Despite the original filename referring to MS, these two cases concern brainstem infarction. Published in 1997 and collected under April 2004, this report is not evidence of effectiveness for MS-related pain or current surgical guidance.
Neurosurg Focus. 1997 Jan 15;2(1)
Foroohar M, Herman M, Heller S, Levy RM.
Departments of Surgery (Neurosurgery) and Neurology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.
Although percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal rhizolysis (RFL) has been used to treat idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia thought secondary to multiple sclerosis, the use of RFL for trigeminal neuralgia caused by brainstem infarction has not been advocated.
The authors report two patients with trigeminal neuralgia following pontine infarction in whom aggressive medical management failed, but who were successfully treated with RFL.
Pain relief has persisted for the 3- and 6-year duration of follow-up examinations.
Descending trigeminal reticular fibers may be affected by brainstem infarction and result in trigeminal neuralgia; thus, treatment by rhizotomy may be effective in decreasing the peripheral afferent input into the spinal trigeminal nucleus thus decreasing the pain.
These two cases demonstrate the utility of RFL in the relief of ischemia-induced trigeminal neuralgia and lead the authors to suggest that its use be broadened to include this indication.
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Author: Foroohar M, Herman M, Heller S, Levy RM.
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