Abstract
Objectives: To analyze factors associated with treatment outcomes of absolute alcohol injection for primary trigeminal neuralgia at Xanh Pôn General Hospital.
Methods: A retrospective–prospective descriptive study was conducted on 66 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia who received 0.3 ml absolute alcohol injection into the Gasserian ganglion under DSA guidance. Factors analyzed included age, sex, pain site, disease duration, pain type, and baseline pain severity. Outcomes were assessed using the BNI-PS scale.
Results: Mean age was 64 ± 11 years; females accounted for 71.2%. Mean disease duration was 5.2 years, with 50% between 1–5 years. Typical pain was observed in 48.5%. Good pain relief (BNI-PS I–IIIa) was achieved in 84.8%, while 15.2% had poor or no improvement. Pain type was the only significant factor associated with treatment outcomes: patients with typical pain responded better than those with atypical pain (84.4% vs 31.9%, OR=24.1; p<0.01). Other factors (age, sex, pain site, disease duration) showed no significant associations.
Conclusion: Pain type is the most important factor influencing treatment outcomes of absolute alcohol injection for primary trigeminal neuralgia.