Mumtaz Ali, Khalid Mahmood Khan, Khalid Anwar Khanzada, Shahid Ayub, Hamzullah Khan.
Significance of trigger point in trigeminal neuralgia.
J Postgrad Med Inst Jan ;21(3):183-6.

Objective: To know the significance of trigger point as an indicator of aberrant vascular loop in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. Material and Methods: This study was performed in the department of neurosurgery Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from May 2003 to April 2006. Patients with clinical history of trigeminal neuralgia were admitted for micro vascular decompression. Detailed clinical history, along with clinical findings particularly side and site of trigger point of trigeminal pain were documented. Imaging studies like CT, MRI were done in these cases and per-operative findings were documented after surgical procedure. Results: Forty-three patients with trigeminal neuralgia were operated for micro vascular decompression during the study period. There were 24 (55.8%) males and 19 (44.2%) females with ratio of 1.2: 1, and a mean age of 53 years. Duration of symptoms was from 3 to 7 years. A total of 43 cases of trigeminal neuralgia were recorded. Right side was involved in 19 and left side in 24 cases. Peri-oral and peri-nasal trigger point was observed in 39 (90.7%) cases during examination while offending arterial loop was seen in 35 (81.4%) cases per-operatively, thick arachnoid adhesion in 4 (9.3%) cases and veins in 4 (9.3%) cases. Conclusion: Trigger point during clinical examination indicated the presence of offending arterial loops in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

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