Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Transcutaneous Radiofrequency in Postherpetic Neuralgia

February 23, 2026 updated by: Damla Yürük, Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital

Which Is More Effective in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia: Erector Spinae Plane Block or Transcutaneous Radiofrequency?

This observational study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block and transcutaneous radiofrequency (RF) treatment in patients with postherpetic neuralgia. Pain intensity and neuropathic pain characteristics will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Self-Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) score.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Postherpetic neuralgia is a challenging neuropathic pain condition that significantly affects quality of life. In routine clinical practice, patients are treated with either ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block or transcutaneous radiofrequency therapy based on clinician preference and experience.

This observational study includes patients who have already completed one of these treatments as part of standard care in the Algology Clinic. No randomization or modification of treatment plans was performed for research purposes. Patients will be divided into two cohorts according to the treatment they received. Treatment outcomes will be retrospectively evaluated and compared using VAS and S-LANSS scores before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at 1-month follow-up.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients aged 18 to 80 years diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia involving cervical, thoracic, or lumbar dermatomes who underwent either ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block or transcutaneous radiofrequency treatment as part of routine clinical care. Patients were included if they had persistent pain despite conservative treatment and a baseline Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score greater than 5. All treatments were completed prior to study enrollment, and no changes were made to clinical management for research purposes.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis of postherpetic neuralgia involving cervical, thoracic, or lumbar regions

Age between 18 and 80 years

Persistent pain despite conservative treatment

Baseline VAS score > 5

Exclusion Criteria:

Ophthalmic or extremity postherpetic neuralgia

Allergy to local anesthetics

Pregnancy

Coagulopathy or use of antiplatelet therapy

Cognitive impairment preventing informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Erector Spinae Plane Block
Patients with postherpetic neuralgia who received ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block as part of routine clinical care.
Procedure: Erector Spinae Plane Block
  1. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block performed under sterile conditions as part of routine clinical care. After skin antisepsis, a 22-G spinal needle was advanced to the erector spinae plane at the level corresponding to the affected dermatome, and a total volume of 10 mL consisting of dexamethasone, bupivacaine, and normal saline was injected. Patients were observed post-procedure according to standard clinical practice.
  2. Transcutaneous radiofrequency treatment applied adjacent to the affected dermatome as part of routine clinical care. Adhesive surface electrodes were placed over the painful area, and pulsed electrical stimulation was delivered by the device for 10 minutes per session. The procedure was performed once weekly for two sessions, without any modification for research purposes.
Other Names:
  • Transcutaneous Radiofrequency
Transcutaneous Radiofrequency
Patients with postherpetic neuralgia who received transcutaneous radiofrequency treatment applied adjacent to the lesion area as part of routine clinical care
Procedure: Erector Spinae Plane Block
  1. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block performed under sterile conditions as part of routine clinical care. After skin antisepsis, a 22-G spinal needle was advanced to the erector spinae plane at the level corresponding to the affected dermatome, and a total volume of 10 mL consisting of dexamethasone, bupivacaine, and normal saline was injected. Patients were observed post-procedure according to standard clinical practice.
  2. Transcutaneous radiofrequency treatment applied adjacent to the affected dermatome as part of routine clinical care. Adhesive surface electrodes were placed over the painful area, and pulsed electrical stimulation was delivered by the device for 10 minutes per session. The procedure was performed once weekly for two sessions, without any modification for research purposes.
Other Names:
  • Transcutaneous Radiofrequency

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
VAS
Time Frame: Baseline, post-procedure 1 month
Pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS): is a simple tool used in clinical trials to measure pain intensity. Patients rate their pain on a scale, typically from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). It provides a quick, quantitative assessment of subjective pain and is commonly used to evaluate treatment effectiveness before and after intervention.
Baseline, post-procedure 1 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
S-LANSS
Time Frame: Baseline, post-procedure 1 month
Neuropathic pain characteristics were assessed using the Self-report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) questionnaire. The S-LANSS is a validated self-administered screening tool consisting of seven items evaluating pain quality and sensory abnormalities, including burning sensation, electric shock-like pain, dysesthesia, and altered skin sensitivity. Total scores range from 0 to 24, with scores ≥12 indicating a probable neuropathic pain component. The questionnaire has demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for identifying neuropathic pain in both clinical and research settings.
Baseline, post-procedure 1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: AYSE BETUL ACAR, Diskapi TRH

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 23, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ESP Block & Transcutaneous PRF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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