Analysis of 1775 Patients Treated by Percutaneous Radiofrequency Rhizotomy for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Overview

Background:
Treatment of classic trigeminal neuralgia (cTN) has been as diverse as explanations of its pathophysiology. The patients with cTN refractory to medical treatment are candidates for surgical procedures.

Aims:
We report our results on 1775 patients treated for cTN with percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy (pRFR). We also discuss the current state of surgical management of cTN.

Methods:
In the period from 1983 to 2001, 1775 patients underwent pRFR for relief of cTN at the Institute of Neurosurgery in Belgrade. The authors analyzed the initial results and long-term follow- up data, such as the influence of different types of cTN, achieved facial hypesthesia after pRFR and prior trigeminal surgical procedures on the treatment outcome.

Results:
Initial positive results were obtained in 96% of the patients, while the recurrence rate after five years accounted for 21%, taking into consideration the whole series. Better results were achieved in patients with short episodic, sharp pain than in patients suffering from pain containing a more constant, throbbing component. Unfortunately, the initial degree and duration of facial hypesthesia provoked by pRFR, not only increased the success in pain relief, but also the degree of neurological complications.

Conclusion:
We recommend pRFR or gamma knife surgery (GK) as the first procedure for surgical treatment in majority of patients suffering from cTN. Microvascular decompression (MVD) should be considered for younger patients with clear radiological diagnosis of neurovascular compression at the trigeminal root entry zone or after failed percutaneous neurolytic procedures.

Key words:
trigeminal neuralgia – radiofrequency rhizotomy – glycerol rhizotomy – gamma knife radiosurgery – microvascular decompression

Introduction

cTN may be defined as a sudden usually unilateral and predominantly episodic recurrent painful disorder perceived in one or more sensory divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Its clinical features are characterized by brief paroxysms of electric shock-like, agonizing, lancinating or stabbing pain separated by pain-free intervals that may continue for days, weeks or even for years [1,2].

The attacks may be provoked by light tactile or vibratory stimulation of a trigger point located in the orofacial region. The attack is self-sustained once it starts. Results of neurological examination are almost always normal, except for discreet hypalgesia or hypesthesia in some patients [3].

Mainly affected individuals are of age 50 and older, but cTN can occur regardless of age [4].

Treatment of cTN has been as diverse as explanations of its pathophysiology. The patients suffering from cTN who had no favorable response or experienced significant side effects to medical therapy are candidates for surgical treatment. Two most conventional surgical procedures are pRFR of ganglion Gasseri and microvascular decompression (MVD) via posterior fossa craniectomy. If vascular compression of the trigeminal root entry zone was not perceived during the exploration of cerebello-pontine angle (CPA), the alternative procedure is a partial trigeminal sensory root rhizotomy (PTSR) [5].

The purpose of this study is to review our experience with pRFR in treatment of 1775 patients suffering from cTN and to discuss the possibility of other current surgical options for management of cTN.

Patients and Methods

Patients

The patient population consisted of 1775 patients (1052 female and 723 male), suffering from medically refractory cTN pain and treated by pRFR from 1983 to 2001.

The diagnosis of cTN was based on typical clinical features. Our patients are classified in two groups according to characteristics of their pain. The patients in group A (1384/₁₇₇₅ ;78%) were suffering from a typical episodic, sharp or electrical shock-like, idiopathic pain lasting several seconds. The group B (391/₁₇₇₅ ;22%) had a component of more constant, throbbing or burning pain. Preoperative examination, computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MRi), revealed normal findings in all patients. Neuroablative surgical procedures were previously performed on 3% of the patients (53/₁₇₇₅). The characteristics of the patients in this series are presented in Table1.

The pain was located on the right side in 54% of the patients, while the left side was affected in 46% of the patients. The more affected distributions were the maxillary and mandibulary nerves together (36%), as mandibulary (33%) and maxillary (27%) nerve alone (Table 2).

Methods

pRFR was conducted on sedated patient in the x-ray department under fluoroscopic guidance. We used Radionics Radiofrequency Lesion Generator model RFG-3AV and Trigeminal Neuralgia Kit Type TIC. The transbucal Hartel´s approach to the foramen ovalae was employed using submental-vertex radiographic projection [6].

Electrophysiological confirmation by low-voltage stimulation defined the exact electrode position in trigeminal ganglion. The first radiofrequency lesion was made with the electrode tip temperature of 60^oC for 60 sec. Each following lesion was increased for 5^oC up to 80^oC with duration of 60 to 80 sec., depending on the attained analgesia and hypesthesia in the affected division. We insisted that the facial analgesia be followed by convincing moderate facial hypesthesia.

Results

Excellent result (pain free and off medication) was obtained initially in 85% of the patients (1509/1775). Initially good result (pain free with need for medication at times) was achieved in 11% of the patients (195/₁₇₇₅), while an initially poor response was noted in the remaining 4% of the patients (71/₁₇₇₅). Excellent and good results were considered as a satisfactory outcome. The overall initially satisfactory success rate after pRFR was present in 96% of the patients (1704/1863).

According to the nature of idiopathic pain the initial success rate in group A was 97% and in group B was 94% of the cases. Table 3.

Mild facial hypesthesia after pRFR in duration of up to four weeks was present in 25% (431/1704 ) of the patients, moderate hypesthesia up to six weeks in 62% (1048/1704) of the patients, while a dense facial hypesthesia lasting more than two month was achieved in remaining 13% (225/1704 ) of the patients.

After five years the recurrence of pain in the patients with initially satisfactory results (1704 patients) accounted for 21%. This recurrence of pain was higher in group B than in group A, as in the patients with lower degree, versus higher degree, of facial hypesthesia. Table 4.

The pRFR was repeated in 283 cases with satisfactory results in 83% of the patients (235/283).

We have had no lethal outcome. As for the most frequent complications, we have noted facial dysesthesia and motor palsy. In Table 5. are presented the complications of pRFR in correlation to the degree of produced facial hypesthesia.

Discussion

As analyzed in literature, both experimental and clinical data suggest that cTN occurs in response to peripheral and central causes. The injury to the trigeminal nerve or roots causes ectopic afferent activity with a loss of inhibitory interneurons resulting in a decrease in segmental afferent inhibition. [7, 8]

If this paroxysmal activity spreads to wide dynamic range neurons on nucleus caudalis and they begin to fire at the frequency normally elicited by noxious stimuli, an attack of trigeminal neuralgia is initiated. [9]

Medically refractory cTN has been treated with a variety of surgical techniques. According to the current state the best results may be achieved by noninvasive or minimally destructive procedures on trigeminal nerve or ganglion. [10] Satisfactory pain relief for treatment of cTN can be obtained either with pRFR or percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy (pGlyR) or with MVD operation. Gamma knife radiosurgery has recently also emerged as a viable therapeutic option for treatment of cTN. Which of the procedure should be applied?

pRFR is a minimally invasive technique in common practice worldwide. It is used routinely and may be suggested to almost any patient. Its advantages are the avoidance of general endotracheal anesthesia, good tolerance by the elderly and the poor risk patients, reduced length of hospitalization, successful immediate and long-termed results, possibility of repeating if necessary, and low morbidity and practically no mortality. [11]

In our series, after pRFR initially satisfactory pain-relief was achieved in 96% of the patients and after a follow-up period of five years the rate of pain recurrence reached 21%. According to other reports the initial successful pain relief ranges from 91% to 98% and the pain recurrence ranges from 10% up to 80%. [12]

We noticed that the initial success and recurrence rate correlated to the degree of achieved facial hypesthesia. Therefore, the goal was to obtain moderate, but not unpleasant, sensory loss in the affected division of trigeminal nerve. Unfortunately, in cases of dense facial hypesthesia unfavorable neurological consequences were higher (facial dysesthesia, motor palsy, corneal anesthesia, anesthesia dolorosa).

There was a difference between group A and group B in the initial result and the recurrence of pain after follow-up of five years. In the group A, the initial success of pain relief was 97% and the recurrence rate accounted 19%. In group B, the initial success was lower (94%) but the recurrence rate was higher (22%). This may be explained by the new classification scheme for trigeminal neuralgia which authors theorized that the initial, thoroughly idiopathic, pain could be changed by time, obtaining discreet throbbing and more constant components, as a result of further neural injury. [13, 14]

The incidences of complications in this series (dysesthesia 12%, motor palsy 9%, corneal anesthesia 0,9% and anesthesia dolorosa 0,1%) are well in the range of published series ( dysesthesia 11-24%, motor palsy 3-25%, corneal anesthesia 0,6-20% and anesthesia dolorosa 0,2-3%). [15, 16, 17, 18, 19]

Patients previously treated by neurodestructive surgery appeared to receive less benefit from subsequent pRFR. In 53 patients with prior neuroablative operations an initial satisfactory pain relief was obtained by 84% and after five years the recurrence rate reached 26%. The patient’s age, sex, and previous response to medication had no influence on the outcome.

pGlyR is also used for treatment of cTN with the advantage of providing immediate pain relief, but with significant low long-term success rate. Reported rates of pain recurrence in the literature range up to 53% for pGLyR treated patients.¹⁹ Kondziolka in reported series with pGlyR in 1174 patients suffering from cTN noted satisfactory long-lasting pain relief in 77% of patients. [20]

GK radiosurgery is an effective and noninvasive treatment modality which has a low side effect rate. [21] Petit [22] reported the series of 112 patients with cTN who were treated with GK radiosurgery using the prescription dose of 75 Gy delivered to the involved trigeminal nerve root entry zone. After the median time to pain relief of 3 weeks, 77% of the patients experienced satisfactory pain relief. In long-term follow-up for 3 years the percent of satisfactory treatment response was 48%. Persistent trigeminal dysfunction was noted in 7,3% and bothersome facial numbness in 3,1%.

Shaya  [23] treated 40 patients with medically refractory cTN with GK using the mean prescription dose of 8o Gy. At the median follow-up of 14 months 70% had satisfactory pain relief.

Rogers  [24] treated 89 patients suffering from cTN with GK. The overall satisfactory pain relief from immediate to 253 days (median 63 days) was 71%. The actuarial 2.5 year pain recurrence rate for entire patient group was 36%. Complication related to partial facial sensory loss (14%).

MVD is a well established procedure. Numerous studies have revealed reliable connection between idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve. The pathophysiology of trigeminal neurovascular compression syndrome is based on the changes produced by pulsatile compression of the vessels on the nerves in the CPA. These damages, especially of myelin of large fibers, results in abnormal firing of the nerve, which has led to the ignition hypothesis.  [25]

However, besides that most authorities agree with segmental demyelination as a cause of pain, how to explain the pain relief immediately after microvascular decompression ?!  [26] Maybe the vascular contact with the trigeminal nerve provokes some other pathophysiological mechanisms causing seizure-like activity in the trigeminal nucleus?  [21] Although the proposal that neurovascular compression is the mechanism for the production of trigeminal neuralgia is intriguing, it requires furthe7 evaluation.

Certainly, MVD should be conditioned by a clear preoperative radiological visualization of neurovascular compression at the trigeminal root entry zone. In some cases offending vessels at or near the trigeminal root entry zone may be detected by MRi without clinical manifestation of the trigeminal neuralgia. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the vascular contact at the trigeminal root entry zone exists in more than 50% of unselected necropsis, not causing the trigeminal neuralgia in all cases.  [28] On the contrary, in some patients with intractable idiopathic trigeminal pain no vascular compression at trigeminal root entry zone was observed on operation. Arachnoid thickening or adhesion between the root and surrounding tissues can lead to irritation or damage to the neural tissue. [29, 30]

Finally, not all of the patients with trigeminal neuralgia could be cured by MVD. Sometimes the patients showed no response or the pain could only be alleviated to MVD. [31]

Taha and Tew  [32] noted that 15% of patients who underwent craniotomy for intended MVD were found to have insignificant vascular compression or were unable to be decompressed thoroughly. In literature reported series with MVD provides the initial pain relief in up to 91-97% of patients and recurrence in up to 19% of cases. [33]

Kondo [34] reported the series of 154 patients with cTN who were treated by MVD. Immediate postoperative cure rate was 96,7%. In long-term follow-up, for more than 5 years after surgery, the satisfactory pain relief was 82,5%.

Unfortunately, MVD carries the specific risks of operations in the CPA, including the reported mortality of 1%. [35]

We also analyzed the comparative results of different surgical procedures for treatment of cTN.

Henson  [19] reported the comparative results of patients treated with pGlyR and GK. The majority of pGlyR treated patients experienced a pain relief within 24 h vs, a median time to pain relief of 3 weeks with the GK radiosurgery. pGlyR has a greater facial numbness morbidity (54% vs 30%) and higher failure rate (39% vs. 24%) than GK.

Apfelbaum  [12] reported the series of 702 patients surgically treated with pRFR, pGlyR and MVD. The follow-up was more than 2 years after surgery. pRFR initially produced 93% successful pain relief while in long-term follow-up obtained 81% success rate. pGlyR had 92% initial pain relief and 64% long-term success. MVD initially produced 91% success and on long-term follow-up in 81%. The initial success with all three procedures is very similar (91-93%). The long-term successes for MVD and pRFR are also equal (81%) while pGlyR has a significant lower long-term success rate (64%). Complication with pRFR and pGlyR are minimal, while with MVD could be serious or even life threatening (1% mortality). [36]

Taha and Tew [32] published the comparative results of percutaneous neurolytic procedures with MVD and GK radiosurgery. Only MVD had a mortality rate (o,6%).

Conclusions

We recommend pRFR (or GK radiosurgery) as the first procedure in treatment for medically refractory cTN in majority of cases. These procedures are especially advised for older patients or those with significant risk factors of a craniotomy.

According to our experience the pRFR may be considered for a safe, low cost procedure and easy to perform in nearly every neurosurgical center, with low complication rates and acceptable long-term results in pain relief.

Present studies suggest that the clinical features of preoperative trigeminal pain may influence the initial pain relief, as to recurrence of pain after pRFR procedure. Carefully defined moderate facial hypesthesia induced by radiofrequency lesion saves the balance between the good pain relief and low complications rate.

MVD is reserved for younger patients without significant surgical risk factors with preoperative radiological visualization of neurovascular compression at the trigeminal root entry zone or after failed percutaneous neurolytic procedures. MVD carries the specific risks of operation in CPA, including the reported mortality of 1%.

Partial sensory trigeminal root section is the surgical option in cases of negative finding on neurovascular compression during CPA exploration.

Přijato k recenzi: 10. 4. 2006

Přijato do tisku: 7. 2. 2007

prof. Eugen Slavik

Weekend N0 14

22305 Stari Banovci

Serbia

e-mail: eugens@ptt.yu