الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neuropathic pain involving one or more of trigeminal nerve divisions. The mixed type characterized by constant dull, burning pain between paroxysms and includes all cases of atypical TN, post herpetic neuralgia and some cases of secondary TN. We aiming to evaluate the functional results of percutaneous radiofrequency thermo coagulation (RFT) of trigeminal nerve in 20 patients suffering from mixed trigeminal neuralgia. These patients were subdivided according to their etiology into three types (2 with secondary or symptomatic TN, 15 with atypical TN, and 3 with post herpetic TN). All the patients had immediate pain relief. Follow up of the patients was done after two and six months. After the first lesion 50% had excellent results, 25% had good results, 10% had fair results and 15% had poor results. Four patients (20%) experienced pain recurrence. Another radiofrequency lesion of the trigeminal nerve was done in all 4 cases with recurrence. After the second radiofrequency lesion, 50% had excellent results, 30% had good results, 10% had fair results, 10% had poor results. So, RFT is effective as first surgical line of treatment in cases with failed medical treatment. |