[Trigeminal neuralgia. Classical clinical and therapeutic aspects. Advantages of a modern method: controlled differential heat coagulation].

The main clinical aspects of essential trigeminal neuralgia are reported and traditional medical and surgical therapy reviewed. Results obtained in 114 patients treated with a modern method, controlled differential thermocoagulation, are then analysed. This consists of percutaneous infiltration of Gasser's ganglion and/or retrogasserian roots and in causing thermolesions by means of radiofrequency, i.e. using constantly controlled and steadily increasing temperatures which selectively damage the finer painful facial fibres without affecting the more resistant tactile fibres. While the principal advantage of this method lies in the elimination of pain with partial saving of facial tactile sensitivity, other practical advantages are of no less importance: these include the fact that the method is so harmless that all patients, even those of advanced age, could leave hospital at the latest one day after treatment.