INFLUENCE OF PREVIOUS TREATMENT ON OUTCOME AFTER GLYCEROL RHIZOTOMY FOR TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

THE AIM OF the present study was to evaluate the influence of previous treatment on outcome and sensory disturbance after a retrogasserian g lycerol injection for trigeminal neuralgia. Ninety-nine patients with trigeminal neuralgia underwent a retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy. Fi fty-three of those patients experienced recurrent pain after the previ ous treatment. At the 1 year follow-up, the outcome was excellent or g ood in 83% of patients with no previous treatment, compared with 60 an d 75% in those patients with earlier glycerol injections or radiofrequ ency lesions, respectively, Quantitatively assessed, the sensory impai rment was most pronounced in patients who had earlier radio-frequency lesions compared with patients not treated previously. The occurrence of dysesthesia was more frequent in patients who had been surgically t reated earlier. A review of the literature showed that the concentrati on of the glycerol preparation used probably is of great importance in terms of pain relief and sensory sequelae.