Application Of Infrared Thermography In The Evaluation Of Clinical Efficacy Of Pulsed Radiofrequency Therapy For Postherpetic Neuralgia

Objective: Posterior herpes zoster neuralgia is a common neuropathic pain disease in the Department of pain.Pulse radio frequency therapy for postherpetic neuralgia is currently the most widely used method in clinical practice.However,there is only a relatively subjective VAS score for evaluating the efficacy of patients after treatment,and there is no objective evaluation index.The patients were examined by infrared thermal imaging before and after pulsed radiofrequency therapy,To evaluate the feasibility and clinical significance of infrared thermal imaging technology in evaluating curative effect,the temperature changes of infrared thermal imaging before and after treatment were compared.Methods: Thirty patients with postherpetic neuralgia who were definitely diagnosed in our department and agreed to receive pulsed radio frequency therapy were selected.16 males and 14 females,age 48-77 years,mean age(63.3 ±7.8)years,and a course of disease of(4.5 ±2.7)months.Infrared thermal imaging examination was performed on the patients before surgery,2 days after surgery and 1 week after surgery,and the temperature,ART value and VAS score of the diseased side and the symmetrical healthy side were collected respectively before surgery,2 days after surgery and 1 week after surgery.Using SPSS22.0 statistical software for statistical analysis,and the test level P < 0.05.Results:(1)The temperature of the diseased side was higher than that of the healthy side before operation,2 days after operation and 1 week after operation,P < 0.05,and the difference was statistically significant.(2)ART values of the affected side were higher than those of the healthy side before operation,2 days after operation and 1 week after operation,P < 0.05,and the difference was statistically significant.(3)The △ART of the patients decreased gradually before surgery,2 days after surgery and 1 week after surgery,P < 0.05,and the difference was statistically significant.(4)VAS scores of the patients decreased gradually before surgery,2 days after surgery and 1 week after surgery.(5)There was no correlation between VAS score and the temperature of the affected side before operation,2 days after operation and 1 week after operation,P > 0.05.Conclusion: Infrared thermal imaging technology can objectively and accurately evaluate the preoperative and postoperative conditions of patients,and provide a new method and basis for clinicians to evaluate the postoperative efficacy of patients.