Own observations in the application of peripheral cryoneuroablation in the treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia

Introduction
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterised by severe paroxysmal, stabbing and lancinating pain, described by patients as “unbearable”. Management of the problem poses serious difficulties in medical practice.

Aim of the research
The retrospective study was designed to assess the effectiveness of cryoneuroablation applied to patients with TN in reducing the pain and achieving remission or temporary relief of the suffering.

Material and methods
Analyses took into account the medical histories of 107 patients, including 66 females and 39 males, ranging in age from 67 to 94 years. The procedure was performed in an outpatient setting, under local anaesthesia, using a cryoprobe with an operating surface of 0.5 cm diameter.

Results
In all the patients the cryoneuroablation treatment was followed by a period with no pain (remission), ranging from 4 to 48 months. A pain-free period of less than six months was observed in 10 patients, and more than 30 months in 25 patients, i.e. 1 in 5 individuals subjected to the treatment.

Conclusions
Owing to the effective regeneration of the nerve damaged by low temperatures, cryoneuroablation can be recognised among the methods recommended for widespread use in the treatment of TN.