Partial sensory rhizotomy in therapy-refractory and recurrent trigeminal neuralgia – a single center experience

Early after surgery patient satisfaction regarding pain relief/improvement was 92.7% (44 of 48 patients). During follow-up we observed complete or partial pain relief in 31 of 43 patients (72.1%) without pain medication, another 23.3% were satisfied with on-going medication. However, the degree of sensitive deficits is not predictable. Because of our convincing results, patients should be informed about PSR as a therapeutic option for therapy-refractory or recurrent TN. It may be considered either instead of, or as an alternative to, percutaneous procedures or radiosurgery.