Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency thermocoagulation with pulsed radiofrequency for V1 trigeminal neu-ralgia patients / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency thermocoagulation with pulsed radiofrequency for V1 trigeminal neuralgia patients. Methods The prospective cohort study enrolled 70 patients with V1 primary trigeminal neuralgia,who were admitted to Pain Department,Hangzhou First People′s Hospital from January to December 2012. The patients were divided into RF group(n = 35)and RF plus PRF group(n =35)and followed up for 3 years for pain relief rate and complications. Results Postoperative cure rate of immedi-ate pain in RF group was 88.57%(BNI class I,II)and that in RF plus PRF group 91.43%(BNI class I,II).The pain relief rate was higher in RF plus PRF group,and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=5.178,P=0.023). Fourteen patients in RF group suffered corneal hypoesthesia and their recovery time was(12.1 ± 7.5) months and 6 in RF plus PRF group experienced corneal hypoesthesia and their recovery time was(8.9 ± 2.3) months.The differences of incidence rate and recovery time were significant(χ2=4.48,P=0.034;t=2.25,P=0.028). Conclusions RF plus PRF is conducive to decreasing the recurrence of V1 trigeminal neuralgia,reduc-ing the numbers of corneal hypoesthesia and shortening the recovery time,which is worth of clinical promotion.