Long-term results of percutaneous retrogasserian thermorhizotomy for "essential" trigeminal neuralgia: considerations in 1000 consecutive patients.
Long-term results (average follow-up, 9.3 years) obtained in 1000 consecutive patients suffering from cryptogenetic ("essential") trigeminal neuralgia treated with percutaneous thermorhizotomy are analyzed. Pain relief was obtained in 95% of the treated patients. Permanent morbidity was as follows: masseter weakness in 105 patients; oculomotor palsies in 5 patients; weakening of the corneal reflex in 197 patients, 6 of whom requested an ocular operation for keratitis; and painful dysesthesia in 52 patients, 15 of whom developed a painful anesthesia syndrome. There was a recurrence rate of 18.1%, and a correlation between postoperative sensory deficit and the cure rate was found. These results are discussed and compared to the results obtained with different techniques.
Broggi
G
G
Department of Neurosurgery, Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
Franzini
A
A
Lasio
G
G
Giorgi
C
C
Servello
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003714:Denervation; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011846:Radio Waves; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000601:surgery; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*