Efficacy of continuous epidural infusion with epidural electric stimulation compared to that of conventional continuous epidural infusion for acute herpes zoster management: a retrospective study

Table 4 Comparison of pain scores between the groups for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar levels

	Cervical area			Thoracic area			Lumbar area
	Acute HZ (≤ 30 days)		P value	Acute HZ (≤ 30 days)		P value	Acute HZ (≤ 30 days)		P value
	Contrast group (n = 14)	Stimulation group (n = 13)	P value	Contrast group (n = 36)	Stimulation group (n = 33)	P value	Contrast group (n = 7)	Stimulation group (n = 11)	P value
Baseline pain score	7.8 ± 1.4	6.9 ± 1.3	P = 0.13	7.4 ± 1.6	7.2 ± 1.5	P = 0.85	7.1 ± 1.7	7.3 ± 2.0	P = 0.9
Pain score^a immediately after epidural procedure	3.8 ± 2.0	3.0 ± 2.1	P = 0.44	3.5 ± 2.0	3.1 ± 1.7	P = 0.51	3.0 ± 1.8	2.1 ± 1.8	P = 0.58
Pain score^a 14 days after epidural procedure	3.2 ± 2.1	1.7 ± 0.8	P = 0.02	2.8 ± 1.9	1.7 ± 0.9	P = 0.03	2.3 ± 1.0	1.5 ± 0.8	P = 0.08
Pain score^a 1 month after epidural procedure	3.4 ± 2.5	1.9 ± 1.2	P = 0.06	2.9 ± 2.1	2.0 ± 1.1	P = 0.19	2.7 ± 1.5	1.6 ± 1.1	P = 0.12
Pain score^a 3 months after epidural procedure	2.3 ± 1.3	1.3 ± 1.3	P = 0.04	2.6 ± 2.0	1.6 ± 1.1	P = 0.04	2.9 ± 2.0	1.3 ± 1.2	P = 0.07
Pain score^a 6 months after epidural procedure	2.2 ± 1.8	1.2 ± 1.1	P = 0.03	2.2 ± 1.8	1.3 ± 1.1	P = 0.08	2.3 ± 1.6	1.2 ± 1.2	P = 0.46

Data are represented as adjusted mean ± standard deviation. Data were analyzed for differences in pain score between the groups using covariance analysis. Adjustments were made for age, sex, timing from rash to epidural procedure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, hepatic disease, and kidney disease
HZ herpes zoster, ^aPain score on an 11-point (0–10) numerical rating scale

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