Peripheral neurectomy: a minimally invasive treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. A retrospective study

Investigate the efficacy of peripheral neurectomy as a surgical procedure in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and to evaluate the results obtained by this procedure and their recurrences in a period of three years followup.

Thirty patients were retrospectively reviewed who underwent peripheral neurectomy. The factors analyzed were the demographic details of the patients, side of involvement, branch of nerve involved and procedure used postoperative complications, prognosis and any additional procedure used in cases of recurrences.

The mean age of the patient was 57.1 years (range 35-71 years) more were males (M:F = 1.73:1) and the surgical treatment was peripheral neurectomy of the involved branch following failure of carbamazepine therapy. There was no intra operative and postoperative complications noted and follow up over 3 years revealed only two cases (6.66%) of recurrence. Two patients were lost to followup, total number evaluated between 0 and 3 years after treatment was 28 patients.

Peripheral neurectomy is one of the oldest, minimal invasive forms of surgery, well tolerated by the patient and can be done under local anesthesia.