A 12-month prospective study of gasserian ganglion stimulation for trigeminal neuropathic pain.
OBJECTIVE
Trigeminal neuropathic pain is a broad diagnostic category that includes pain of several etiologies and excludes trigeminal neuralgia. The authors report a prospective series of percutaneous gasserian ganglion stimulation for trigeminal neuropathic pain.


METHODS
Patients who experienced >50% reduction in pain from a 7- to 10-day trial period underwent permanent implantation and were prospectively followed.


RESULTS
Eight of 10 trialed patients received a permanent implant. At the 12-month follow-up, 2 patients had been explanted and 1 was lost to follow-up. Three (all working at that the time) continued to experience >50% improvement in pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The results in this series were variable but 3 patients showed long-term improvements. Patients who continued to work responded better to treatment.
Machado
A
A
Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. machada@ccf.org
Ogrin
M
M
Rosenow
J M
JM
Henderson
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*