Reterogasserian anhydrous glycerol injection therapy in trigeminal neuralgia: observations in 552 patients.

Five hundred and fifty two patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated with reterogasserian anhydrous glycerol injections. Two hundred and twenty four patients (59.1%) at the end of two years and eight patients (8.1%) at the end of six years were free from pain after a single injection. There was recurrence of pain in 136 patients (27.7%) after one year and in an additional 155 patients (40.9%) after two years. The recurrence was seen earlier in patients who had either a neurolytic injection or had undergone surgical procedures, compared with those patients who had been treated with drugs. Complications of injection were few and not incapacitating. The technique was found to be safe, cheap and effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia, and is recommended for centres where there are financial constraints.