Comparative Evaluation of Percutaneous Retrogasserian Glycerol Rhizolysis and Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation Techniques in the Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract

Both PRGR and RF techniques can achieve acceptable pain relief with minimal side effects.

Comparing Percutaneous Treatments of Trigeminal Neuralgia: 19 Years of Experience in a Single Centre

“…Following our glycerol injections, 72% had complete initial pain relief (with or without medication), comparable with the reported rates of 73-98% in previous studies in the literature [12,13,14,15,16]. Other studies on thermocoagulation report initial complete relief rates between 80 and 100% [17,18,19,20,21], consistent with the 80% value seen here when excellent and good initial relief rates are combined. In 86% of our patients there was either excellent or good initial relief with balloon compression, which is in agreement with the 85% relief rate found by Kouzounias et al [22].…”

Percutaneous Procedures for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia

“…50,52,[74][75][76][77][78] Fraioli and colleagues, 36 in comparing outcomes for PBC, RFT, and GR, recommended PBC as the first-line choice for percutaneous rhizotomy given its high efficacy rate and low complication rates. Kouzounias and colleagues 75 examined outcomes after PBC and GR, finding comparable rates of initial pain relief for each procedure as well as comparable times to recurrence.…”

Two Needle Electrode System for Trigeminal Neuralgia Radiofrequency of Gasserian Ganglion

“…Efficacy and complications of RF for V1 TN are difficult to deduce from those studies. In addition, information on temperature used for CRF for V1 TN was not mentioned in some reports [19,20]. Using previous reports information [1,12,[17][18] we adjusted the temperature to less than 70°C and all the procedure was performed under general anesthesia.…”