Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of radiofrequency thermocoagulation on patients with refractory supraorbital neuralgia Methods From February, 2007 to September, 2014, 36 patients with refractory supraorbital neuralgia following ineffective conservative therapy including medicine and nerve blockade underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS), onset time, effective rate, recurrence rate, additional carbamazepine dosage and side effects were recorded before, and one day, one month, three months, six months, one year, two years after treatment. NRS=0 or 50% diminution was considered effectively. Results It worked two days on average (zero to seven) after treatment. The NRS score decreased (P<0.05) and the PSS score increased (P<0.05) compared with the data before treatment. The effective rate was 100% within six months. The recurrence rate was 11.1% within two years. Second radiofrequency thermocoagulation treatment still worked for the recurrent patients. No other side effect was observed, except permanent frontal numbness, short-time palpebral edema and ecchymosis. Conclusion Radiofrequency thermocoagulation is effective on refractory supraorbital neuralgia, and the side effects are tolerable so it is an alternative choice for patients experiencing invalid conservative therapy.

Key words: supraorbital neuralgia, treatment, radiofrequency thermocoagulation