ABSTRACT
Pulsed radiofrequency [PRF] treatment is defined as the delivery of short pulses of radiofrequency via a needle tip, which does not result in an actual thermal lesions. There are mixed views regarding the use of PRF for trigeminal neuralgia [TN]. In our opinion, one of the main reasons for the contrasting views is the insufficient PRF dose employed in previous studies. In a recent study on the effects of PRF on resiniferatoxin-induced neuropathic pain in an animal model, the anti-allodynic effects of PRF were significantly greater when the PRF exposure duration was increased from 2 to 6 minutes. The primary objective of this retrospective study is to report the results for 36 consecutive patients who underwent PRF treatment for TN, for 6 minutes at 45 V at a pulsed frequency of 4 Hz and a pulse width of 10 ms. For the study, we obtained procedural records of 36 consecutive patients. Their current state of pain was evaluated over a telephonic survey and the post-procedural data at 2, 6, and 12 months were retrieved thereafter from the patient records. The main outcome measure was excellent pain relief [more than 80%], which was assessed at 2, 6, and 12 months. The percentages of patients who showed excellent pain relief [>/= 80% pain relief] at 2, 6, and 12 months were 73.5% [25/34], 61.8% [21/34], and 55.9% [19/34], respectively. The percentages of patients showing satisfactory pain relief [50-80% pain relief] at 2, 6, and 12 months were 14.7% [5/34], 17.6% [6/34], and 17.6% [6/34], respectively, and those of patients showing less than satisfactory pain relief [< 50% pain relief] at 2, 6, and 12 months were 11.8% [4/34], 20.6% [7/34], and 23.5% [8/34], respectively. No complications were reported, and none of the patients required hospitalization. PRF of the trigeminal ganglion should be further evaluated as an alternative treatment method for TN