Efficacy and safety of combined thermocoagulation radiofrequency and pulse radiofrequency in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) combined with pulsed (PRF) Gasserian ganglion in patients V2/V3 trigeminal neuralgia (TN).
 Methods: We evaluated 27 V2/3 TN who had undergone RFT PRF ganglion. Patients were treated (42°C, 45 V, 20 ms, 120 s), (65°C, 60 (70°C, consecutively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Intensity Scale (BNI) scores before after (1st month, 6th 12th month) procedure. A BNI score 1-3 considered as an effective treatment, while a 4 or 5 indicated unsuccessful treatment.
 Results: VAS significantly lower than baseline values all post-treatment evaluation visits during 12-month follow-up period (p0.05).
 Conclusion: Combined is safe therapeutic approach treatment TN. However, its partially decreases one year.