Termocoagulación por radiofrecuencia de ganglio de Gasser para el tratamiento de neuralgia trigeminal, resultados de 11 años

Objectives: Describe results of the last 11 years in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with radiofrequency thermocoagulation, analyze variables related to complications and results.Methods: Retrospective, descriptive, longitudinal, comparative and analytical study. The results of the last 11 years of our service were analyzed by assessing the temperatures of the lesions by assembling two groups, 65° C-70° C and 71 ° C-75° C to analyze their relationship with results and complications.Results: 59 patients were treated in which 74 procedures were performed; the mean age was 59.22 years (± 13.45). Recurrence was observed in 23 procedures with an overall rate of 31%. The average recurrence time was 28.19 months (± 26.21). The average follow-up time was 33.10 months (± 33.49). The average time of pain evolution, prior to the first procedure, was 5.35 years (± 4.37). Analyzing the groups, it was observed that there was no significant statistical relationship (p = 0.74) between the group of patients from 65oC-70oC and the group from 71oC-75oC and recurrence. No statistically significant relationship was observed between the 65oC-70oC group and the 71oC-75oC group and recurrence time (p = 0.12). More patients with immediate hypoaesthesia were observed in the group of patients from 65oC-70oC, without statistical significance (p = 0.47).Conclusion: Gasser's ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation is an accessible, minimally invasive procedure that demonstrated good results and good pain management with a low complication rate.