Comparison of surgical treatments for trigeminal neuralgia: reevaluation of radiofrequency rhizotomy.

In this study, we reevaluate the results of radiofrequency rhizotomy and review the effectiveness of other surgical procedures for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Five hundred patients with trigeminal neuralgia underwent radiofrequency rhizotomy at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, between 1981 and 1986. Their results are compared with those of patients reported in the literature who underwent radiofrequency rhizotomy (6205 patients), glycerol rhizotomy (1217 patients), balloon compression (759 patients), microvascular decompression (MVD) (1417 patients), and partial trigeminal rhizotomy (250 patients). Comparisons were based on the following outcome parameters: technical success, pain relief and recurrence, facial numbness, dysesthesia, corneal anesthesia, keratitis, trigeminal motor dysfunction, permanent cranial nerve deficit, intracranial hemorrhage or infarction, perioperative morbidity, and perioperative mortality. We found that MVD had the lowest rate of technical success. Radiofrequency rhizotomy and MVD had the highest rates of initial pain relief and the lowest rates of pain recurrence. Glycerol rhizotomy had the highest rate of pain recurrence. Balloon compression had the highest rate of trigeminal motor dysfunction. Balloon compression and MVD had the lowest rates of corneal anesthesia or keratitis. MVD had the lowest rates of facial numbness and dysesthesia. All percutaneous procedures had similar rates of dysesthesia. Posterior fossa exploration had the highest rates of permanent cranial nerve deficit, intracranial hemorrhage or infarction, and perioperative morbidity and mortality. On the basis of our experience and a review of the literature, we conclude the following: 1) percutaneous techniques and posterior fossa exploration offer advantages and disadvantages, 2) radiofrequency rhizotomy is the procedure of choice for most patients undergoing first surgical treatments, and 3) MVD is recommended for healthy patients who have isolated pain in the first ophthalmic trigeminal division or in all three trigeminal divisions and patients who desire no sensory deficit.