Abstract

PICOS, G. I. et al. Injury with percutaneous radiofrenquency for the management of multitreated idiopa-thic trigeminal neuralgia. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2004, vol.11, n.5, pp.287-291. ISSN 1134-8046.

Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy of the percutaneous radiofrequency in the management of the idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, as well as fewer numbers of complications observed with this technique. Material and methods: We recluted 10 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia with previous unfavorable outcome with standard pharmacological and interventional treatment. All the procedures were performed with fluoroscopic control using Hartel´s technique. All patients underwent a radiofrequency lesion in an impedance range between 200 and 300 ohms, within a time of 60 minutes and within a temperature of 65, 75 y 90 °C, divided in three stages. We used visual analogue score for analysis, and we looked for complications within a median follow up of 12 months. Results: We found a total efficacy of 70% with a confidence interval of ± 0.28% and p<0.05, besides, 20% of the patients accomplished a good outcome through a second percutaneous radiofrequency procedure. We didn’t have a response in 10% of the patients. In the visual analogue score evaluation, we found a decrement in the results, that was statistically significant, with a initial mean of 8.8 points versus final mean score of only 0.16 (p< 0.05). There was also a treatment reduction in regard to anticonvulsant and opiates. The complications recorded were: hypoesthesia of the treated branches in 90% of the patients, corneal hypoesthesia in 10%, earache in 70%, and hypoacusia in 10%. Conclusion: Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia with unfavorable response regardless, previous multiple treatments, still has a good outcome using percutaneous radiofrequency lesion procedure, and also can be observed a reduced drug use and fewer complications.

Keywords : Visual analogue score; Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia; Radiofrequency.

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