In order to further evaluate the efficacy of SCS for treatment, large-scale randomized controlled studies or observational studies need to be conducted to properly evaluate SCS as a treatment modality for trigeminal neuralgia. The vast majority of current research on the use of cervical SCS for TN currently consists of case reports and retrospective analysis. In many cases, the procedure provides an adequate level of pain relief with very few complications or side effects. ConclusionsĬervical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a safe and effective procedure for patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who have refractory pain despite the use of medications.
![a peripheral nerve or dorsal column stimulator a peripheral nerve or dorsal column stimulator](https://www.healthplexus.net/files/content/2017/0708/0708pain_m2.png)
Additionally, most of the cases report that patients who had adequate pain relief from SCS were able to wean off, or significantly reduce, oral medications given the vast improvement in pain reduction. In all the cases discussed, complications from SCS were rare and/or not reported. The case reports and retrospective studies reviewed demonstrated that TN patients realized > 50% pain relief following permanent electrode implantation. In the review, we discuss 7 different case reports on the use of cervical SCS for trigeminal neuralgia and an additional 4 retrospective studies reviewing outcomes and pain relief in patients who underwent treatment. A total of 11 studies were included: 7 case reports and 4 retrospective review studies. During this phase of the review, additional 6 studies were excluded. A further detailed review of the included articles was conducted by all the reviewers. After application of the search criteria, 58 studies were excluded because they were not relevant to the study. The initial search resulted in 76 non-duplicate entries from the database. No date limiters were used for the search. MethodsĪ MEDLINE/PubMed search using the search terms “spinal cord stimulation” and “trigeminal neuralgia” was employed to find any case reports and research studies (retrospective studies, double-blinded studies, observational studies) on the topic.
![a peripheral nerve or dorsal column stimulator a peripheral nerve or dorsal column stimulator](https://tidsskriftet.no/sites/default/files/kov_ryggmargsstimulering_mot_periofere_nevorpatiske_smerter.jpg)
![a peripheral nerve or dorsal column stimulator a peripheral nerve or dorsal column stimulator](https://resources.wfsahq.org/wp-content/uploads/290_table_5.jpg)
Purpose of ReviewĪ review of literature was conducted to explore the use of cervical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. SCS employs the implantation of electrical leads in the epidural space to manage pain. When medical management and neuroablative procedures fail, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) serves as a promising and popular option, with an estimated 34,000 SCS procedures performed annually worldwide. Newer medications have demonstrated efficacy in patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate carbamazepine. Among the various therapies available for TN, carbamazepine remains the first-line treatment. The pain is triggered by innocuous sensory stimuli and is classified as either classic TN, related to vascular compression secondary TN, due to a tumor along the trigeminal nerve or an underlying disease like multiple sclerosis or idiopathic TN. TN is defined by recurrent unilateral electric shock-like pain that is abrupt in both onset and termination. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic neuropathic pain condition affecting one or more divisions of the fifth cranial (trigeminal) nerve.