title: Pulsed radiofrequency to the great occipital nerve for the treatment of intractable postherpetic itch: a case report.
abstract: A patient with intractable postherpetic itch lasting for 1 year was reported. The itch was mainly from the left vertex, frontal and ophthalmic regions and extended to the left neck area. The patient had negative response to the ophthalmic nerve block. Under the initial positive response to the great occipital nerve block, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) was performed on the position of the great occipital nerve. After 4 months treatment, the itch was completely vanished. This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of PRF for intractable postherpetic itch originating in the head and neck. However, more samples needed to verify this management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Wuhan Pu-Ai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430010, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: De-Fang
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Wuhan Pu-Ai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430010, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Rong-Chun
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Wuhan Pu-Ai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430010, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Ju
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Wuhan Pu-Ai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430010, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430030, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Bing
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Xiang
keywords: Postherpetic itch; great occipital nerve; pulse radiofrequency