Clinical study of local blockade combined with carbamazapine in the treatment for primary trigeminal neuralgia.

Objective To assess the experiment effects of local blockade combined with carbamazapine in the treatment for patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia. Methods From September 2006 to March 2009,52 cases (14 males and 38 females,aged from 46 to 67 with the mean of 58 years),diagnosed as primary trigeminal neuralgia in Hospital of Stomatology,Sun Yat-Sen University,were divided into two groups randomly. Experiment group was locally blocked with solution of 2% lidocaine 1mL,dexamethasone 1 mg,Vitamin B1 100mg and Vitamin B12 1mg,twice a week, for 4 weeks,and carbamazepine was given orally. In control group,carbamazepine was given orally only. The intensity of pain was evaluated by means of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results After 1 month the excellence rate was 92.31% in experiment group and 57.69% in control group and after 12 months the excellence rate was 69.23% and 38.46% respectively. Experiment group was more effective, the dosage of carbamazepine was lower and the adverse effect was less. Conclusion The local blockade combined with carbamazapine is an effective method to manage trigeminal neuralgia.