High-Voltage Long-Duration Pulsed Radiofrequency Combined With Liposomal Bupivacaine Subcutaneous Block for Herpes Zoster-Associated Neuralgia

Launched by SHIRONG TAN · Apr 27, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment approach for people suffering from zoster-associated neuralgia (ZAN), which is a type of nerve pain that can occur after a shingles infection. The researchers want to see if combining a specific type of nerve treatment called high-voltage long-duration pulsed radiofrequency (HL-PRF) with a pain-relieving injection called liposomal bupivacaine (LB) can provide better pain relief than HL-PRF alone. The trial will involve about 92 participants aged between 40 and 85 who have experienced significant pain from ZAN and have not found relief with other treatments.

Participants in the trial will be divided into two groups: one will receive only the HL-PRF treatment, while the other will receive both HL-PRF and the LB injection shortly after. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored for their pain levels and any changes in their condition over several months. It’s important to know that this trial is looking for individuals who have moderate to severe pain and have not responded well to other therapies. This study could potentially help improve treatment options for those suffering from this painful condition.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Patients diagnosed with zoster-associated neuralgia (ZAN) who meet ALL of the following conditions:
• • Voluntarily provided written informed consent.
• • Inadequate response to pharmacological or other non-surgical therapies OR intolerable drug-related adverse effects.
• • Herpes zoster (HZ) lesions involving cranial/cervicocephalic, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar dermatomes.
• • Moderate-to-severe pain intensity, defined as a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥4 at baseline.
• • Aged between 40 and 85 years.
• • Body weight: Male ≥50 kg; female ≥45 kg.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Severe cardiovascular diseases or life-threatening arrhythmias (e.g., heart failure, third-degree atrioventricular block without pacemaker implantation).
• • Contraindications to minimally invasive interventions (e.g., coagulation disorders, active infections).
• • Allergy to local anesthetics or lipid emulsions; Severe dysfunction of vital organs (cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, or renal) rendering the patient unfit for the procedure.
• • Severe endocrine disorders or long-term use of corticosteroids/immunosuppressive agents.
• • Cognitive impairment or inability to cooperate with treatment protocols.
• • Prior history of neuromodulation therapies (e.g., spinal cord stimulation or pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment).