[Treatment of trigeminal neuropathic pain by motor cortex stimulation]

Neurochirurgie. 2009 Apr;55(2):226-30. doi: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2009.02.008. Epub 2009 Mar 26.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The neurosurgical procedures currently available for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia can induce trigeminal neuropathic pain. Severe forms of trigeminal neuropathic pain correspond to the classical facial anesthesia dolorosa, whose treatment is known to be very difficult. Chronic stimulation of the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) of the thalamus was, in the past, the only neurosurgical therapy available to treat this complication. The long-term results have been disappointing, which opened the field to the development of other techniques, including stimulation of the motor cortex for which there is now sufficient experience showing long-term results that are satisfactory in more than 70% of patients. Meanwhile, some authors have proposed directly stimulating the nerve branches concerned, such as the supraorbital nerve, or discussing indications for thalamic stimulation. In this chapter, only the cortical stimulation procedure will be developed.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy* / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Cortex / physiology*
  • Pain / etiology*
  • Pain Management*
  • Thalamus / physiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / complications*
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / therapy*
  • Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / physiology
  • Young Adult