Treatment of Chronic Postherpetic Pain With Fat Grafting

Treatment of Chronic Postherpetic Pain With Fat Grafting - A Pilot Study

This study evaluates the possible beneficial effect of fat grafting for post herpetic neuralgia.

Herpes Zoster (HZ),is a condition caused by Varizella-Zooster virus (VZV), The disease is caused by reactivation of a latent VZV-infection in the sensory ganglia.

Clinically the condition is characterized by a painful, unilateral, vesicular rash. Pain is the most prominent symptom in around 90% of patients. In 10% of patients this pain remains and becomes chronic.

Post-herpetic neuralgia is a chronic pain syndrome that occurs after the dermal manifestations disappears.

Treatment is complex and mainly topical or systemic. For many patients this is not sufficient and they live with constant pain.

Fat grafting has shown promise in treating several different painful conditions such as post mastectomy pain syndrome, painful scars etc.

This study investigates is PHN can be treated by fat grafting.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age over 18
• Pain in area of former VZV-infection.
• Pain present over 3 months after reactivation of VZV and is present at least 4 days a week and of intensity >3 on the VAS-scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychiatric illness that could potentially affect the study.
• Other indication for fat grafting than pain.