The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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A Case of Postherpetic Neuralgia Treated with Skin Excision

피부절제술로 치료한 대상포진후 신경통 -증례 보고-

  • Lee, Kyung-Jin (Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Ajou University Hospital) ;
  • Han, Sang-Gun (Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Ajou University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Jin-Soo (Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Ajou University Hospital) ;
  • Yoon, Suk-Hwan (Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Ajou University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Young-Suk (Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Ajou University Hospital)
  • 이경진 (아주대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실 통증클리닉) ;
  • 한상건 (아주대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실 통증클리닉) ;
  • 김진수 (아주대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실 통증클리닉) ;
  • 윤석환 (아주대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실 통증클리닉) ;
  • 이영석 (아주대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실 통증클리닉)
  • Published : 1999.11.30
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Abstract

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is defined as the persistence of pain after recovery from herpes zoster (HZ), when the rash has healed, usually after about 4 weeks. PHN is the most feared complication of herpes zoster and remains one of the most common and intractable chronic pain disorders. Recent evidence has shed some light on the possible mechanism of pain, and on the prophylactic and treatment approaches to PHN, but there is no secure therapy. This report is a case of a 70-year-old male with PHN, affecting the 8th to 10th thoracic dermatomes. Patient complains of allodynia and hyperalgesia on the affected skins. After sympathectomy, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and capsaicin ointment application, much pain relief was achieved, but allodynia remained at the subcostal area about $7\times3 cm^2$ in size. We decided to remove the painful area. Skin excision was done under local anesthesia. After skin excision, the pain was decreased and patient did not complain of pain for 10 months.

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