• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2016

Objectives : To understand spatial cause hypothesis of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, the body truncus area was divided into intracranial, thoracic and pelvic cavity and was illustrated, the subjective pain degrees of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia were compared with the illustraion of three cavity. Methods : The frontal view of pictures of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia subject truncus area were illustrated into three circles which was treated with conservative methods like the pelvic correction, cervical correction, FCST, posture training without drugs and acupuncture. The spatial analysis of three circle vertical centerlines were compared with the pain degrees. Results : The vertical centerlines of three circles were agreed with the body gravity centerline depending on the treatment progresses. namely, as the parts of truncus were matched to the body gravity centerline, the degrees of pain were decreased. Conclusions : The vascular pressure on the trigeminal nerve which was causing the idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia might be induced by the spatial misalignment of truncus area because the spatial misalignment of it can press to move vascular into trigeminal nerve partially. Further study will be progressed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.640-651
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• 2022

Clinical studies on neuromodulation intervention for trigeminal neuralgia have not yet shown promising results. This might be due to the fact that the pathophysiology of chronic trigeminal neuropathy is not yet fully understood. Chronic trigeminal neuropathy includes trigeminal autonomic neuropathy, painful trigeminal neuropathy, and persistent idiopathic facial pain. This disorder is caused by complex abnormalities in the pain processing system, which is comprised of the affective, emotional, and sensory components, rather than mere abnormal sensation. Therefore, integrative understanding of the pain system is necessary for appropriate neuromodulation of chronic trigeminal neuropathy. The possible neuromodulation targets that participate in complex pain processing are as follows : the ventral posterior medial nucleus, periaqueductal gray, motor cortex, nucleus accumbens, subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus internus, anterior cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, sphenopalatine ganglion, and occipital nerve. In conclusion, neuromodulation interventions for trigeminal neuralgia is yet to be elucidated; future advancements in this area are required.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.431-440
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• 2021

Background: Neurovascular compression (NVC) is a well-known cause of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, patients with idiopathic TN (ITN) do not have evidence of NVC on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other patients may remain asymptomatic despite evidence of NVC on MRI. This suggests that there may be additional risk factors for TN development other than NVC. Although epidemiological factors, such as age and sex differences, are useful for understanding the pathophysiology of TN, detailed statistics for each TN subtype are currently unavailable. Therefore, this study aimed to classify patients with TN into the following groups based on data extracted from past medical records: classical TN (CTN), secondary TN, and ITN. Methods: The characteristics of the groups and their differences were explored. Results: CTN was more common in women than in men, as previously reported, whereas ITN was more common in men than in women. The ratio of pain sites located on the right side of the face was high in all groups. Patients with CTN were also prone to NVC on the asymptomatic side. Conclusion: By investigating TN subtype, it may be possible to elucidate the pathophysiology of TN. This would greatly improve treatment outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2000

Objective : There are many treatment modalitis in management of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. In the secondary trigeminal neuralgia, there has been only sporadic reports of the etiology. Authors report the treatment result of secondary trigeminal neuralgia with percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy. Methods : During last ten years, 129 trigeminal neuralgias were treated by percutaneous radiofrequency(RF) rhizotomy by authors. Among them, nine patients were secondary trigeminal neuralgias. These patients refused treatment for the primary cause and only wanted pain control. The offending lesions were three arachnoid cysts, six tumors. The mean age was 47.8 years and the mean duration of follow-up was 6.2 years. The right V2,3 distribution was most prevalent area of pain. Authors used the conventional Hartel's anterior approach and straight electrode for RF lesion generation. Result : The early result was satisfactory. Eight of nine patients became free of pain and one patient needed minimal dose of carbamazepine. The overall pain control was 100%. There was no mortality or morbidity for initial RF rhizotomy. During follow-up, four patients showed recurrence of pain(44%). Among these, two underwent repeated RF rhizotomy and became free of pain. The other two were controlled with medical management. Conclusion : These results indicate that the percutaneous RF rhizotomy is effective means of pain control. Overall recurrence was somewhat higher than that of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Even with recurrence, however, repeated RF rhizotomy seems to be effective method of control of pain in these cases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.186-189
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• 2008

Objective : We assessed the surgical results of percutaneous balloon compression in 50 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : Fifty patients with follow-up period of more than 12 months were retrospectively analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 42 months (range, 12-82). The mean age was 65.8 years (range, 27-83). Seventeen patients (34%) had other previous surgical procedures. The balloon was inflated by injecting radio-contrast media under brief general anesthesia according to Mullan’s technique. The mean inflating time was 88 seconds (range, 60-120). The whole procedure took about 20 minutes. Results : We reported excellent and good results in 70% of the cases, poor in 6% as annoying dysesthesia, recurrence in 16%, and 8% failure due to technical deficiencies. Forty-six patients (92%) were initially relieved of their pain. There were permanent motor weakness of the masseter muscle in 4% of patients and transitory diplopia in 8%. Neither anesthesia dolorosa nor keratitis occurred. Almost all patients (92%) were discharged postoperatively within two days. Conclusion : These results indicate that balloon compression would be an effective method with acceptable morbidity, technically, It can be performed rapidly and simply in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.12-21
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• 2020

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review clinical studies on trigeminal neuralgia treatment through Korean Medicine. Methods : We used search engines such as KISS, RISS, KOREAMED and NDSL. We limited cases as idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia without comorbidities. We excluded dissertation. We considered papers published after year 2000. Results : Fourteen studies were searched for this study. Various treatments such as acupuncture therapy, herbal medicine, moxibustion therapy, manipulation, pharmocopuncture, vomiting therapy were practiced for trigeminal neuralgia. Conclusions : All study were case report and evidence level of the searched studies was not high. They reported meaningful improvement through Korean Medicine treatment and these studies implied effectiveness and safety of Korean Medicine for Trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.446-452
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• 2011

Objective : We retrospectively investigated the long-term results of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) using fluoroscopic image-guidance for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : A total of 38 patients diagnosed and treated with RFT as an idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia were investigated. To minimize the risks related to conventional technique based on cutaneous landmarks, and to eliminate the need to frequent reposition of cannula, we adopted a technique of image-guided fluoroscopic cannulation of the foramen ovale. To minimize sensory complication following thermal lesion, our target response was a generation of a lesion with mild to moderate hypalgesia rather than dense hypalgesia. Results : The immediate pain-relief was achieved in all patients underwent RFT. With mean duration of follow-up of 38.2 months (range,12-72), 11 (28.9%) experienced recurrence of pain. The mean timing of recurrence was 26.1 months (range,12-46). A 42.7% recurrence rate was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis for the 38 patients at 46 months; 20.2% within 2 years, 29.1% within 3 years. In the long-term, 27 patients (71%) and 6 patients (15.8%) showed Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) score I and BNI score II responses. Three (7.9%) patients was assessed as BNI score III, 2 patients (5.3%) showed BNI score IV response. As a complication, troublesome dysesthesia occurred in 3 of 38 patients (7.9%), however, there was no permanent cranial nerve palsy or morbidity. Conclusion : These results indicates that RFT under fluoroscopic image-guided cannulation of foramen ovale is a safe, effective, and reliable means of treating trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.202-205
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study is to measure the dimensions of foramen ovale and to localize the zygomatic point using computed tomography[CT] in Korean adults with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : Facial axial CT scans using the orbitomeatal plane were performed in 67patients [39males and 28females; mean age 58.8years] with idiopathic classic trigeminal neuralgia. We measured the size of the foramen ovale and localized the zygomatic point which was a skin marker over the ipsilateral zygoma that approximates the lateral projection of a straight line joining the centers of the two foramen ovale. Results : The axial dimensions of the foramen ovale on the orbitomeatal plane were of average length : $8.18{\pm}0.82mm$ [range $6.9{\sim}11.5mm$]. width : $4.06{\pm}0.86mm$ [$2.5{\sim}5.7mm$]. The average distance between the external acoustic meatus and the zygomatic point was $21.64{\pm}1.99mm$ [$16.3{\sim}25.0mm$] and the average distance of anterior margin of condylar process of mandible to zygomatic point was $4.29{\pm}1.19mm$ [$1.0{\sim}7.0mm$]. Conclusion : The anatomical understandings including the size of the foramen ovale and localization of the zygomatic point could be helpful in determining a plan of percutaneous approaches to foramen ovale.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 2000

This study was carried out among 34 patients who visited Yonsei Dental Hospital from 1996. 1. to 1999. 5 for trigeminal neuralgia. By studying the patient's treatment prior to visiting our hospital, features of trigeminal neuralgia, treatment process of trigeminal neuralgia, prognosis of treatment, consultation with other professions and involvement of surgery, etc., the results are as follows: 1. 67.7% of onset age range from 40s to 60s, and average age is 50.2. 2. Ratio of right to left involvement is 1:2.1, male to female ratio is 1:1.9. 3. Occurrence rate of each branch is V3(44.1%), V2(11.8%), V1+V2+V3(11.8), V1+V2(8.8%). 4. Treatments prior to admission to our hospital are extraction(5.9%), endodontic treatment(5.9%), medication(11.8%), Oriental Medicine treatment(5.9%). 5. Routes of admittance to our hospital are by their preference(55.9%), local clinic referral(32.4%), E.N.T referral(5.9%), Neurology referral(5.9%). 6. 70.6% of patients treated at our hospital who were relieved of symptoms, were referred to Neurology(66.7%) and Pain Clinic(33.3%) for the reason of relapse, side effects of the drug itself, incomplete relief of pain. 7. 2 patients who were referred to medical part showed brain vessels contacting trigeminal nerve root on Brain MRangiography. But pain is being controlled by medication and no specific surgical procedure was carried out. The results show that 17.7% of patients admitted received inappropriate early treatment. In order to relieve tooth loss and patient's psychologic stress due to inappropriate treatment, precise differential diagnosis must be made among local teeth disease and idiopathic facial pain. Medication may show side effects of the drug itself, incomplete relief of pain or relapse of symptoms. Therefore, to treat trigeminal neuralgia appropriately by drug injection, surgery or radiation therapy, consultations among dentists, neurologists and anesthesiologists are required.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.622-632
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• 2022

Microvascular decompression is the gold standard for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, percutaneous techniques still play a role in treating patients with TN and offer several important advantages and efficiency in obtaining immediate pain relief, which is also durable in a less invasive and safe manner. Patients' preference for a less invasive method can influence the procedure they will undergo. Neurovascular conflict is not always a prerequisite for patients with TN. In addition, recurrence and failure of the previous procedure can influence the decision to follow the treatment. Therefore, indications for percutaneous procedures for TN persist when patients experience idiopathic and episodic sharp shooting pain. In this review, we provide an overview of percutaneous procedures for TN and its outcome and complication.