Abstract:Objective:To investigate the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency in the treatment of provoked versus mixed postherpetic neuralgia, with the aim of informing therapeutic choices. Methods: A total of 190 patients with postherpetic neuralgia who attended the pain department of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2020 to March 2023 were included in the study. A total of 90 cases were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and they were divided into a mixed group (30 cases in the mixed group) and an agitated group (30 cases in the agitated group) based on the propensity score matching. Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency of peripheral nerves was used. The NRS scores and PSQI scores were compared between the two groups at 1 week postoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively, and the efficacy was evaluated at 6 months postoperatively. Results: Compared with the preoperative period, NRS and PSQI scores were lower in both groups at all postoperative time points (both P<0.05). Compared with the mixed group, NRS scores were lower in the provoked group at 3 months postoperatively (P<0.05); the differences in NRS scores between the two groups were not statistically significant at 1 week postoperatively, 1 and 6 months postoperatively. PSQI scores were lower at all postoperative time points (all P<0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference between the efficacy of the two groups (P>0.05); the excellent rate of the mixed group versus the provoked group was 76.67% versus 43.44%, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pulsed radiofrequency is effective in relieving pain in patients with postherpetic neuralgia, and there was no difference in mid- and long-term efficacy between the mixed and provoked groups, but the mixed group had a higher rate of excellence.