M O D I F I C A Ç Ã O N A T É C N I C A D E N E U R E C T O M I A P E R I F É R I C A P A R A T R A T A M E N T O D A N E U R A L G I A D O T R I G Ê M E O . N O T A
P R É V I A
a descrição detalhada do método e os resultados, quando o volume de doentes e o tempo de observação permitirem apreciação satisfatória do seu verdadeiro valor.
A M O D I F I C A T I O N I N T H E T E C H N I C O F P E R I P H E R A L N E U R E C T O M Y F O R T H E T R E A T M E N T O F T R I G E M I N A L N E U R A L G I A . P R E L I M I N A R Y R E P O R T
Well impressed with the good results obtained by Melaragno and Tenuto employing Judovich and Bates' method (local injection of a mixture of procaine and ammonium sulfate) we tried the same method in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Our results were very poor because the pain was abolished only for a couple of hour after the injection.
Eventhough we knew beforehand that the treatment of neuralgia by complete section of the trigeminal nerve's peripheral branches hap-pened to be inefficatious due to its great regeneration power, we decided to use this method and treat the proximal stump of the divided nerve with absolut alcohol, after preliminary injection of novocaine. The alcohol was intended to prevent eventual painful neuroma and delay regeneration. W e approach the nerve through the oral vestibule ( I I and III divisions). There is no visible scar and no prejudice for a
further operation.
W e employed this method in 14 patients with no immediate or late complications. There was complete disappearance of the pain and it did not return up to the present days in all the cases. Because of the small number of patients and the short time of observation (longest follow-up of one year) a detailed description of the method and further observation will be published as soon as a sufficient number of patients will be available and the follow-up period long enough.
