[The evaluation of curative effect of radiofrequency thermocoagulation on semilunar ganglion of aged patients with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate curative effect and importance of radiofrequency thermocoagulation onsemilunar ganglion of aged patients with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia.

METHOD: 112 cases with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia were performed with radiofrequency thermocoagulation on semilunar ganglion by puncture through skin under local anesthesia.

RESULT: The maintaining effective duration in 112 cases was 7.3 ± 1.3 years after primary therapy. After the first thermocoagulation, 89.28% (100/112) patients got the relief from pain immediately, 8 (7.14%) cases also recieved the same effect after twice treatment. However two cases (2.6%) had no effects. The total effective rate was 98.21%. During five follow-up years, VAS scores, dose of carbamazepine and satisfaction were better than those before the treatment. The effective rate was still over 57.5% within three years after the treatment. The recurrent risk increased obviously from 40 months after the treatment by Kaplan-Meier method.

CONCLUSION

Semilunar ganglion of radiofrequency thermocoagulation was an ideal option for old-age patients with trigeminal neuralgia. It can be performed repeatedly.