Trigeminal Cistern Glycerol Injections for Facial Pain

Abstract

The treatment of paroxysmal facial pain is often easily accomplished. At times, however, the converse occurs; the pain becomes chronic, refractory, and unresponsive to therapy. This is especially the case when chronic cluster headache appears. This report will summarize our experience with injection of glycerol into the region of the trigeminal cistern for intractable facial pain in 23 patients, 16 with trigeminal neuralgia, five with chronic cluster headache, and two with atypical facial pain.