Evaluation of the retrogasserian opioid application in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia

AIM: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of the retrogasserian opioid application in patients with type 1 trigeminal neuralgia. MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 37 patients (12 male, 25 female; average age 56.2 ± 5.4 years) who were administered retrogasserian opioid due to type 1 trigeminal neuralgia between February 2012 and May 2015 were included in the study. A visual analogue scale was used to evaluate pain at the last preoperative and postoperative visits (median follow-up period: 13 months, mean follow-up period: 15.6 months). All parameters were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Visual analogue scale scores of all 37 patients were significantly improved in the postoperative period. The average visual analogue scale scores were 7.9 ± 0.62 preoperatively and 2.9 ± 0.5 postoperatively. All changes were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous retrogasserian opioid injection in type 1 trigeminal neuralgia is an effective and safe method of pain control. © 2019, Turkish Neurosurgical Society.