title: Jaipur block in postherpetic neuralgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postherpetic neuralgia, a common sequele to herpes zoster infection, is a chronic debilitating problem. The available therapeutic modalities are usually ineffective.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3960 patients (1326 women and 2634 men; age group, 21-84 years), with postherpetic neuralgia as the presenting complaint and with pain lasting from 2 months to 5 years, were treated with Jaipur block, consisting of local subcutaneous infiltration of 2% xylocaine, 0.5% bupivacaine, and 4 mg/mL dexamethasone solution. Patients were followed up at six-weekly intervals with subsequent injections given in non-responders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight per cent of patients obtained complete relief from pain after a single injection, another 57% after a second injection, and 11% after a third injection; 4% of patients did not respond to treatment. The non-responders were either old (over 60 years) or had pain lasting for more than 2 years. The response to therapy was similar in both sexes. There were 31 left-handed patients in this study. Pain was less severe in left-handed patients and they obtained complete relief after a single injection. Side-effects including giddiness and sweating were seen, occasionally, in a few patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ninety six per cent of patients obtained complete relief after the block with a follow-up of up to 19 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Haldia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhargava
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome