percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia that had undergone microvascular decompression

Trigeminal neuralgia (tn) stands out as the predominant form of craniofacial neuropathic pain that causes severe types of pain. this intense yet brief episode of pain is triggered by innocuous stimuli such as shaving. other than medication, it could be treated by surgery or minimally invasive procedures. one of the minimally invasive procedures that is frequently used is radiofrequency ablation (rfa). it applies radio waves to directly interrupt the transmission of nociceptive signals. it has proven effective for tn. we present a successful case of rfa of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia that has undergone microvascular decompression (mvd). a 60-year-old woman reported experiencing pain localized to the right side of her face, specifically in the regions innervated by the v2 and v3 divisions of the trigeminal nerve. the pain was stabbing in nature with no trigger. she was diagnosed with chronic trigeminal neuralgia. she had an adverse reaction to carbamazepine and had previously undergone mvd surgery. she underwent trigeminal ganglion ablation using a radiofrequency procedure. rfa is the choice of minimal percutaneous procedure for lesioning the trigeminal ganglion. it can be performed through various methods: chemically via glycerol blockade, mechanically using balloon compression, or thermally with radiofrequency thermocoagulation (rft). masseter muscle weakness, facial numbness, and decreased or absent corneal reflexes are among the adverse reactions of rft. therefore, it is recommended to avoid employing elevated temperatures during rft. rfa is still considered as the most effective minimally invasive procedure for treating tn due to its safety, efficacy, success rate, and patient satisfaction.