title: Motor cortex and deep brain stimulation for the treatment of intractable neuropathic face pain.
abstract: Intractable neuropathic face pain is a syndrome of unremitting severe pain that stems from abnormal nociceptive processing at various levels of the trigeminal system. Treatment of this debilitating condition has long presented a challenge for physicians due to its refractoriness to standard pharmacologic therapies. With few viable treatments, surgical procedures such as motor cortex stimulation (MCS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) provide additional options. This article reviews the current literature and practices regarding patient selection criteria, potential mechanisms of action, surgical technique, and outcome of patients with neuropathic face pain treated with MCS and DBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Laneshia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bledsoe
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stead
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sandroni
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: Kendall H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome