title: Percutaneous Radiofrequency Rhizotomy in Treatment of Trigeminal neuralgia: A Prospective Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) often called as "Tic douloureux" is a syndrome characterized by paroxysmal facial pain, is one of the most painful and debilitating craniofacial pain disorders. The controversy regarding the etiology and treatment of TN still exists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy (PRR) for TN, after failure of pharmacological management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nonrandomized, non comparative, descriptive, in vivo study of 15 patients with TN of maxillary and mandibular divisions of trigeminal nerve and patients with pain refractory to pharmacological management were done. It was performed as an O.P.D procedure. A routine follow up was done in all cases for 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a total of 15 patients, 8 female and 7 male patients were enrolled for the study. Early pain relief (immediately, postoperatively to 6 month) classified as excellent or good (successful), occurred in 12 of 15 patients (80 %). Fair or poor pain relief (unsuccessful) occurred in three patients (20 %).There was no mortalities and no major morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was found that surgical treatment with PRR is a safe and effective way to manage patients with TN in whom pharmacologic therapy is either ineffective or not tolerated, with low side effects which are well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, V. S. Dental College & Hospital, K R Road, VV Puram, Bangalore, 560004 India.
authors.forename: Madan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nanjappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, V. S. Dental College & Hospital, K R Road, VV Puram, Bangalore, 560004 India.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kumaraswamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, V. S. Dental College & Hospital, K R Road, VV Puram, Bangalore, 560004 India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keerthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, V. S. Dental College & Hospital, K R Road, VV Puram, Bangalore, 560004 India.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Ashwin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, V. S. Dental College & Hospital, K R Road, VV Puram, Bangalore, 560004 India.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, V. S. Dental College & Hospital, K R Road, VV Puram, Bangalore, 560004 India.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reyazulla
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, V. S. Dental College & Hospital, K R Road, VV Puram, Bangalore, 560004 India.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hemavathi
keywords: Percutaneous; Rhizotomy; Trigeminal neuralgia