title: Pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the Gasserian ganglion in patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: Pulsed radiofrequency treatment has been described as a minimal invasive alternative to radiofrequency thermocoagulation for the management of chronic pain syndromes. We present here our first five high-risk patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia who were treated with pulsed radiofrequency after multidisciplinary assessment; with a mean follow-up of 19.2 months (range 10-26). These patients were at high risk due to age, co-morbidities or previous interventional and surgical treatments. An excellent long-term effect was achieved in three of the five patients, a partial effect in one patient and a short-term effect in one patient. No neurological side effects or complications were reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Multidisciplinary Pain Therapy, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Campus Andre Dumont, Stalenstraat 2, 3600 Genk, Belgium Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, H. Hart Hospital, Roeselare, Belgium Department of Neurosurgery, A. Z. Maria Middelares, St.-Niklaas, Belgium Department of Neurology, A. Z. Maria Middelares, St.-Niklaas, Belgium Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, A. Z. Maria Middelares, St.-Niklaas, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan Van
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Zundert
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brabant
authors.forename: Erik Van
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: de Kelft
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vercruyssen
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre Van
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Buyten
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000502:physiology*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*