Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Temporary Spinal Cord Stimulation versus Pulsed Radiofrequency for Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Table 4

Baseline patient demographics.

	SCS cohort (n = 20)	PRF cohort (n = 20)	-value
Age (y, median (1^st–3^rd))	65.5 (61.8-75.0)	63.5 (55.5-73.3)	0.369
Gender (M/F)	11/9	10/10	0.752
Pain duration (d, median (1st–3rd))	55.0 (35.0-71.25)	47.5 (30.0-67.5)	0.640
Involved dermatome (N/%)
Cervical (N/%)	1 (5.0)	6 (30.0)	0.075
Thoracic (N/%)	15 (75.0)	9 (45.0)
Lumbosacral (N/%)	4 (20.0)	5 (25.0)
Comorbidity (N/%)	8 (40.0)	10 (50.0)	0.525
VAS (median (1^st–3^rd))	8.0 (8.0-8.3)	8.0 (7.8-9.0)	0.610
SIS (median (1^st–3^rd))	7.0 (7.0-8.0)	7.0 (7.0-8.0)	0.955
PHQ-9 (median (1^st–3^rd))	7.5 (6.0-9.3)	6.0 (5.0-6.0)	0.012
GAD-7 (median (1^st–3^rd))	6.5 (4.5-9.5)	7.0 (3.0-10.0)	1.000
PF of SF-36 (median (1^st–3^rd))	55.0 (40.0-70.0)	40.0 (40.0-56.3)	0.119
BP of SF-36 (median (1^st–3^rd))	31.0 (12.0-43.8)	31.0 (12.0-31.0)	0.429

SCS: spinal cord stimulation; PRP: pulsed radiofrequency; 1^st-3^rd: 1^st-3^rd quartiles; VAS: visual analogue scale; SIS: daily sleep interference score; PHQ-9: patient health questionnaire-9; GAD-7: generalized anxiety disorder 7 scale; SF-36: the 36-item short-form health survey; PF: physical function; BP: bodily pain.