[Effective treatment of essential trigeminal neuralgia using percutaneous selective heat coagulation of Gasser's ganglion].

Trigeminal neuralgia may be treated in several ways. In the present study the efficacy of a selective percutaneous radiofrequency neurolysis in the gasserian ganglion was evaluated in 172 patients. A complete result was seen in 96.5% of the patients. The recurrence rate within 2 years amounted to 28.3%. Forty-seven patients underwent several treatments with a maximum of four within this period of time. The recurrence rate in the entire study population after 2 years was 8.1%. The mean follow-up period was 50 months (range 9-90 months). Except for the occurrence of corneal anaesthesia in 4% of the patients no serious complications were encountered.