Photo Credit: iStock.com/Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen

A targeted ozone injection technique guided by CT imaging effectively eased drug-resistant postherpetic neuralgia, reducing pain, hypersensitivity, and medication use over 1 year. 

In a 1-year follow-up study published in the May 2025 issue of Frontiers in Neurology regarding chronic intractable postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), QoL severely affects after herpes zoster (HZ). 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to evaluate CT-guided intervertebral foramen injection of ozone (IVFO) in 56 patients with thoracic and lumbar PHN unresponsive to gabapentin (GBP) or pregabalin.  

They used the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), von Frey filaments, and infrared thermography to assess pain intensity, hyperalgesia area, and skin temperature before and after IVFO and recorded GBP dosage, time to discontinue, and post-discharge complications. 

The results showed VAS scores dropped by 59.19% (2.67 ± 0.66) immediately, 68.18% (2.08 ± 0.89) in 6 months, and 70.79% (1.91 ± 1.19) in 1 year. Hyperalgesia area decreased by 52.35% (3.11 ± 0.70) immediately and 87.41% (0.82 ± 0.50) in 6 months. Skin temperature reduced by 63.01% (0.85 ± 0.35) immediately. Half stopped GBP by 3 months. No serious complications were reported. 

Investigators found CT-guided IVFO treatment to be safe and effective for relieving chronic, drug-resistant thoracic and lumbar PHN. 

Source: frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1602689/full