Peroral Trigeminal Rhizotomy Using a Novel 3-Dimensional Printed Patient-Specific Guidance Tool

BACKGROUND Ganglion Gasseri rhizotomy is a viable therapeutic option for trigeminal pain (TP). For this neurosurgical procedure, different potential operative and technical nuances exist. OBJECTIVE To evaluate a novel peroral trigeminal rhizotomy method and 3-dimensional printed patient-specific guidance tool (3D-PSGT) with respect to their applicability and safety. METHODS Between March 2018 and February 2021, 20 peroral balloon compression rhizotomy procedures with a 3D-PSGT were performed in 18 consecutive TP patients (13 female, mean age 58 yr). We registered the procedure duration, side effects, complications, and trigeminal function. The therapeutic effect was gauged from reduction of TP and use of analgesics. RESULTS All catheter insertions and rhizotomy procedures were successful at the first attempt. Apart from fluoroscopy, no auxiliary material was necessary. The average length of surgery was 19 min (range, 11-27 min). In total, 8 patients indicated complete analgesia and 6 patients pain relief; in 4 patients, persistence of TP was observed during follow-up examinations of up to 20 mo. In total, 6 patients reported of new mild to moderate facial hypesthesia affecting the trigeminal branches V2, V3, or V1-3. No masticatory musculature or corneal affections and device-related complications occurred. CONCLUSION The peroral 3D-PSGT trigeminal rhizotomy is straightforward for the neurosurgeon. This operative approach allows for rapid, safe, and simple foramen ovale cannulation in TP patients and reduces the use of additional equipment, radiation exposure, and procedure time.

An age-dependent outcome analysis of microvascular decompression and percutaneous thermocoagulation in trigeminal neuralgia

Background Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe pain condition and the most common facial neuralgia. While microvascular decompression (MVD) presents an excellent treatment in neurovascular compression cases, percutaneous thermocoagulation (PT) of the ganglion Gasseri is an alternative option. This study aimed to evaluate post-operative complication rate and outcome of both treatment strategies related to the patient’s age. Methods The medical records of all patients with the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia undergoing an MVD or PT of the ganglion Gasseri (between January 2007 and September 2017) were reviewed to determine the efficacy and the complication rate of both methods in regard to the patient’s age. Results Seventy-nine patients underwent MVD surgery and 39 a PT. The mean age of patients in the MVD group was 61 years and 73 years in the PT group. There were 59 (50%) female patients. Nerve-vessel conflict could be identified in 78 (98.7%) MVD and 17 (43.6%) PT patients on preoperative MRI. Charlson comorbidity index was significantly higher in PT group (2.4 (1.8) versus 3.8 (1.8) p < 0.001). The Barrow pain score (BPS) at the last follow-up demonstrated higher scores after PT (p = 0.007). The complication rate was markedly higher in PT group, mostly due to the facial hypesthesia (84.6% versus 27.8%; p < 0.001). Mean symptom-free survival was significantly shorter in the PT group (9 vs. 26 months, p < 0.001). It remained statistically significant when stratified into age groups: (65 years and older: 9 vs. 18 months, p = 0.001). Duration of symptoms (OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.000–1.010), primary procedure (OR 6.198, 95% CI 2.650–14.496), patient age (OR 1.033, 95% CI 1.002–1.066), and postoperative complication rate (OR 2.777, 95% CI 1.309–5.890) were associated with treatment failure. Conclusion In this patient series, the MVD is confirmed to be an excellent treatment option independent of patient’s age. However, while PT is an effective procedure, time to pain recurrence is shorter, and the favorable outcome (BPS 1 and 2) rate is lower compared to MVD. Hence MVD should be the preferred treatment and PT should remain an alternative in very selected cases when latter is not possible but not in the elderly patient per se.

Idopathic tigeminal neuralgia: Radiophrequency rhizotomy of ganglion Gasseri

Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN), ( tic douloureux), may be defined as a chronic painfull disorder of the sensory divisions of the trigeminal nerve, with unexplained cause and pathogenesis. The clinical features are characterized by recurrent paroxysmal lancinating pain confined to distribution of one or more branches of the nerve. Radio frequency rhizotomy (RFR) of ganglion Gasseri is a method of choice in treatment of ITN. We present the series of 1600 patients suffering from ITN who underwent RFR between 1984 and 2001. Ages ranged from 29 to 88 years, with a mean age of 62 years. Total pain relief immediately after a single radio frequency lesion was achieved in 1469 (92%) of patients. After one year a recurrence of pain was present in 145 (10%). Age, sex and duration of illness were unrelated to outcome. Patients previously treated by open surgery appeared to receive less benefit from subsequent RFR. Clinical outcome correlated with the degree of sensory deficit created by RFR. Patients acquiring dense deficit demonstrated a reduced risk of recurrence: 203/1129 (18%) of patients with dense sensory loss and 75/258 (29%) of those with a partial deficit developed a recurrence by three years, whereas almost all patients (78/82) without initial sensory loss suffered a recurrence by three years. Serious complications resulting from RFR were infrequent and the most common was the permanent dysesthesia in 9 (0,6%) of patients. Our results suggest that the RFR is an well bearable and effective long term surgical treatment for ITN, especially for older and poor-risk patients.