Peripheral and gasserian ganglion-level procedures for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

UNLABELLED: This review discusses the various peripheral and ganglion-level procedures available for treating trigeminal neuralgia and summarizes specific success and complication rates for each technique.

METHOD: A review of the available literature.

RESULTS

It appears that expertly performed ganglion-level procedures (radiofrequency thermocoagulation, balloon compression, and glycerolysis) are more effective than peripheral procedures but neither approach can be relied on to produce long-term pain relief. All of these procedures are neurodestructive and can cause sensory loss and dysesthesia. Effective drug therapy may not be acceptable to some patients as adverse cognitive side effects are increasingly recognized.

CONCLUSIONS

Each patient should receive an informed and impartial account of the available surgical options. There is a need for prospective randomized controlled studies in procedure-naïve subjects to determine the optimal surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia.