Objective To observe the effect of radiofrequency pulse of dorsal root ganglion(DRG) combined with gabapentin in treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods A total of 102 patients with PHN were selected as study objects, and were randomly divided into gabapentin group (n=51, conventional drug and gabapentin) and gabapentin combined with radiofrequency group (n=51, adding DRG pulse radiofrequency on the basis of gabapentin group). The curative effect, pain status, sleep status, serum substance P (SP) and neurokinin-1 (NK-1) levels and occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results The total effective rate of the gabapentin and radiofrequency group was higher than that of the gabapentin group (94.12% versus 76.47%, P < 0.05); after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the pain scores of Numerical Evaluation Scale (NRS) and Sleep Interference Score (SIS) in two groups were lower than before treatment, and were lower in the gabapentin combined with radiofrequency group than those in the gabapentin group (P < 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, serum SP and NK-1 levels in two groups were lower than before treatment, and were lower in the gabapentin combined with radiofrequency group than the gabapentin group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between gabapentin combined with radiofrequency group (9.80%) and the gabapentin group (5.88%) (P>0.05).

Conclusion DRG pulsed radiofrequency combined with gabapentin has good effects in PHN patients, which can effectively reduce the levels of serum SP and NK-1, relieve pain, improve sleep condition, and has fewer adverse reactions.