Surgical control of chronic migrainous neuralgia by trigeminal ganglio-rhizolysis.

Chronic migrainous neuralgia is not diagnosed as often as the periodic or "cluster" form of Horton's syndrome. The distinguishing features of chronic migrainous neuralgia, compared with the periodic variety, are the frequency and persistence of the attacks of hemicraniofacial pain and the intractability to medical management. Eight male patients ranging in age from 22 to 45 years received prompt, although transient, pain relief by blockade of the Gasserian ganglion on the side of their hemifacial pain with a local anesthetic. Prolonged relief was subsequently achieved by percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal ganglio-rhizolysis. There were no significant complications from this procedure. Review of the literature indicated that other ablative neurosurgical procedures, such as alcohol injection of the Gasserian ganglion and trigeminal rhizotomy by the subtemporal craniectomy approach, have relieved migrainous neuralgia, but with a greater risk and incidence of complications. The characteristic clinical features of migrainous neuralgia and the medical and surgical approaches to therapy are discussed.