Comparative effectiveness of nerve block strategies for preventing postherpetic neuralgia in thoracic herpes zoster: a network meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Shingles is a common global disease, with the chest region being one of its most frequently affected areas. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most common and debilitating complications of this disease, characterized by high incidence, prolonged duration, and treatment resistance, severely affecting patients' daily life and quality of life. Currently, research on the prevention of PHN remains limited. Nerve block, as a promising intervention, has been widely applied in clinical pain management. However, there is still no consensus on the efficacy and safety of different nerve block techniques for the prevention of chest-related PHN, warranting further systematic evaluation and comparison.

Methods

A network meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 and S

SUBMITTER: Lu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12399379 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature