الفهرس 
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Abstract
Background: fifty percent of patients develop chronic pain after thoracotomy surgery, which affects their daily life activity and impairs their quality of life. Aim of this study: The main goal of this study is to compare the effect of oral pregabalin and pulsed radiofrequency (RF) of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in the treatment of chronic post-thoracotomy pain (CPTP). The secondary goals include the change in the severity of neuropathic pain, the need for rescue analgesia, side effects of pregabalin or radiofrequency, and patient satisfaction in both groups. Method: thirty participants are divided into two equal groups. group A received oral pregabalin with a dose ranging from 75 to 300 mg twice daily. group B underwent pulsed RF of DRG. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, LANSS score, the need for rescue analgesia, and side effects were assessed at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months. Patient satisfaction was assessed at the end of the follow up period. Results the median VAS score was lower in the RF treated group than pregabalin group with a P value 0.001, 0.02, 0.01, and 0.22 at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months respectively. The mean LANSS score was lower at 2 weeks and 1 month in the RF group, but the ratio was reversed at 2, and 3 months. Also, the number of patients who needs rescue analgesia, the total amount of paracetamol and piroxicam used were lower in the RF groups. Patients in the RF group developed hypothesia in the corresponding dermatome, while in the pregabalin group suffered dizziness, somnolence, and balance disorders. At the end of the study, patients were more satisfied with RF treatment than pregabalin. Conclusion: Patients treated with pulsed RF had significant reduction in pain scores, less rescue analgesia consumed, self-limited, tolerable side effects, and were more satisfied with the treatment modality as compared to pregabalin treated patients in a 3 months follow-up period.