From the Sivas Zara State Hospital Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Sivas, Turkey (FB); and Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Sivas, Turkey (MNT, OG, OA).
Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2024 Sep 1;103(9):e122-e125. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002480. Epub 2024 May 7.
Postherpetic neuralgia results from varicella-zoster virus reactivation post-chickenpox infection, manifesting as persistent and severe pain lasting a minimum of 3-mo post-herpes zoster onset. Traditional postherpetic neuralgia management comprises antiviral, analgesic medications, corticosteroids, and various agents. Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks have recently emerged as a promising postherpetic neuralgia treatment. In a case involving a 58-year-old man with severe thoracic herpes zoster lesions, the serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block was employed under ultrasound guidance, significantly reducing pain scores and enhancing quality of recovery. This study underscores serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block's secure, effective role in managing thoracic herpes zoster, and mitigating postherpetic neuralgia risk. This case report represents the pioneering application of serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block for postherpetic neuralgia, offering a promising avenue for relieving patients suffering from this condition.
带状疱疹后神经痛是由水痘-带状疱疹病毒在感染水痘后再激活引起的，表现为持续和严重的疼痛，至少在疱疹后 3 个月持续存在。传统的带状疱疹后神经痛管理包括抗病毒、镇痛药物、皮质类固醇和各种药物。超声引导下神经阻滞最近成为一种有前途的带状疱疹后神经痛治疗方法。在一例 58 岁男性严重的胸带状疱疹病变中，在超声引导下进行了胸背部上肋间神经阻滞，显著降低了疼痛评分并提高了恢复质量。本研究强调了胸背部上肋间神经阻滞在管理胸带状疱疹和降低带状疱疹后神经痛风险方面的安全、有效作用。本病例报告代表了胸背部上肋间神经阻滞用于带状疱疹后神经痛的开创性应用，为缓解此类患者的痛苦提供了一种有前途的途径。
