Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) plus hormonal therapy in treating patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). METHOD: This was an observational study. A total of 120 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain treated at Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from May 2023 to May 2024 were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The control group received standard treatment, including maintaining the cleanliness and dryness of the rash, wearing loose clothing, local ultraviolet or infrared irradiation. The study group received LIPUS plus hormone therapy in addition to the standard treatment. Clinical outcomes, pain intensity, sleep quality and anxiety status before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 88.33% in the study group and 70.00% in the control group, with the study group showing significantly higher efficacy (p= 0.013). There were no significant differences in VAS and PSQI scores between the two groups before treatment(p>0.05, respectively). After treatment, the study group exhibited more pronounced reductions in the VAS and PSQI scores compared to the control group, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (p< 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference in the SAS score between the two groups before treatment (p= 0.556). CONCLUSION: LIPUS plus hormone therapy may provide significant clinical benefits in treating PHN, with marked improvements in pain relief, without increasing the risk of adverse reactions. Therefore, this combination therapy is considered safe and efficacious for patients with PHN.