Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Facial Pain Using Wireless Devices

Author(s):  
Brandon G. Stokey ◽  
Richard L. Weiner ◽  
Konstantin V. Slavin ◽  
Salim M. Hayek
2012 ◽  
Vol 5;15 (5;9) ◽  
pp. E725-E732
Author(s):  
Jackson Cohen

Background: Facial pain occurring after traumatic injury of the facial branches of the trigeminal nerve is a medical condition that is often very difficult to treat. Patients are quite disabled by their symptoms and most therapies are ineffective in relieving this pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation has been used as a treatment to provide pain relief for this type of intractable atypical facial pain. Objective: To describe a minimally invasive peripheral nerve stimulation surgical technique for treating posttraumatic trigeminal neuralgia. Study Design: Case report based on a patient seen in a university setting with posttraumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain who underwent a minimally invasive technique for the placement of a peripheral nerve stimulator. Setting: University-based outpatient clinic. Methods: A patient with a clinical picture suggestive of trigeminal neuropathic pain secondary to trauma involving the V1 and V2 branches of the trigeminal nerve was selected. Conservative management was attempted with no improvement before peripheral nerve stimulation was tried with a minimally invasive surgical technique. We recorded the patient’s subjective assessment of pain and daily function before and after the procedure. Results: Following the procedure, the patient’s pain score decreased approximately 50% and the patient reported a better quality of life with improvement in daily function as well as a more positive outlook on her condition. There were no complications after the procedure and the patient reported no complaints with the device. Limitations: Case report. Conclusions: This surgical technique for placing peripheral nerve stimulators allows for a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of intractable posttraumatic trigeminal neuralgia with potentially less risk of facial nerve damage. This case confirms the need for further studies to be done in the future to prove the safety and effectiveness of this technique. Key Words: Peripheral nerve stimulation, posttraumatic trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic pain, minimally invasive technique, facial pain.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1;15 (1;1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Stidd

Facial pain is a complex disease with a number of possible etiologies. Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) is defined as pain caused by a lesion or disease of the trigeminal branch of the peripheral nervous system resulting in chronic facial pain over the distribution of the injured nerve. First line treatment of TNP includes management with anticonvulsant medication (carbamazepine, phenytoin, gabapentin, etc.), baclofen, and analgesics. TNP, however, can be a condition difficult to adequately treat with medical management alone. Patients with TNP can suffer from significant morbidity as a result of inadequate treatment or the side effects of pharmacologic therapy. TNP refractory to medical management can be considered for treatment with a growing number of invasive procedures. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a minimally invasive option that has been shown to effectively treat medically intractable TNP. We present a case series of common causes of TNP successfully treated with PNS with up to a 2 year follow-up. Only one patient required implantation of new electrode leads secondary to electrode migration. The patients in this case series continue to have significant symptomatic relief, demonstrating PNS as an effective treatment option for intractable TNP. Though there are no randomized trials, peripheral neuromodulation has been shown to be an effective means of treating TNP refractory to medical management in a growing number of case series. PNS is a safe procedure that can be performed even on patients that are not optimal surgical candidates and should be considered for patients suffering from TNP that have failed medical management. Key words: Trigeminal neuropathic pain, peripheral nerve stimulation, neuromodulation, intractable pain, facial trauma, postherpetic neuralgia


Neurosurgery ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (CN_suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 87-87
Author(s):  
James T McMahon ◽  
Muhibullah S Tora ◽  
J. Nicole Bentley ◽  
Melissa A Campbell ◽  
Orion P Keifer ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
pp. 741-746
Author(s):  
Konstantin V. Slavin ◽  
Dali Yin ◽  
Serge Rasskazoff

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document