Trigeminal Neuralgia Electrophysiology

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · Mar 4, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a specific procedure called rhizotomy, which is used to treat trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that causes severe facial pain. The researchers aim to understand how the nerves in the face respond during this procedure by measuring electrical signals from the brain and the trigeminal ganglion (a group of nerve cells involved in facial sensation). They will compare these responses in people with trigeminal neuralgia who are scheduled for the procedure and in healthy individuals.

To be eligible for participation, you need to be at least 18 years old and scheduled to undergo rhizotomy for facial pain. However, if your facial pain isn’t clearly identified as trigeminal neuralgia or if your procedure gets canceled, you won't be able to participate. Healthy volunteers are also needed for comparison, but they must not have any history of facial pain or other specific pain disorders. Participants can expect to be involved in the study for about two hours, during which they will have their nerve responses recorded. This research could help improve treatments for people suffering from trigeminal neuralgia.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria (TGN):
• • Adults of 18 years or older
• • Scheduled to undergo percutaneous rhizotomy for facial pain
• Exclusion Criteria (TGN):
• • Facial pain of unclear origin (i.e. not clearly TGN pain)
• • Rhizotomy procedure canceled
• • Inclusion Criteria (Healthy controls)
• • Adults of 18 years or older
• • Exclusion Criteria (Healthy Controls)
• • Diagnosis or history of facial pain such as TMD or TGN
• • History of migraine
• • History of any functional pain disorder: fibromyalgia, IBS, CRPS
• • Recent chronic pain (within last month)
• • Unwilling to participate for two hours in lab
• • Current acute pain