Department of Pain therapy, Pain Clinic De Bilt, De Bilt, The Netherlands.
Int Tinnitus J. 2024 Mar 21;27(2):259-263. doi: 10.5935/0946-5448.20230040.
Stimulation of the nonauditory nervous systems via the trigeminal nerve pathways can be a promising intervention for patients with tinnitus refractory to medical, conservative, and other treatment options. Therapy of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve through the auriculotemporal nerve has been reported as useful for patients with tinnitus.
The objective of our study was to study the long-term effects of pulsed radiofrequency of the auriculotemporal nerve in a large group of tinnitus sufferers and to find predictors for a prosperous result.
A monocenter backward-looking group study.
In a two-year period, 67 tinnitus patients had pulsed radiofrequency of the auriculotemporal nerve. Twentythree (35%) reported reduced tinnitus loudness at the 7-week post-treatment follow-up. These patients valued the improvements as: 61% good, 22% moderate, and 17% slight. In 3% of patients, tinnitus magnified after the treatment. The odds of permanent tinnitus relief after successful pulsed radiofrequency of the auriculotemporal nerve are 68% at 1 year postoperative. In tinnitus patients without cervical pain 62% had an improvement following pulsed radiofrequency of the auriculotemporal nerve compared to 28% in those not fulfilling this criterion (p=0.024).
Neuromodulation of the auriculotemporal nerve is an uncomplicated remedy for tinnitus. In a select group of tinnitus patients this treatment can a good relief of their tinnitus for a long period. Especially, tinnitus sufferers without cervical pain will benefit of this therapy.
通过三叉神经通路刺激非听觉神经系统可能是一种有前途的干预措施，适用于对医学、保守和其他治疗选择无反应的耳鸣患者。通过耳颞神经治疗三叉神经下颌支已被报道对耳鸣患者有用。
我们研究的目的是研究通过耳颞神经脉冲射频治疗一大群耳鸣患者的长期效果，并寻找良好结果的预测因素。
单中心回顾性群组研究。
在两年期间，67 名耳鸣患者接受了耳颞神经脉冲射频治疗。23 名（35%）报告在治疗后 7 周的随访中耳鸣响度降低。这些患者对改善的评价如下：61%为好，22%为中度，17%为轻微。在 3%的患者中，治疗后耳鸣加重。成功进行耳颞神经脉冲射频治疗后永久性耳鸣缓解的几率为术后 1 年的 68%。在没有颈痛的耳鸣患者中，62%在接受耳颞神经脉冲射频治疗后有所改善，而不符合这一标准的患者中只有 28%（p=0.024）。
耳颞神经的神经调节是一种治疗耳鸣的简单方法。在一组选择的耳鸣患者中，这种治疗可以长期很好地缓解他们的耳鸣。特别是没有颈痛的耳鸣患者将受益于这种治疗。
