Abstract
Thirty-nine patients with trigeminal neuralgia, not controlled by medical treatment, were treated by radio-frequency thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion and its posterior rootlets. Thirty-six received satisfactory pain relief. In 30 patients touch sensation in the treated territory was preserved. The corneal reflex was affected in only six patients, two of whom subsequently developed keratitis. There were no other complications apart from a minor unpleasant sensation in eight patients. By selectively destroying pain fibres this technique offers the scope of preserving touch sensation in the treated area. Moreover, the zone of analgesia can be restricted to the affected region by sensory mapping through electrode stimulation before thermocoagulation. Its simplicity, low morbidity, associated short hospital stay, and the increased ability to preserve touch sensation, especially of the cornea, seem to make it preferable to other forms of surgical management for trigeminal neuralgia.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BLOM S. TIC DOULOUREUX TREATED WITH NEW ANTICONVULSANT; EXPERIENCES WITH G 32883. Arch Neurol. 1963 Sep;9:285–290. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1963.00460090091009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Menzel J., Piotrowski W., Penzholz H. Long-term results of Gasserian ganglion electrocoagulation. J Neurosurg. 1975 Feb;42(2):140–143. doi: 10.3171/jns.1975.42.2.0140. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PENMAN J. Some developments in the technique of trigeminal injection. Lancet. 1953 Apr 18;1(6764):760–764. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(53)91892-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sweet W. H., Wepsic J. G. Controlled thermocoagulation of trigeminal ganglion and rootlets for differential destruction of pain fibers. 1. Trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg. 1974 Feb;40(2):143–156. doi: 10.3171/jns.1974.40.2.0143. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]