Retrogasserian Ganglioysis with Pure Glycerol for the Treatment of Tic Douloureux

Chang, Won Young

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) is a common clinical syndrome which is characterized by a painful facial condition. The clinician must be able to identify a patient with tic douloureux because this most severe pain syndrome can almost always be controlled. Gangliolysis is the most recent development in the long history of destructive procedures for tic douloureux. Hakason pioneered a technique of placing a needle for injecting glycerol into the trigeminal cistern which he found safe and effective for pain control. In August at 1991, I injected pure sterile glycerol three times into the cistern of trigeminal ganglion using the Hartel approach to relieve a patient from pain. The results were as follows, 1) The response of pain relief to a glycerol gangliolysis was excellent. 2) As a complication, there were mild sensory deficit, transient headache and herpes simplex around the mouth angle.