Quality of life after trigeminal nerve block in refractory trigeminal neuralgia: A retrospective cohort study and literature review

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of trigeminal nerve block (TNB) on patients’ quality of life (QOL) 15 days after the procedure in patients with refractory TN. METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study involved patients receiving TNB (levobupivacaine, clonidine, corticosteroid) between 2014 and 2018 at a postoperative pain clinic in France. Change in QOL from Day 0 (before block) to Day 15 was assessed according to SF-12. RESULTS: 21 patients (62 ± 14 y) were included in the study. Most patients (71%) were referred following surgery or dentistry. Of the 9 patients (43%) who exhibited >10% increase in SF-12 scores and so were deemed responders, SF12-physical and SF12-mental were increased by mean differences of 17 and 9 points, respectively. The mean duration of block lasted 15 ± 59 days (range 1 to 90 days) and no severe adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Improved QOL was observed in approximately 50% of patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) two weeks after specific nerve block. The technique was easy to administer and well accepted by the patients.