A prospective, longitudinal study on patients with trigeminal neuralgia who underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion

Outcome after radiofrequency thermocoagulation in patients with trigeminal neuralgia was assessed in a prospective, longitudinal study. Forty-eight consecutive patients with chronic facial pain presenting for surgery to a neurosurgeon were studied. Patients were assessed preoperatively by an independent clinician both clinically, and with the use of two questionnaires: the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. From these assessments, two groups of patients were identified: 31 with pure trigeminal neuralgia (TN group) and 17 with trigeminal neuralgia together with atypical facial pain and mixed trigeminal neuralgia (MTN group). All underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation at the level of the Gasserian ganglion. Patients were reviewed by the same clinician 3 months later and then followed up by a self-administered questionnaire at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years. The mean follow-up time was 30+/-12 months. The mean time to recurrence of pain was 40 months for the TN group and 36 months for the MTN group. Depression and anxiety dropped more significantly post-operatively in the TN group than the MTN group. TN group were more satisfied with their outcome, complained of fewer complications and were more willing to have repeat surgery if necessary than patients in MTN group. The number and severity of complications varied at different time points. Careful selection of patients for surgery using objective assessments will decrease morbidity and improve satisfaction. Physical morbidity and recurrence rates are insufficient to gauge outcomes. Psychological, sociological and patients' views must be included in evaluations.