Radiofrequency percutaneous Gasserian ganglion lesions. Results in 140 patients with trigeminal pain.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the Gasserian ganglion or posterior root, or both, was performed in 140 patients. Of the 135 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, satisfactory analgesia was achieved in 121. Postoperative complications included unintentional first-division analgesia (10), transient sixth-nerve palsy (1), neuroparalytic keratitis (2), and anesthesia dolorosa (2). The phenomenon of facial blush may be helpful in avoiding unwanted first-division analgesia. In four of five patients with other forms of neuralgia, the procedure did not relieve pain; the fifth patient experienced significant relief from pain due to carcinoma of the mandible.