Trigeminal Ganglion Electrical Stimulation for Trigeminal Nerve Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the clinical outcome of trigeminal ganglion electrical stimulation for the treatment of trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia (TPHN).

Patients and Methods

A retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed on six patients who suffered from severe postherpetic neuralgia involving the trigeminal nerve maxillary and mandibular branch. They were admitted under the Pain Management Department of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from July 2022 to February 2023 and underwent trigeminal ganglion electrical stimulation therapy. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, pregabalin dosage, pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were recorded before treatment, as well as after treatment at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24-week. Adverse reactions related to the treatment were also documented.

Results

After trigeminal ganglion electrical stimulation therapy, the VAS scores, PSQI scores, anxiety scores, depression scores, and pregabalin dosage of six patients showed significant reductions at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks. (P < 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in any of the patients.

Conclusion

Trigeminal ganglion electrical stimulation effectively relieved postherpetic neuralgia in the distribution areas of the trigeminal nerve 2 and 3 branches, reduced the dosage of analgesics, improved the quality of sleep, and alleviated anxiety and depression symptoms in patients. Our data suggested that It was a safe and effective clinical.

Keywords:

• trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia
• trigeminal ganglion stimulation
• therapy
• efficacy

Disclosure

The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Funding Project: Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Provincial Science and Technology Department. Project Name: Study on the effects of leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor PRP on the proliferation ability of nucleus pulposus cells and inflammatory factors. Project No.: 201801D121346.