The efficacy of local infiltration of triamcinolone acetonide with lignocaine compared with lignocaine alone in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of local infiltration of corticosteroid with lignocaine compared to lignocaine alone in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

DESIGN

A randomized clinical trial.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The Skin Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from September 2002 to March 2003.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty patients were selected for the study. They were randomly assigned to two groups. Group-I received injection triamcinolone acetonide with lignocaine and group-II was given injection lignocaine alone. Three injections were given to each patient at fortnightly interval and pain relief was assessed by visual analogue scale at 6 and 12 weeks following the first injection.

RESULTS

Follow-up at 6 weeks showed complete pain relief in 63.3% (n=19) patients of group-I in comparison to 16.6% (n=5) of group-II. Chi-square value was 13.3 (p<0.001). At 12 weeks follow-up group-I showed further improvement with complete pain relief in 83.3% (n=25) whereas group-II showed diminishing response with cure rates falling to 6.6% (n=2). Chi-square value was 35.6 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Locally infiltrated injection triamcinolone acetonide with lignocaine was significantly more effective than injection lignocaine alone in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia both at 6 and 12 weeks follow-up.