Evaluation of Clinical Outcome after Gaserian Ganglion Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation For the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Article information Background: Trigeminal neuralgia is a common cause of sever annoying facial pain that has a great effect on patient’s life, and in drug resistant cases gaserian ganglion radiofrequency is minimally invasive, safe and effective procedure specially in patients not fit for microvascular decompression [MVD]. Aim of the work: To evaluate clinical outcome after Gaserian Ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Patients and Methods: We performed Gaserian Ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation on 25 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia and followed them for 12 months after surgery to compare our findings with those of other authors in the literature. Results: 100% of cases showed immediate post RF pain relief and VAS decreased from 9.8 to 0.24. the recurrence rate after 6 months of follow up was 8% [2 cases] and after 1 year was 20% [5 cases] . 100% developed facial hypoesthesia but improved gradually and only 2 patients, [8%] still complaining of ipsilateral hypoesthesia after 2 months. 12% of patients developed mild facial swelling that subsided over 1 to 2 weeks, and 12% developed grade 4 masticatory weakness that improved over 1 month, while there were no patients recorded with anesthesia dolorosa, corneal affection, CSF leak, meningitis or vascular injury . Conclusion: The results were