[Treatment of essential facial neuralgia by selective thermocoagulation of Gasser's ganglion].

The authors report their experience in the treatment of essential facial neuralgia by differential thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion. This method is based upon the fact that small pain fibres (A delta and C) are more sensitive to warmth than large touch fibres. Thus progressive and controlled thermocoagulation of the trigeminal ganglion makes it possible to obtain selective destruction of the small fibres (analgesia without anaesthesia). 76 patients were treated using the method, and in 75 cases the symptoms of neuralgia disappeared immediately. Mortality is nil and morbidity insignificant other than the effects on the trigeminal nerve. The most serious complication (Approximately 10% of cases) was that of marked hypoaesthesia, rather than pure analgesia, in the coagulated area.