• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine on trigeminal neuralgia in a patient with systemic sclerosis. Methods: We treated a 49-year-old male patient who has systemic sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia by Korean medicine. He was treated from October 29th, 2022 to November 12th, 2022. The treatment applied was herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture. The evaluation was conducted by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: After 14 days of treatment, the symptoms were alleviated. Facial pain and dullness of taste improved. VAS of discomfort was decreased from 10 to 2. Conclusions: These results showed that Korean medicine may have an effect on reducing symptoms of systemic sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.227-243
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• 2024

This study aimed to evaluate pain assessment strategies and factors associated with outcomes after microvascular decompression for the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia in adults. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of English, Spanish, and French literature. We searched three databases, PubMed, Ovid, and EBSCO, from 2010 to 2022 and selected studies including patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia, clear pain assessment, and pain outcomes. Population means and standard deviations were calculated. Studies that included factors associated with postoperative outcomes were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 995 studies involving 5673 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia following microvascular decompression were included. Patients with arteries compressing the trigeminal nerve demonstrated optimal outcomes following microvascular decompression (odds ratio [OR]= 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19-0.80; X² = 46.31; Dof = 15; I² = 68%; P = < 0.0001). Conversely, when comparing arterial vs venous compression of the trigeminal nerve (OR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.16-6.38; X² = 23.23; Dof = 10; I² = 57%; P = 0.01), venous compression demonstrated poor outcomes after microvascular decompression. Additionally, when comparing single-vessel vs multiple-vessel compression (OR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.18-6.25; X² = 21.17; Dof = 9; I² = 57%; P = 0.01), patients demonstrated unfavorable outcomes after microvascular decompression. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated factors associated with outcomes following microvascular decompression (MVD) for primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN). Although MVD is an optimal treatment strategy for PTN, a gap exists in interpreting the results when considering the lack of evidence for most pain assessment strategies.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.218-221
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• 2005

This report describes a case of dizziness in a patient with trigeminal neuralgia that was caused by a vestibular schwannoma. A 60-year-old man with a history of pain on his left cheek, chin, molar and tongue for 5 months was diagnosed as suffering with trigeminal neuralgia of the left mandibular nerve, and this was caused by a left vestibular schwannoma. The diagnosis of the tumor was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and so gamma knife surgery was performed 1 month later. At that time, the patient had been referred to the pain clinic due to allodynia on the tongue and gingival, and hypesthesia was also present on the left half of the face. Trigeminal nerve block with dehydrogenated alcohol and stellate ganglion block with 1% mepivacaine were performed and oral medication with diphenylhydantoin was started. The symptoms were alleviated after nerve block and oral medication. Dizziness, blurred vision and ataxia then developed from the 13th hospital day. We considered the symptoms as a side effect of diphenylhydantoin and we reduced the dose of diphenylhydantoin. However, the symptoms grew worse. Another brain MRI showed a slight increase of the tumor size and a mass effect with displacement of the adjacent organs, and hydrocephalus was also noted. This case shows the importance of considering the secondary symptoms that are due to brain tumor while treating trigeminal neuralgia. The changes of the brain tumors should also be considered along with the presence of new side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.302-306
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• 1998

The authors report the result achieved in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia patient, especially V2 involved patient, using radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation of Gasserian ganglion. A 62-year old female patient had severe burning pain on right cheek usually initiating from upper molar teeth area for 10 years. She was treated with microvascular decompression operation 10 years ago. However, there was no pain relief by operation. She wanted non-surgical treatment. Therefore, we recommended RF thermocoagulation therapy. After 2 times of RF thermocoagulation, there was excellent pain relief without complications. And, for 6months follow-up, there were no pain, and no evidences of complication and recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.650-658
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• 2000

Objective : To evaluate the role of Gamma Knife radiosurgery in essential and tumor-related(secondary) trigeminal neuralgia, outcomes of radiosurgery and microsurgery were compared each other. Methods : Five patients with essential trigeminal neuralgia underwent stereotactic radiosurgical treatment with Leksell Gamma Knife and twenty five patients were treated with microsurgery during the same period(1994. 1-1997. 6). A 4-mm collimator was used and REZ or proximal portion of trigeminal nerve was targeted with maximal dose of 60-72Gy. The mean follow-up after radiosurgery was 39.4 months and that after microsurgery was 47.9 months. Results : At the last follow-up, four patients(80%) had excellent(pain free) or good(50-90% pain relief) outcomes, one(20%) had poor control after radiosurgical treatment. Twenty-three patients(92%) had excellent or good outcomes and two(8%) had poor results after microsurgery. Postoperative complications occurred in ten(40%) with microsurgery, but there were no complications in patients with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Six patients with secondary trigeminal neuralgia received radiosurgical treatment directed at their tumors, and three patients were surgically treated. Three of six(50%) patients treated with Gamma Knife had pain relief while two of three patients with surgical treatment showed immediate pain relief. Post-treatment complications were developed in two of six radiosurgical patients and in one of three surgical patients. Conclusion : Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery may be considered as a useful and alternative option for the treatment of essential and secondary trigeminal neuralgia owing to of its safety and less complications. The preliminary results obtained in our series appear encouraging, although the outcome is not so good as that of surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.371-373
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• 1995

Percutaneous retrogasserian gangliolysis is suitable for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia because it is simple and effective. Further, it can avoid severe complications such as anesthesia dolorosa or dysesthesia that may develop after surgical procedure. However we have experienced an anesthesia dolorosa(pain in an area or region that is anesthetic) after percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol injection. This deafferentation pain is characterized by scratching, burning or itching sensation; and has shown to be of higher incidence in older and inemotionally unstable patients. Anesthesia dolorosa is relatively rare but difficult to treat. Consideration should be made for the complication which may develop during the procedure.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.106-114
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• 2000

The herpes zoster infecting ophthalmic branch of trigeminal Nerve that is similar to migraine at first stage symptom has been treated with oriental medication at Dept. of Internal Medicine, Semyung University Oriental Hospital. The fIrst symptom of roster is burning pain, tingling or extreme sensitivity in one area of the skin, usually limited to one side of the body. This may be present for one to three days before a red rash appears at that site. There may also be a fever or headache. The rash soon turns into groups of blisters. The blisters start out clear but then pus or dark blood collects in the blisters before they crust over (scab) and begin to disappear. The pain may last longer. In this case, the severe pain was present for five days, the blisters and scabsdisappeared entirely on the seventeenth day, but postherpetic neuralgia, the most common complication and is observed most frequently in the ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve, was not prevented entirely. We have observed this case and report to help treatment on this disease at oriental medicine clinic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical outcome of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) epidermoids presenting with trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : Between 1996 and 2004, 10 patients with typical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia were found to have cerebellopontine angle epidermoids and treated surgically at our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed the clinico-radiological records of the patients. Results : Total resection was done in 6 patients (60%). Surgical removal of tumor and microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve were performed simultaneously in one case. One patient died due to postoperative aseptic meningitis. The others showed total relief from pain. During follow-up, no patients experienced recurrence of their trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Conclusion : The clinical features of TN from CPA epidermoids are characterized by symptom onset at a younger age compared to TN from vascular causes. In addition to removal of the tumor, the possibility of vascular compression at the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve should be kept in mind. If it exists, a microvascular decompression (MVD) should be performed. Recurrence of tumor is rare in both total and subtotal removal cases, but long-term follow-up is required.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.278-280
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• 2014

A 66-year-old man presented with typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed a primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) that came into contact with the trigeminal nerve. Based on MRA, we performed microvascular decompression (MVD). In the operational field, we confirmed the PTA location and performed MVD successfully. Postoperatively, the patient's pain subsided without any complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.119-123
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• 1998

It is well known that many patients with trigeminal neuralgia suffer from electric shock-like stabbing pains. The pain can be triggered by nonnoxious stimuli such as touching of the face, chewing, talking or swallowing. This 62 year old woman was urgently admitted to the internal medicine department due to abdominal distention and severe general weakness. She has suffered characteristic violent pain triggered by chewing and swallowing for little over 4 years. This resulted in poor oral feeding for prolonged period which left her severely debilitated. The large amount of ascites that developed 20 days before admission and extreme emaciation forced her to bed rest. She also suffered from Herpes Zoster. After medical treatment to improve liver function and severe pain was persisted, the patient was referred to our department for control of pain. We performed right mandibular block with 1% dibucaine 0.4 ml and the effect was excellent. After the pain had subsided, patient was able to take meals more comfortably and improved liver function returned.