Trigeminal Evoked Responses to Improve Rhizotomy

Description

Trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) is a debilitating pain syndrome where electrical, shock- like jolts of pain affect the face. Trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials (TSEPs) provide a promising modality for measuring the trigeminal sensory and nociceptive pathway by using peripheral stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (on the skin) and measuring low latency evoked potentials on the scalp (contralateral sensory cortex). While TSEPs have been measured in the past, it is not clear if implementing TSEPs into a routine neurosurgical rhizotomy procedure will be feasible. This is a prospective cohort study examining the feasibility of routinely performing TSEPs during rhizotomies for TGN.

Conditions

Trigeminal Neuralgia, Rhizotomy

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) is a debilitating pain syndrome where electrical, shock- like jolts of pain affect the face. Trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials (TSEPs) provide a promising modality for measuring the trigeminal sensory and nociceptive pathway by using peripheral stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (on the skin) and measuring low latency evoked potentials on the scalp (contralateral sensory cortex). While TSEPs have been measured in the past, it is not clear if implementing TSEPs into a routine neurosurgical rhizotomy procedure will be feasible. This is a prospective cohort study examining the feasibility of routinely performing TSEPs during rhizotomies for TGN.

Trigeminal Evoked Responses to Improve Rhizotomy

Trigeminal Evoked Responses to Improve Rhizotomy

Condition
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Minneapolis

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Adults of 18 years or older
  • * Scheduled to undergo percutaneous rhizotomy for facial pain
  • * For TGN: Facial pain of unclear origin (i.e. not clearly TGN pain) or Rhizotomy procedure canceled
  • * For Healthy control: Diagnosis or history of facial pain such as TMD or TGN, History of migraine, History of any functional pain disorder: fibromyalgia, IBS, CRPS or Recent chronic pain (within last month)

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Minnesota,

David P Darrow, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Minnesota

Study Record Dates

2026-11-01