Comparison of intra-lesional triamcinolone and 2% xylocaine in the treatment for post- herpetic neuralgia

Author: 
Sadaf Ahmed Asim, Asim Hameed, Jawwad Us Salam, Qamar Un Nisa, Sadia Iqbal, Firasat waqar and Muhammad masroor

Objective: To assess the efficacy of local infiltration of triamcinolone (40mg/ml) with distilled water compared to 2% xylocaine alone in the treatment of post herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Design: A comparative interventional clinical study.
Place and Duration of Study: The Skin Department, at Dow University Hospital from July 2015 to June 2016.
Patients and Methods: A total of 58 diagnosed patients of Post Herpetic Neuralgia aged between 21 to 82 years were included in the study. In triamcinolone group; Intralesionally mixture of triamcinolone(40mg/ml) to distil water ratio 30/70% were injected with help of fine needle insulin syringe while in other group 2% xylocaine were injected. Post-herpetic neuralgia pain was observed by visual analogue scale (VAS) before intralesionally injected and follow-ups periods.Final pain assessment observed after 2month.
Results: Out of 58 patients in this study, Overall male to female ratio was 1.4:1. 21 to 82 years with overall mean±SD age of patients was 49.59±12.5 years. On follow ups period upto 2 month, mean+SD pain of 2% xylocaine and triamcinolone observed via visual analogue scale were statistically best results in triamcinolone group as compared to 2% xylocainegroup {(triamcinolone; Before Rx 6.93±1.62, After Rx. 3.75±1.89; p=0.001) (2% xylocaine; Before Rx 6.59±1.24, After Rx. 4.52±1.78; p=0.001)}.
Conclusion: The combination of triamcinolone with distil water, used for local infiltration is very effective in treating neuralgia, compared with the injection of 2% xylocaine alone.

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