A 12-month prospective study of gasserian ganglion stimulation for trigeminal neuropathic pain.

AIMS: Trigeminal neuropathic pain is a broad diagnostic category that includes pain of several etiologies and excludes trigeminal neuralgia. The authors report a prospective series of percutaneous gasserian ganglion stimulation for trigeminal neuropathic pain.

METHODS

Patients who experienced >50% reduction in pain from a 7- to 10-day trial period underwent permanent implantation and were prospectively followed.

RESULTS

Eight of 10 trialed patients received a permanent implant. At the 12-month follow-up, 2 patients had been explanted and 1 was lost to follow-up. Three (all working at that the time) continued to experience >50% improvement in pain.

DISCUSSION: The results in this series were variable but 3 patients showed long-term improvements. Patients who continued to work responded better to treatment.