Role of cryotherapy in trigeminal neuralgia with certain modifications: A long-term prospective study

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2020 Apr;129(4):290-295. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2019.10.013. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the application of cryosurgery with certain modifications as a treatment modality for patients diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia refractory to pharmacologic treatments.

Study design: Forty-nine patients diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia were treated with cryosurgery, involving the infraorbital nerve (13), inferior alveolar nerve (18), mental nerve (17), and supraorbital nerve (1), with closed, curved type of cryoprobe with nitrous oxide, at a temperature of -98°C, and pressure 70 kg/cm2 or 100 psi.

Results: Pain-free interval was observed to be less than 18 months in 4.08% patients, 36 to 40 months in 48.97% patients, 48 to 52 months in 32.65% patients, and greater than 52 months in 14.28% patients. All the patients experienced loss of fine and crude sensations for a period of 6 to 24 months.

Conclusions: Cryotherapy could be a safe and economic modality that can be repeated, if required.

MeSH terms

  • Cryosurgery
  • Cryotherapy
  • Humans
  • Mandibular Nerve
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / surgery*