title: Pulsed radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment is defined as the delivery of short pulses of radiofrequency via a needle tip, which does not result in an actual thermal lesions. There are mixed views regarding the use of PRF for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). In our opinion, one of the main reasons for the contrasting views is the insufficient PRF dose employed in previous studies. In a recent study on the effects of PRF on resiniferatoxin-induced neuropathic pain in an animal model, the anti-allodynic effects of PRF were significantly greater when the PRF exposure duration was increased from 2 to 6 minutes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this retrospective study is to report the results for 36 consecutive patients who underwent PRF treatment for TN, for 6 minutes at 45 V at a pulsed frequency of 4 Hz and a pulse width of 10 ms.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the study, we obtained procedural records of 36 consecutive patients. Their current state of pain was evaluated over a telephonic survey and the post-procedural data at 2, 6, and 12 months were retrieved thereafter from the patient records. The main outcome measure was excellent pain relief (more than 80%), which was assessed at 2, 6, and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of patients who showed excellent pain relief (> 80% pain relief) at 2, 6, and 12 months were 73.5% (25/34), 61.8% (21/34), and 55.9% (19/34), respectively. The percentages of patients showing satisfactory pain relief (50-80% pain relief) at 2, 6, and 12 months were 14.7% (5/34), 17.6% (6/34), and 17.6% (6/34), respectively, and those of patients showing less than satisfactory pain relief (< 50% pain relief) at 2, 6, and 12 months were 11.8% (4/34), 20.6% (7/34), and 23.5% (8/34), respectively. No complications were reported, and none of the patients required hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRF of the trigeminal ganglion should be further evaluated as an alternative treatment method for TN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Nicholas Hai Liang
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, St Anna Hospital, Geldrop, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Halim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tjemme
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beems
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kris Cp
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Vissers
keywords: Minimally Invasive; Pain; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment; Trigeminal Ganglion; Trigeminal Nerve; Trigeminal Neuralgia