Clinical observation on thoracic paravertebral nerve block with ozone treatment in patients with postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of thoracic paravertebral nerve block with ozone in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Methods Eighty-five patients suffered postherpetic neuralgia were divided into 4 groups: Group A (oral drugs + intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 + local nerve block of lesion area), Group B (oral drugs + intramuscular injection of compound trivitamin B + local nerve block of lesion area), Group C (oral drugs + intramuscular injection of compound trivitamin B + thoracic paravertebral nerve block + local nerve block of lesion area), Group D (oral drugs + intramuscular injection of compound trivitamin B + thoracic paravertebral nerve block with ozone + local nerve block of lesion area). Treatment outcomes were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Quality of Sleep (QS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and C-reactive protein (CRP) before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. Results After treatment, VAS, QS and SDS scores of 4 groups were lower than that before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05, for all). There were no significant changes in the level of CRP of group A, B, C before and after treatment (P > 0.05, for all), while a significant change in CRP was observed in patients of group D between before and after treatment (P < 0.05). The improvement of VAS, QS and SDS scores of group D was significantly better than other 3 groups (P < 0.05, for all). Conclusion Thoracic paravertebral nerve block combined with ozone is a quick and effective method for postherpetic neuralgia patients.