China Journal of Leprosy and Skin Diseases ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 166-171.doi: 10.12144/zgmfskin202503166

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of efficacy of subcutaneous injection of swelling anesthetic solution in treating postherpetic neuralgia and influencing factors

LIU Yun1,2,3, XIE Weixing1,2, WU Xiaoxiao1,2, LI Wenchao1,2, WANG Honglei1,2, XIE Kai1,2, CAO Nan1,2, WANG Xueqing1,2, LI Zhen1,2, LIU Guoyan1,2, LIU Hong1,2,3, ZHANG Furen1,2   

  1. 1 Hospital for Skin Diseases, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250022, China; 2 Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250022, China; 3 School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
  • Online:2025-03-15 Published:2025-03-03

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Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous injection in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and to analyze the factors influencing treatment outcomes. Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with PHN and severe pain (NRS≥7) in our hospital from January 1, 2020 to June 1, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment methods, including subcutaneous injection alone group (swelling anesthesia solution was normal saline 500 mL, 2% lidocaine 15 mL, 10% sodium bicarbonate 10 mL, 1∶1000 epinephrine 0.5 mL, triamcinolone acetonide injection 50 mg), pregabalin alone group, subcutaneous injection combined with pregabalin group. Paired t test was used to compare the changes of pain score before and after treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the factors affecting the efficacy, and chi-square test was used to compare the efficacy between the two groups. Results: A total of 333 patients were enrolled, including 31 patients in the subcutaneous injection group, 158 patients in the pregabalin group, and 144 patients in the subcutaneous injection combined with pregabalin group. One month after injections, patients experienced significantly lower pain score （8.42 ± 1.02 vs. 5.19 ± 2.50, P<0.05）. Subcutaneous injections were effective in 42.31% after one application and 88.89% after two. Factors affecting efficacy included pain area, more than one duration of PHN and severe pain in the acute phase of herpes zoster were risk factors for inefficiency, while two or more injections and combination with pregabalin were protective factors （P<0.05）. Subcutaneous injection combined with pregabalin was superior to subcutaneous injection only and oral pregabalin only in relieving patients' pain （P<0.05）. Discussion: The area of lesions, the course of PHN, the number of injections, whether there is pain during the acute phase of herpes zoster and whether pregabalin is combined are factors affecting the efficacy of subcutaneous injection. Subcutaneous injection combined with pregabalin can significantly relieve the pain of patients with severe PHN.

Key words: subcutaneous injection, postherpetic neuralgia, pregabalin