SYNOPSIS This article reports the results of 61 procedures performed on 20 patients and reviews the literature. The procedures consisted of 27 radiofrequency lesions, nine V root sections, five injections of local anaesthetic into the Gasserian ganglion, four greater superficial petrosal neurectomies, seven superficial temporal artery sections, six nerve avulsions and three alcohol injections. The authors conclude that: 1) No one procedure gives consistent longlasting relief. 2) Patients must have a full trial of medical therapy before considered for surgery. 3) Radiofrequency lesions and nerve avulsion are reasonable first stage procedures. 4) Both V root section and petrosal neurectomy appear to be useful as second stage procedures.
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Watson et al. (1983) studied this question.