Efficacy of different interventions for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a Bayesian network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to perform a network meta-analysis that combined both direct and indirect evidence to compare the relative efficacy of interventional therapies to treat patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and to determine the treatments’ superiority and validity. METHOD: A conventional paired meta-analysis was performed. This was followed by a network meta-analysis using the Bayesian framework. RESULTS: Botulinum toxin type A and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) were the two most effective individual interventions. For combination therapy, PRF + nerve block (NB) was the best choice, followed by subcutaneous injection or local infiltration (SC) + NB + ozone (O3). However, the combination of PRF + NB + SC showed reduced the efficacy compared with each treatment and was highly invasive for patients. After a long-term follow-up, PRF was shown to be the most effective therapy for treating patients with PHN. CONCLUSIONS: Regular anti-neuropathic drug administration that was accompanied by interventional therapies at an early stage is the best choice to treat patients with PHN. Appropriate combinations of different interventions show improved pain relief. Clinicians should manage therapeutic regimens on the basis of the patients specific condition and existing measures and strive to achieve personalized treatment.