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

Table 4

Changes in the estimated medication quantification scale 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)
MQS	Baseline	11.8 (8.4–15.1)	12.5 (9.3–15.6)	0.7 (−3.9–5.3)	0.771
	1 month	9.9 (6.4–13.4)	10.9 (7.6–14.1)	1.0 (−3.8–5.8)	0.693
	3 months	7.4 (3.8–11.1)^b	5.3 (1.9–8.7)^b	−2.1 (−7.1–2.9)	0.402

The medication quantification scale (MQS) was used to assess the changes in medication usage. 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 ( = 0.899). The time effect was significant ( = 0.003). The values of interaction between the group and time were significant ( = 0.465). ^aEstimated difference in values between groups. ^b < 0.001 compared with the baseline in each group.