THE TREATMENT OF HERPES ZOSTER BY PARAVERTEBRAL PROCAINE BLOCK

Abstract

A recent discussion of herpes zoster¹plainly indicates the unreliability of current therapeutic methods but fails to mention the one form of treatment which is likely to provide instantaneous and complete relief from pain. This method, which consists in blocking appropriate sympathetic ganglions with procaine hydrochloride, is not as well known as it should be because to our knowledge it has been described only once in the American literature; the article by Street²is a model of clinical writing and deserved wider circulation. However, Rosenak of Budapest³had previously reported a larger series of cases. We herein record our experiences with this treatment in 4 cases because we are persuaded that all other methods are obsolete. The total number of cases reported, including our own, is 29 and in only 2 of these was there failure to experience prompt and lasting relief from pain. <h3>REPORT OF CASES</h3>