Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment for postherpetic neuralgia of supraorbital nerve: A case report

Lee, Jin Young; Sim, Woo Seog; Kim, Duk Kyung; Park, Hue Jung; Oh, Min Seok; Lee, Ji Eun

Case Report

Spinal Pain

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2014;9(2):103-105.
Published online April 30, 2014.

Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment for postherpetic neuralgia of supraorbital nerve: A case report

Jin Young Lee, Woo Seog Sim, Duk Kyung Kim, Hue Jung Park, Min Seok Oh, Ji Eun Lee

¹Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. huejung@catholic.ac.kr

Received: 26 August 2013 • Revised: 13 September 2013

Abstract

Pulsed radiofrequency treatment has an analgesic effect by neuromodulation of the central pain pathway without neural injury. However, lack of knowledge regarding the exact mechanism on neuropathic pain makes the use of pulsed radiofrequency treatment controversial. Here, we describe a case of satisfactory pain relief after ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment in a patient with supraorbital herpetic pain refractory to medication. This case indicates the potential of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment in patients with postherpetic supraorbital neuralgia.

Key Words: Pain, Pulsed radiofrequency, Supraorbital neuralgia, Ultrasound