• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2006

Background: Recently trigeminal nerve block with alcohol (TnbA) for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) has come to be known as a procedure with a short-term effect and high complications. There has been none of report about long-term outcome of TnbA for TN. The objective of this prospective study for the long-term results of TnbA was to analyse the pain free duration and complication after the administration of blocks and compare them in the first block and subsequent blocks. Methods: From March 1996 to May 2005, 304 consecutive patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia were treated with TnbA including supraorbital nerve block, infraorbital nerve block, maxillary nerve (V2) block, mandibular nerve (V3) block, and V2 and V3 at the same time and were prospectively followed up every two months for 10 years. Results: The mean value of pain free duation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd TnbA were 43, 38 and 48 months, respectively using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The probability of pain recurrence in 1 and 3 years after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd blocks were 25%, 25%, 20% and 53%, 54%, 34%, respectively. The pain free durations of first and subsequent blocks were not statistically different. Complications were reported at 36 (11.8%), 5 (4.2%), and 0 in 1st, 2nd and 3rd blocks. Conclusions: TnbA showed the relatively long duration of pain free and low incidence of complications. Repeated TnbA has pain free duration as long as the 1st block and less complications as well. TnbA is a valuable treatment of TN as a percutaneous procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제7권1호
• /
• pp.39-42
• /
• 1994

The purpose of this study was to review the results of the neurolytic trigeminal nerve block in 41 patients from April 1992 to March 1994. Most common site of trigeminal neuralgia was the second division(27 patients, 68.3%). Nineteen patients of these were treated with infraorbital nerve block. Another 4 patients had cerebello-pontine angle tumor close to TREZ in MRI findings therefore they were excluded from this study. Thirty nine patients (95.1%) remained free of pain. Only 2 patients treated with infraorbital nerve block experienced recurring pain. Although the follow-up period was short, alcohol blocks proved effective and safe for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 1996

This is a retrospective analysis of 158 patients who visted our Neuro-Pain clinic, April 1992 to March 1996, suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. Most patients received nerve blocks in its triggering peripheral branches of pain. All patients experienced pain relief for 3 months after initial successful nerve block. Twenty two patients complained of recurring pain within 4 to 32 months. Mean duration of pain relief was as follows: infraorbital nerve block 15.2 months, maxillary nerve block 16.8 months, and mandibular nerve block 23.4 months. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were also evaluated. This study demonstrates that alcohol block is a safe and effective method of treating trigeminal neuralgia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제5권1호
• /
• pp.76-79
• /
• 1992

Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition characterized by excruciating paroxysms of pain in lips, gums, cheek, or chin, and very rarely, in the distribution of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. There are many treatments of trigeminal neuralgia, such as, medical treatment, electrical stimulation, radiation therapy and ablative procedures. Infraorbital nerve block with pure ethyl alcohol is an ablation procedure for trigeminal neuralgia. We injected pure ethyl alcohol into the infraorbital foramen for pain control. The results were as follows; 1) The infraorbital nerve block with pure alcohol was an a simple and an effective method. 2) Complication, included a mild sensory deficit and mild edema over the infraorbital area.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제63권6호
• /
• pp.814-820
• /
• 2020

Objective : Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe neuropathic condition that affects several elderly patients. It is characterized by uncontrolled pain that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the condition should be treated as an emergency. In the majority of patients, pain can be controlled with medication; however, other treatment modalities are being explored in those who become refractory to drug treatment. The use of the trigeminal nerve block with a local anesthetic serves as an excellent adjunct to drug treatment. This technique rapidly relieves the patient of pain while medications are being titrated to effective levels. We report the efficacy and safety of percutaneous trigeminal nerve block in elderly patients with TN at our outpatient clinic. Methods : Twenty-one patients older than 65 years with TN received percutaneous nerve block at our outpatient clinic. We used bupivacaine (1 mL/injection site) to block the supraorbital, infraorbital, superior alveolar, mental, and inferior alveolar nerves according to pain sites of patients. Results : All patients reported relief from pain, which decreased by approximately 78% after 2 weeks of nerve block. The effect lasted for more than 4 weeks in 12 patients and for 6 weeks in two patients. There were no complications. Conclusion : Percutaneous nerve block procedure performed at our outpatient clinic provided immediate relief from pain to elderly patients with TN. The procedure is simple, has no serious side effects, and is easy to apply.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.247-250
• /
• 1993

Trigeminal neuralgia(tic douloureux) is a condition characterized by excruciating paroxysms of pain in lips, gums, cheek or chin. There are many treatments of trigeminal neuralgia, such as carbamazepine, electrical stimulation, radiation therapy and ablative procedures. We blocked the mandibular nerve via lateral extra-oral route with pure ethyl alcohol in patient with localized gingival pain. The results were as follows; 1) The mandibular nerve block with pure ethyl alcohol was effective. 2) No complications were noted.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제18권2호
• /
• pp.279-283
• /
• 2005

Biplane fluoroscopy is usually used in angiography. Biplane fluoroscopy gives a biplane image with high resolution during the performance of operations. Trigeminal nerve blocks are effective treatment modalities for trigeminal neuralgia, and maxillary nerve block is the most dangerous procedure among them. The anatomic structures can change after head and neck surgery, so the trigeminal nerve block procedures cannot be done so easily. We used biplane fluoroscopy in these difficult cases. Our first case was a 60-year-old man who had undergone maxillary nerve block. The second case was of a 64-year-old man who had pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of mandibular nerve performed after head and neck surgery. With biplane fluoroscopy, we got good results without any complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.395-398
• /
• 1996

A retrospective analysis of 175 patients who were suffering from trigeminal neuralgia was done. We found 21 cases (12.0%) of abnormal findings including brain tumors and cerebrovascular disease on brain MRI. All patients were transferred to department of neurosurgery for operation. Among them, 7 patients refused or gave up operation and received nerve blocks with pure alcohol. Their MRI findings were meningioma, arachnoid cyst, arteriovenous malformation, venous angioma, and frontal sinus cancer This study demonstrates that peripheral nerve block or trigeminal nerve block with pure alcohol would be possible in case of elderly patients, patients who have poor general condition, patients who refuse operation, and brain tumor or cerebrovascular disease which located in dangerous area to be operated.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.303-306
• /
• 1994

Trigeminal neuralgia is a unique disease entity to be dealt with at pain clinic due to it's severe pain attack. A 33-year old male patient had severe pain on left cheek area usually initiating from first upper molar tooth area for three years. We successfully treated this patient with maxillary nerve block using pure alcohol by a lateral approach. Three months after maxillary block the patient is still pain free.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.241-244
• /
• 2009

Retrobulbar hematoma can arise from orbital trauma and periorbital or intraorbital procedures, and it can result in several morbidities including vision loss. Making the immediate diagnosis and performing decompression of the retrobulbar hematoma are crucial for preventing serious morbidities such as permanent vision loss. We present here a case of temporary vision loss that was due to iatrogenic retrobulbar hematoma in a patient who received infraorbital nerve block for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. A 70-year-old woman with trigeminal neuralgia was treated with infraorbital nerve block. Just after the procedure she experienced acute periorbital swelling, proptosis and worsening visual acuity. Immediate orbital computed tomography was done, and this revealed a retrobulbar hematoma. The patient underwent lateral canthotomy with cantholysis and administration of dexamethasone and mannitol. Improvement of visual acuity began 3 hours after these procedures. Her visual acuity was greatly improved 12 days after admission.