Comparison of Adjuvant Hypertonic Saline and Normal Saline for Epidural Block in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Double-Blind, Randomized Trial

Table 2

Changes in the estimated pain scores after epidural block with or without hypertonic saline in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

Variable	Time	Groups		Differences^a	value
		Normal saline (N = 17)	Hypertonic saline (N = 19)
Pain (NRS)	Baseline	6.7 (5.8–7.6)	6.4 (5.6–7.2)	−0.3 (−1.5–0.9)	0.643
	1 month	5.2 (4.3–6.2)^b	4.7 (3.9–5.6)^b	−0.5 (−1.7–0.7)	0.425
	3 months	4.8 (3.9–5.8)^b	4.3 (3.4–5.2)^b	−0.5 (−1.8–0.8)	0.465

A numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to assess the intensity of postherpetic neuralgia pain. A mixed linear model was used in the statistical analysis. The data are presented as the estimated mean with a 95% confidence interval. The group difference was not significant ( = 0.380). The time effect was significant ( < 0.001). The value of the interaction between the group and time was not significant ( = 0.942). ^aEstimated difference in values between groups. ^b < 0.001 compared with the baseline in each group.