Regional Anesthesia in Refractory Trigeminal Neuralgia: 21 Cases Reported to the Limoges University Hospital

Trigeminal neuralgia is defined according to the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria. Chronic pain can have a major impact on the quality of life. First-line treatments are anti-epileptics, and surgical treatments are also possible according to several approaches. Sometimes the pain is resistant to these therapies. In this indication, sensory blocks may have a therapeutic impact but their place is not clear. In France, there are formalized expert recommendations on "loco regional analgesia and chronic pain", from 2013. Several adjuvants to local anesthetics have been studied for acute and chronic pain. CLONIDINE and DEXAMETHASONE are of greatest interest in increasing block duration and reducing opioid consumption. The investigators report the case of 21 patients, treated by a trigeminal block from 2014 to 2018, suffering from a resistant trigeminal neuralgia. After a first consultation, the diagnosis is confirmed, an information is done and an appropriate support is established. The sensory block is performed as an outpatient care. It consists in a peri-neural injection of a mixture of LEVOBUPIVACAINE 5%, CORTIVAZOL 3.75mg / 1.5mL (or BETAMETHASONE 7mg / 1ml) and CLONIDINE (1μg / kg). Standard precautions are respected and patients are monitored in the recovery room after the procedure. The efficacity is evaluated before the exit and a follow-up is done within 15 days. The level of satisfaction expressed by the patients seems to be globally high. The investigators wish to evaluate statistically the impact of the trigeminal blocks, in terms of improvement of the quality of life. This retrospective study, by its procedure, does not change the management of patients.