Anyone done it before?
thermocoagulation - congealing tissue by heat (as by electric current). I believe this process is used in RF Rhizotomy to cause a controlled lesion on the trigeminal nerve, reducing its efficiency in transmitting pain pulses.
Regards, Red
Thanks a lot Red, do you happen to have any statistics on its efficiency?
Richard A. "Red" Lawhern said:
thermocoagulation - congealing tissue by heat (as by electric current). I believe this process is used in RF Rhizotomy to cause a controlled lesion on the trigeminal nerve, reducing its efficiency in transmitting pain pulses.
Regards, Red
In Type I TN patients, RF Rhizotomy is successful in stopping or greatly improving pain in 90% or more of patients who are treated. About 50-70% of all Rhizotomy patients are still pain free 7 years later. I haven't seen stats for longer periods. And please realize that "efficiency" is intended to be a qualitative or generally descriptive term in this context. It just means that the nerve doesn't work as well. Facial numbness is a frequent side effect of Rhizotomy, but for many patients a welcome one.
Regards