Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40606142›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2025

Efficacy and safety of short-term spinal cord stimulation and pulsed radiofrequency in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a meta-analysis.

Zehao Liu, Yan Weng, Funing Liu, Dezhou Jiang, Chunmei Wu, Yong Chen, Xiaoxia Duan, Qing Zhong

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. [Adjunctive agents for nerve blocks/local injections in the treatment of zoster-associated pain: A systematic review based on levels of evidence].Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Observational
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Zehao Liu *Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
Yan Weng *Department of Anesthesiology, The People's Hospital of Jianyang, Jianyang, China.
Funing LiuChengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Dezhou JiangChengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Chunmei WuDepartment of Anesthesiology, The People's Hospital of Jianyang, Jianyang, China.
Yong ChenDepartment of Anesthesiology, The People's Hospital of Jianyang, Jianyang, China.
Xiaoxia DuanDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
Qing ZhongDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of short-term Spinal Cord Stimulation (stSCS) and Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF) in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disk), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the establishment of the database to August 1, 2024. Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 18.0 were used for the meta-analysis. Results: In total, eight randomized controlled trials comprising 479 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that compared with PRF, stSCS had better pain relief ( Conclusion: In general, stSCS is a more effective and safe method for the treatment of PHN, but its high cost is an unavoidable problem. Each method has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered comprehensively in clinical practice. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024576536.

Indexed as

meta-analysispostherpetic neuralgiapulsed radiofrequencyshort-term spinal cord stimulationtreatment

Identifiers

PMID40606142
PMCPMC12213773

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.