[The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by retro-gasserian differential electro-diathermy. One hundred cases (author's transl)].

Controlled thermocoagulation of Gasserian ganglion has been used in 100 patients presenting trigeminal neuralgia. Facial pain disappeared immediately in all cases, except four where it persisted at a minor degree during few days. Post-operative deficits are quite minimal and consist of hypoalgesia more or less marked; numbness to touch has never been observed except in a limited area in 12 patients. There have been no corneal problems. Paresthesias were noted immediately in 10 patients; they disappeared gradually and were troublesome only in four. The rate of recurrence (with a mean post-operative survey of 11 months is 13%). This technique of controlled thermocoagulation re presents the safest way of treating trigeminal neuralgia when it is uncontrollable with drugs.