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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
The Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Selectively Extracranial Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Ziyan Jiang1,2, Shengchao Jiang1,2, Qinggong Meng1,2
1The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University; and.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term pain relief and the complications of selectively extracranial radio-frequency thermocoagulation (RFT) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) guided by a three-dimensionally (3D) printed personalized template. The authors conducted a retrospective study of 117 TN patients, who were treated with selectively extracranial RFT under 3D printed personalized template guidance between September 2014 and January 2019. The mean follow-up duration was 42.8 months (range: 28-83 months). Favorable pain relief of patients was 100% at discharge, 86.3% at 1 year, 80.3% at 2 years, 78.6% at 3 years, and 75.4% at 5 years. No complication associated with a puncture or intracranial complication was observed during or after RFT. Postoperative complications included facial numbness in 91 patients (77.8%), masticatory muscle weakness in 15 patients (12.8%), ear paresthesia in 3 patients (2.6%), limited mouth opening in 2 patients (1.7%), and taste hypesthesia in 2 patients (1.7%). Most of these symptoms were improved during the visits and their life was not severely affected. Selectively extracranial RFT guided by a 3D printed personalized template is a clinically practical, effective, and safe approach for TN patients.
