Stellate ganglion block beneficial in postherpetic neuralgia

(HealthDay)—The therapeutic benefit of stellate ganglion block for debilitating photophobia secondary to trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia has been described in a case report published online July 5 in Pain Practice.

Alexander Sinofsky, M.D., from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and colleagues describe the case of a single patient who presented with debilitating photophobia secondary to left-sided trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia. A left-sided stellate ganglion block was performed on the patient under fluoroscopic guidance.

The researchers found that for approximately six months after the intervention the patient demonstrated significant reduction in pain score on the visual analogue scale, as well as improved functional capacity.

"This case report provides evidence that sympathectomy via a stellate ganglion block can treat photophobia secondary to postherpetic neuralgia in the V1 distribution," the authors write.

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