Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
Neuronavigated percutaneous gasserian radiofrequency thermorhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia: how I do it
Michele Rizzi1, Nicolò Castelli2, Donato Martino3
1Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Background:
Radiofrequency thermorhizotomy (TRZ) is an established treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). TRZ can result risky and painful in a consistent subset of patients, due to the need to perform multiple trajectories, before a successful foramen ovale cannulation. Moreover, intraoperative x-rays are required.
Method:
TRZ has been performed by using a neuronavigated stylet, before trajectory planning on a dedicated workstation.
Conclusion:
Navigated-TRZ (N-TRZ) meets the expectations of a safer and more tolerable procedure due to the use of a single trajectory, avoiding critical structures. Moreover, N-TRZ is x-ray free. Efficacy outcomes are similar to those reported in literature.
