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Esketamine plus pulsed radiofrequency for nerve pain after shingles in the face

Tests esketamine with pulsed radiofrequency for shingles-related facial nerve pain in adults.

Key facts

Who runs it
Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Where
China1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
Trial code
Registry title
Esketamine Combined Pulsed Radiofrequency for Acute/Subacute Zoster-associated Trigeminal Neuralgia
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
174 people, planned
Started
1 Apr 2025
Planned end
30 Sept 2026
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Esketamine group
  • PRF group
Record updated
27 April 2025

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with face pain from shingles (herpes zoster) in the trigeminal nerve area in the last three months. Everyone is planned to have a pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) procedure on the Gasserian ganglion.

Age
Over 18 years
Sex
All sexes
Disease stage
Acute or subacute shingles-related trigeminal nerve pain. Shingles within the last three months, with skin lesions in the area of the trigeminal nerve or its branches.
Earlier treatment
Pain score of 4 or more out of 10 while already taking pain medicine. Planned CT-guided PRF treatment of the Gasserian ganglion. People getting other invasive treatments, such as spinal cord stimulation, cannot join.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Obstructive sleep apnoea
  • History of immune system diseases, organ transplant or cancer
  • Severe heart, lung, liver or kidney problems
  • Schizophrenia, epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, delirium, overactive thyroid or phaeochromocytoma
  • Recent drug abuse, reasons not to take esketamine, or communication difficulties

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 19 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Age >18 years
  • History of HZ within the last three months
  • Lesions located in the trigeminal nerve or its branches innervated regions；
  • Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score≥4 (NRS, 0 = no pain, 10= worst possible pain) with pharmacotherapy
  • Planned to perform CT-guided PRF treatment of the Gasserian ganglion

Who cannot take part

  • Receiving other treatment regimes during the study period
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
  • A history of systemic immune diseases, organ transplantation, or cancers
  • A history of severe cardiopulmonary, hepatic or renal dysfunction
  • A history of schizophrenia, epilepsy, or myasthenia gravis, delirium
  • Recent history of drug abuse
  • Those who receive other invasive treatments, such as spinal cord stimulation
  • Comorbid hyperthyroidism or phaeochromocytoma
  • Having contraindications to esketamine
  • Communication difficulties; Withdrawal criteria
  • Lost to follow-up during the study
  • Not perform the planned operation
  • Not suitable for continuing the study for emerging severe comorbidities or special physiological changes during the study
  • Voluntary withdrawal from the study

This trial has no sites in United States.

It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

To assess the 1-month effects and safety of esketamine combined PRF and standardized treatment to relieve pain in patients with acute/subacute zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia(ZRTN).

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Esketamine groupTreatment being tested

    Besides PRF plus standardized treatment, patients will also receive intravenous infusion of Esketamine ;

  • control groupExisting treatment, for comparison

    Patients will only receive PRF plus standardized treatment

    Treatment: PRF group

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Effect of Intravenous Infusion of Esketamine Combined Pulsed Radiofrequency on Acute/Subacute Zoster-associated Trigeminal Neuralgia
Plain-language title
Esketamine plus pulsed radiofrequency for nerve pain after shingles in the faceGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
27 April 2025