Controlled thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia; analysis of 39 cases
Tsukahara, Y.; Tanahashi, T.; Ohta, S.; Iida, H.; Suzuki, A.; Shimonaka, H.; Sone, T.; Yamamoto, M.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 36(2): 243-246
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 3586321 Document Number: 294362
Thirty nine patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated by controlled thermocoagulation of trigeminal ganglion and rootlets for 6 years. The percentage of the patients with satisfactory pain relief decreased with time: 84.8% after 1 year, 71.4% after 2 years, 47.6% after 3 years reaching 50.0% after 4 years. The longest case was free from pain more than 5 years. There was one patient with diplopia as complication during operation. The patients were followed; five patients complained of dysesthesia and one suffered hypesthesia of the tongue. Four of fifteen patients who had had recurrent pain were treated by second thermocagulation with satisfactory result. We propose that thermocoagulation is preferable method for the patients with trigeminal neuralgia who are old or refuse operation.