Masticatory Dysfunction After Computed Tomography–Guided Plasma Ablation vs. Radiofrequency Ablation on Gasserian Ganglion for Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuyue Zheng ◽  
Xiuhua Li ◽  
Liqiang Yang ◽  
Liangliang He ◽  
Guoqing Cao ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate masticatory dysfunction after two different types of ablation on the Gasserian ganglion for the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. We hypothesized that low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation (LTP-RFA) was noninferior to radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) with respect to initial efficacy. Methods In the randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, noninferiority trial, 204 participants with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia were randomly allocated to receive plasma ablation in the LTP-RFA group and radiofrequency ablation in the RFT group in a 1:1 ratio, with random block sizes of four or six. Participants were examined at baseline (T0), on the day of discharge (T1), and at the 6-month follow-up (T2). The primary end point was the clinincal effective rate in the LTP-RFA group compared with that in the RFT group after intervention on the day of discharge. Noninferiority was prespecified at -10%. Results The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that the initial efficacy rates were 91.2% in LTP-RFA group and 93.1% in RFT group (rate ratio [RR] = 0.979, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.904–1.061, P = 0.795). The difference between the two groups was 1.9% (95% CI: -5.6% to 9.4%), which showed that LTP-RFA demonstrated noninferiority compared with RFT in initial efficacy. Compared with the RFT group, the LTP-RFA group exhibited a significantly greater improvement in the maximum voltage of the masseter muscles with mean differences of 11.40 (95% CI: 10.52 to 12.27, P < 0.001) at T1 and 17.41 (95% CI: 14.68 to 20.13, P < 0.001) at T2, respectively. Similar results were observed for the asymmetry index of occlusion, the maximum voltage of the anterior temporalis, and the activity index of anterior temporalis / masseter muscles. No serious adverse events were observed in either group. Conclusions Compared with the RFT group, noninferior efficacy for pain relief and improvement of masticatory function was revealed in the LTP-RFA group.

1981 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 935-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Salar ◽  
Salvatore Mingrino ◽  
Marco Trabucchi ◽  
Angelo Bosio ◽  
Carlo Semenza

✓ The β-endorphin content in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was evaluated in 10 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia during medical treatment (with or without carbamazepine) and after selective thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion. These values were compared with those obtained in a control group of seven patients without pain problems. No statistically significant difference was found between patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia and those without pain. Furthermore, neither pharmacological treatment nor surgery changed CSF endorphin values. It is concluded that there is no pathogenetic relationship between trigeminal neuralgia and endorphins.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (20;6) ◽  
pp. E873-E881
Author(s):  
Ghaydaa A. Ghaydaa A.

Background: During radiofrequency bursts of energy are applied to nervous tissue. The clinical advantages of this treatment remain unclear. Objectives: We compared the effectiveness and pain relief for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) after continuous radiofrequency (CRF), pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), and combined continuous and pulsed radiofrequency (CCPRF) treatment of the Gasserian ganglion (GG). Study Design: We conducted a randomized prospective study. Forty-three patients were included. Eleven patients were treated with PRF at 42°C for 10 minutes (PRF group), 12 patients received CRF for 270 seconds at 75 °C (CRF group), and 20 patients received PRF for 10 minutes at 42°C followed by CRF for at 60°C for 270 seconds (CCPRF group). Setting: Assuit University Hospital, Pain and Neurology outpatient clinics. Methods: Patients were assessed for pain, satisfaction, and consumption of analgesics at baseline and 7 days, one month, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after the procedure. The incidence of complications, anesthesia dolorosa, weakness of muscles of mastication, numbness, and technical complications, was evaluated after the procedure. Results: Excellent pain relief was achieved after 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively in 95%, 85%, and 70% of patients with CCPRF; 75%, 75%, and reduced to 50% among patients with CRF; and 82%, reduced to 9.1%, and 0% of patients with PRF. No complications were recorded in 75% of patients in the CCPRF and PRF groups. There was one case of anesthesia dolorosa, 4 cases of masseter muscle weakness, and 5 cases of severe numbness recorded in the CRF group. Limitation: There was a small number of patients in each group. Conclusion: The best results were observed in the CCPRF group, followed by the CRF group, and then the PRF group.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (22.2) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Neerja Bharti

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia is the most painful condition of facial pain leading to impairment of routine activities. Although radiofrequency thermoablation (RFT) of the Gasserian ganglion is widely used for the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia in patients having ineffective pain relief with medical therapy, the incidence of complications like hypoesthesia, neuroparalytic keratitis, and masticatory muscles weakness is high. Recent case reports have shown the effectiveness of RFT of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve for relief of refractory chronic facial pain conditions including trigeminal neuralgia. Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of RFT of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve with RFT of the Gasserian ganglion for the management of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Study Design: Prospective, randomized, observer-blinded, clinical trial. Setting: Tertiary care hospital and medical education and research institute. Methods: A total of 40 adult patients of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia were randomly allocated into 2 groups. The control group received RFT of the Gasserian ganglion while the study group received RFT of the peripheral branches of trigeminal nerve. The procedures were performed in the operation room under all aseptic precautions with fluoroscopic guidance. Post-procedure, the patients were assessed for loss of sensation along the nerve distribution and the adequacy of pain relief on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The patients were followed up for 3 month to assess the quality of pain relief by the NRS and the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity scale. Improvement in pain was considered excellent if patients had complete pain relief without any medication, good if there was significant reduction in pain (> 50%) with or without medication, and poor if there was less than 50% reduction in pain with medications. Patients were also assessed for numbness and any other side effects. Patients’ satisfaction with the procedure was recorded. Results: Nineteen patients in the control group and 18 in study group had effective pain relief of up to 3 months. Their pain scores were comparable at all time intervals, though the number of patients receiving supplementary medications was more in study group at 2 months (P = 0.015). The patients showed overall satisfaction score of 8.5 (8-9) and 8 (7-9) in control and study groups respectively. The average procedure duration was 30 (30-38) minutes in the control group and 28 (25-40) minutes in the study group. Most of the patients in both groups had mild numbness after the procedure. One patient in the control group had lower eyelid swelling and another had mild weakness of the masseter muscle, which resolved few days later. No major complication was reported in the study group except for 1 patient who reported local ecchymosis. Limitations: The main limitation of the study is that the patients and the investigator performing the procedure were not blinded, though the person who assessed the patient during follow-up was blinded to the group assignment. Another limitation is that we could not follow up with the patients after 3 months due to time constraints. Conclusion: We found that radiofrequency thermoablation of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve is an effective and safe procedure for the management of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Key words: Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, radiofrequency thermoablation, Gasserian ganglion, peripheral nerve branches, pain, trigeminal nerve


Pain ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Van Zundert ◽  
Steven Brabant ◽  
Erik Van de Kelft ◽  
Alex Vercruyssen ◽  
Jean-Pierre Van Buyten

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-fu Wan ◽  
Tao Song

Abstract Background: Trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), developed from herpes zoster virus infected on gasserian ganglion, is a severe neuropathic pain and often refractory to existing treatment. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is known to be effective for treating acute/subacute zoster-related pain, but the effectiveness of different PRF mode has not been tested.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of different PRF modes on gasserian ganglion in patients with acute/subacute zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia.Methods: 120 patients were equally randomized into 2 groups (n = 60): high-voltage, long-duration PRF(HL-PRF) group and standard PRF(S-PRF) group. One cycle high-voltage, long-duration PRF was applied in HL-PRF group and three cycles standard PRF were performed in S-PRF group. Visual analog scales (VAS), 36-item short form health survey scores (SF-36) and average doses of pregabalin were recorded at different time points. Results: There were significant declined in VAS and SF-36 scores in both two groups at different time point after PRF treatment (P < 0.001). The scores of VAS and SF-36 in HL-PRF group were significantly lower than those in S-PRF group at different time points after treatment (P < 0.05). The dosages of pregabalin were also lower in HL-PRF group at days 3, 14 and 28 after treatment (P < 0.05). There was no serious adverse effect in either group. Conclusion: High-voltage, long-duration PRF on gasserian ganglion is more effective than standard PRF for acute/subacute zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia patients. Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2000038775


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