Peripheral therapies: cryotherapy, neurectomy, alcohol injections | The peripheral nerve branch is either directly exposed or injected under local anaesthesia | Nil | Low and local, mainly mild sensory loss. Recurrence rate mean 10 months |
| | | |
Gasserian ganglion | Short acting general anaesthesia used to penetrate foramen ovale | | All result in varying degrees of sensory loss, which can lead to eye problems, temporary motor weakness |
| | | |
Radiofrequency thermocoagulation | The Gasserian ganglion is subjected to temperature varying from 60–80°C | Low | Highest risk of anaesthesia dolorosa. Recurrence rate at 5 years 60% |
| | | |
Glycerol injection | Meckel’s cave is filled with glycerol | Very low | Less likely to cause eye problems or anaesthesia dolorosa. Recurrence rate at 5 years 65% |
| | | |
Microcompression | The Gasserian ganglion is compressed by a balloon for a few seconds | Very low | Peroperative hypotensive episodes. Recurrence rate at 2 years 20% |
| | | |
Posterior fossa | Full general anaesthesia used | | 7th and 8th cranial nerves may be affected |
| | | |
Microvascular decompression | Any vessels lying on the trigeminal nerve at the point of entry to the cranium are moved aside or removed | Up to 0.4 % | Minimal effects on sensory loss or eye problems, surgeon dependent. Recurrence rates at 5 years 25% |
| | | |
Gamma knife | Using stereotactic techniques the posterior fossa is identified and 75 G beam directed at the trigeminal nerve | Unknown at present | Long term effects of radiation unknown, takes up to 6 months for an effect. Recurrence rate at 2 years 25% |