CLINICAL REPORT Peripheral Subcutaneous Stimulation for the Treatment of Intractable Postherpetic Neuralgia: Two Case Reports and Literature Review

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common cause of chronic pain in the elderly. Antidepressants, anti- convulsants, and opioids may reduce discomfort in many patients, while others have pain intractable to all forms of therapy. We present a novel treatment approach for intrac- table PHN utilizing percutaneous peripheral nerve stimula- tion. Two cases are described in which an 80-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman with intractable PHN, lasting 2 and 10 years, respectively, were effectively treated with implantation of two octapolar leads in the lateral thoracic region. These cases suggest that peripheral nerve stimula- tion may offer an alternative treatment option for intrac- table pain associated with PHN especially in the elderly where treatment options are limited because of existing comorbidities.