AUTHOR=Huang Bing , Du Xin-dan , Yao Ming , Lin Hui-dan , Yu Wen-hua , Zhou Qing-he 

TITLE=CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of the extracranial cranial nerve for the treatment of Meige’s syndrome

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.1013555

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2022.1013555

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=Background：Meige's syndrome, a rare form of dystonia, lacks effective treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of CT-guided percutaneous extracranial radiofrequency ablation of the facial nerve and/or trigeminal nerves on the treatment of Meige's syndrome. 
Methods：A total of 10 patients were enrolled in this study, with the numbers of blepharospasm dystonia syndrome (BDS), oromandibular dystonia syndrome (ODS), and blepharospasm combined with oromandibular dystonia syndrome (B-ODS) being 7, 1, and 2, respectively. BDS patients underwent radiofrequency ablation of the bilateral stylomastoid foramen facial nerve; ODS patients underwent radiofrequency ablation of the bilateral foramen oval trigeminal mandibular branch, and B-ODS patients underwent radiofrequency ablation of the bilateral stylomastoid foramen facial nerve and foramen oval trigeminal mandibular branch. The therapeutic effects and complications were observed.
Results: All 10 patients in this series experienced improved Meige's syndrome-related symptoms after extracranial radiofrequency ablation of the cranial and/or mandibular branches of the extracranial trigeminal nerve. Adverse events included facial paralysis class II-III and/or mandibular skin numbness. Two patients had recurrences at the 18th and 22nd months postoperatively, respectively; the other patients were being followed up. 
Conclusions：These results shown that CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of bilateral stylomastoid foramen facial nerve and/or oval foramen trigeminal mandibular branch can effectively treat the corresponding types of Meige's syndrome. According to preliminary observations, the therapeutic effect may last for longer than 18 months.