a2. Glycerol Injection to the Trigeminal Nerve

The trigeminal nerve is located within a cavity in the skull known as the Meckel's cave, and its branches emerge from there. In 1980, an anatomy expert named Hakanson in Sweden introduced glycerol into a dye to better visualize this cave and noticed an improvement in trigeminal neuralgia. Since then, glycerol injection to the trigeminal nerve has been another interventional method applied.

Patients are selected and prepared similarly as for the radiofrequency thermocoagulation procedure, and access to the trigeminal nerve is achieved in the same manner. Instead of ablating with radiofrequency, about 0.5 ml of glycerol is injected into the area.

The likelihood of numbness developing in the area after glycerol injection is less compared to radiofrequency. However, the duration of effect is shorter. While radiofrequency remains effective for about 3-8 years, glycerol injection relieves the patient for approximately one year.

Glycerol injection