AIM:To analyze the curative effect of pulsed radiofrequency combined with nerve block in the treatment of eyelid postherpetic neuralgia(PHN).

METHODS:Eighty-one patients(81 eyes)with eyelid herpes zoster from January 2011 to August 2014 in our hospital were randomly divided into three groups(27 patients in group A, 27 patients in group B and 27patients in group C). Patients in group A were treated with intravenous infusion of acyclovir and dexamethasone. Patients in group B were treated with intravenous infusion of acyclovir and supraorbital nerve block using compound betamethasonePatients in group C were treated with pulsed radiofrequency and nerve block along with the same medicine acyclovir. Visual analogue scale(VAS)before treatment and 1, 7, 30, 90d after treatments, clinical efficacy and complications during the treatments in the three groups were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS:The VAS of patients in group A before treatments and 1,7,30,90d after treatments were 8.2±1.5,7.3±1.6,6.5±1.4,6.1±1.1,5.9±0.7repectively; those of group B were 8.2±1.3,6.3±1.1,5.7±0.9,5.1±1.1,4.1±0.7; those of group C were 8.1±1.5,2.1±0.7,2.2±0.8,2.9±0.7,2.7±0.8. Pain of patients in group C relieved quickly after treatments of pulsed radiofrequency combined with nerve block. After 1 and 3mo, the VAS of group C rose a little, but still significantly lower than that of the other groups.At 1, 7, 30 and 90d after treatments, differences on VAS of three groups were statistically significant(F=10.320,5.207,2.364,2.805; P<0.05).Patients in group C had no severe complications, such as corneal hypoesthesia etc. in addition to relieved pain. The occurrence of keratitis and keratohelcosis in group C were reduced.

CONCLUSION:Pulsed radiofrequency combined with nerve block can rapidly relieve the pain of PHN, reduce the complications, and may be a safety and effective method for eyelid postherpetic neuralgia.