RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Efficacy of bupivacaine injection after pulsed radiofrequency ablation in the management of trigeminal facial pain
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 551
OP 558
DO 10.15537/smj.2022.43.6.20220089
VO 43
IS 6
A1 Faisal M. Hilal
A1 Omar A. Alyamani
A1 Abdullah M. Kaki
YR 2022
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/43/6/551.abstract
AB Objectives: To assess the effect of bupivacaine application following pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) ablation on trigeminal facial pain.Methods: A total of 73 patients with trigeminal facial pain refractory to conservative therapy were randomized into 2 groups. Group I subjects underwent PRF ablation procedure, followed by the injection of 1 ml of bupivacaine. Whereas, Group II underwent the same procedure followed by the injection of 1 ml of normal saline. Pain relief duration, the time of onset of pain relief, and analgesic effect evaluated by numerical pain rating scale were considered as outcomes.Results: Thirty-nine patients in Group I and 34 in Group II. The duration of pain relief in the 2 groups was comparable (5 months in Group I vs. 6 months in Group II, p=0.53). The onset of pain relief in the patients of Group I was shorter than Group II (0 days vs. 4.5 days, p<0.001). The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the application of bupivacaine alone had a significant effect on the reduction of the intake of medications (p<0.05).Conclusion: In situations involving patients who require rapid pain relief, bupivacaine injection following PRF ablation can be employed to provide immediate relief without subjecting the patients to the risks associated with major complications.