• Yong Fei, Longsheng Xu, Hanrui Fan, Bin Jiang, Zheming Shao, and Beibei Liu.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Sep 1; 189: e857e863e857-e863.

PurposeThis study is aimed at evaluating the efficacy of mind-regulating and depression-relieving acupuncture in combination with radiofrequency thermocoagulation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).MethodsPHN patients who presented to the Pain Department of Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University from November 2021 to June 2023 were included. The participants were assigned into 2 groups using a random number table: Acupuncture + RFTC (group H, n = 44) group and RFTC (group C, n = 44) group. The pain numerical rating score (NRS), visual analogue scale scores (VAS), IL-6, Gal-3, oral dose of tramadol and gabapentin capsules levels were recorded before and after 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of the treatment.ResultsAfter treatment, NRS scores in both groups were significantly lower than pretreatment scores at each time point. Compared with before treatment, the VAS scores at all time points after treatment was increased in both groups. Compared with before treatment, the doses of oral gabapentin capsules and tramadol were reduced in both groups after treatment. Compared with group C, the doses of oral gabapentin capsules and tramadol after the end of the treatment course were significantly reduced in group H. Compared with before treatment, the blood levels of Gal-3 and IL-6 were reduced at all points after treatment in both groups. Compared with group C, the blood Gal-3 and IL-6 levels were significantly reduced in group H.ConclusionsCompared with RFTC alone, acupuncture combined with RFTC of DRG has a better therapeutic effect for PHN.Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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