sympathetic block. Both patients had at least 50% reduction in numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at the end of 6 months. Lumbar sympathetic block could be considered in the treatment of lower-limb PHN. More reports and controlled trials are needed for further understanding the role of the intervention in this neuropathic pain syndrome.