Unanticipated complication of percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal rhizotomy: Rhinorrhea: Report of three cases and a cadaver study

Ugur H., Savas A., Elhan A., Kanpolat Y.

NEUROSURGERY, vol.54, no.6, pp.1522-1524, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 54 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1227/01.neu.0000125327.89321.d7
  • Journal Name: NEUROSURGERY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1522-1524
  • Keywords: anatomy, complication, radiofrequency rhizotomy, Rhinorrhea, trigeminal neuralgia, NEURALGIA
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Several neurosurgical procedures have been developed for the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia: vascular decompression of the trigeminal root in the brainstem, percutaneous trigeminal ganglion procedures, and external beam radiosurgery. Percutaneous radiofrequency electrodes target the trigeminal fibers in the gasserian ganglion through the foramen ovale. Several complications of radiofrequency trigeminal rhizotomy (RF-TR) have been described, including puncture of the carotid artery, the cavernous sinus, and the cranial nerves. This study presents a very rare complication of percutaneous RF-TR, rhinorrhea, and attempts to define its mechanism.