To investigate the technical methods, effectiveness and safety of short-course peripheral nerve stimulation (st-PNS) in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

The clinical data of fifteen patients with PHN treated with st-PNS from October 2023 to October 2024 were collected retrospectively. Numeric rating scale (NRS) was used for pain scoring, self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used for evaluation of psychological status. The data of gender, age, the duration of pain, preoperative SAS, preoperative SDS, the time of st-PNS, perioperative NRS and the improvement rate of NRS were collected and analyzed, to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of st-PNS, and the related Factors-of the rate of NRS improvement.

The stimulation time of this group of patients ranged from 7 to 16 d, with a median (quartile) of 14 (13, 15) d; The preoperative NRS score ranged from 7 to 10 points, with a median (quartile) of 8 (7, 9) points, mean postoperative NRS was 2.27 points. The pain degree of all patients was improved compared with that before operation, the effective rate was 100%, and the mean decline of NRS was (5.87±1.25) points, the mean improvement rate of NRS after surgery was 73.20%±18.15%. The average preoperative SDS score was 37.27, the preoperative SAS score was 20-75, and the median (quartile) score was 32 (23, 58). There was a significant correlation between preoperative NRS, preoperative SDS, and preoperative SAS and improvement rate of NRS (r=-0.517, P=0.048; r=-0.928, P<0.001; r=-0.895, P<0.001). There was no infection or other adverse reactions had happened.

st-PNS is safe and effective in improving PHN, but the effectiveness is affected by factors such as preoperative NRS, preoperative SDS, and preoperative SAS.