Effect of Combined Therapy of Radiofrequency Rhizotomy and Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Jo, K G; Rha, H K; Ann, M S; Choi, C R; Song, J U

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 1987;16(1): 125-130.

K G Jo, H K Rha, M S Ann, C R Choi, J U Song

Department of Neurosurgery, St. Paul's Hospital Catholic Medical College, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of the gasserian ganglion was performed in 150 patients. The average age of group was 55 years, and woman made up 61.1 percent of the patients. The pain was localized on the right in 58.7%. The most common divisions of the trigeminal nerve involved was the maxillary and mandibular divisions. The results of radiofrequency rhizotomy has been very satisfactory in 80.7%. Recurrent rate has been observed in 14.7%. Postoperative complications was noticed in 30%, but most were subsided within 2 weeks. Our results indicate that the radiofrequency rhizotomy is an excellant method of the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in the selected cases. Therefore we suggest that the rediofrequency rhizotomy is initially the procedure of choice for the trigeminal neuralgia but in recur or no response cases to radiofrequency rhizotomy, microvascular decompression is the second choice of treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia.

Key Words: The treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia; Percutaneous RF rhizotomy of the gasserian ganglion; The maxillary and mandibular divisions