title: Combination of pharmacotherapy and lidocaine analgesic block of the peripheral trigeminal branches for trigeminal neuralgia: a pilot study.
abstract: Classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) is treated predominantly by pharmacotherapy but side effects and unsuccessful occurs. The current study was carried out to evaluate the therapeutic effect of combination of pharmacotherapy and lidocaine block. Thirteen patients with CTN managed with pharmacotherapy were recruited and assigned either to no additional treatment (Group I) or to additional analgesic block (Group II). The primary endpoint was the reduction in the frequency of pain episodes in a month assessed at 30 and 90 days. Comparisons of measurements of pain, general health and depression scales were secondary endpoints. The results from the follow-up visits at 30 and 90 days showed the Group II to have larger reduction in the frequency of pain and exhibited a bigger improvement in the scores of the pain, general health and depression scales. The results from this preliminary study suggest a clinical benefit of the combination of pharmacotherapy and lidocaine block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Stani
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ojango
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Demo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dugoni
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Department, Rehabilitation Unit, "Rummo" Hospital, Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delfini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruti
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonetti
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clinica Médica, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elcio Juliato
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Piovesan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea Gennaro
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine