Table 14 Studies of SPG radiofrequency ablation on head and facial pain
From: Sphenopalatine ganglion: block, radiofrequency ablation and neurostimulation - a systematic review
First author | Year | Medical problem | Approach | Imaging | Temperature (°C) | Type of RFA | How to identify the right spot | Study design | Number of cases | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Salar et al. [50] | 1987 | Sluder’s neuralgia | Lateral extraoral approach | Fluoroscopy | 60 and 65 | Continuous | 0.2-0.3 V, paresthesia in the distribution of the maxillary nerve | Case series | 7 | Disappearance of the typical pain attacks, lacrimation and nasal secretion, however, a slight, deep-seated troublesome sensation persisted |
Shah et al. [84] | 2004 | Posttraumatic headache | Infrazygomatic approach | Fluoroscopy | 42 | Pulsed | 50 Hz and 0.5 V produced tingling sensation at the root of the nose | Case report | 1 | Pain reduced from 10/10 to 1/10 |
Bayer et al. [85] | 2005 | Chronic head and face pain | Infrazygomatic approach | Fluoroscopy | 42 | Pulsed | 50 Hz up to 1 V, paresthesia elicited at the roof of the nose, motor stimulation performed at 2 Hz to rule out trigeminal contact, which results in rhythmic mandibular contraction | Case series | 30 | 21% had complete pain relief, 65% had moderate pain relief, 14% had no pain relief. |
Nguyen et al. [86] | 2010 | Atypical trigeminal neuralgia | Coronoid approach | Fluoroscopy | 42 | Pulsed | 50 Hz with 1 ms pulse duration, 0.6 V | Case report | 1 | Symptom-free after 2 yrs. |
Oomen et al. [79] | 2012 | Atypical facial pain, cluster headache, Sluder’s neuralgia, Sluder’s neuropathy | Infrazygomatic approach | Fluoroscopy | 80 | Unknown | 50 Hz, paresthesia in the nose and not in the area of the maxillary nerve | Case series | 4 atypical facial pain, 2 Sluder’s neuralgia, 2 Sluder’s neuropathy, 1 post-traumatic neuropathy of infraorbital nerve, 1 postherpetic neuralgia, 1 SUNCT | Adequate pain reduction: 4/4 in atypical facial pain, 2/3 in cluster headache, 1/2 in Sluder’s neuralgia, 2/2 in Sluder’s neuropathy, 1/1 in posttraumatic neuropathy, 0/1 in post-herpetic neuralgia, 0/1 in SUNCT (60% showed considerable pain relief after a single procedure). |
Elahi et al. [87] | 2014 | Facial pain secondary to cavernous sinus meningioma removal | Infrazygomatic approach | Fluoroscopy | 80 | Continuous | 50 Hz, paresthesia in the nasolabial midline region | Case report | 1 | Satisfactory pain relief at 12 months |
Akbas et al. [40] | 2016 | Atypical facial pain, SPG neuralgia due to herpes zoster, atypical Trigeminal neuralgia | Infrazygomatic approach | Fluoroscopy | 42 | Continuous | Paresthesia at the roof of the nose at 0.5–0.7 V. To rule out trigeminal contact, motor stimulation at a frequency of 2 Hz was applied | Case series | 27 | Pain relief not achieved in 23%, completely relieved in 35% and moderately relieved in 42% of patients |