To estimate the efficacy of lidocaine blockades with vitamin B12 in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in both short- and long-term perspectives.

The study analyzed the treatment of 43 patients with TN using peripheral nerve blocks: 12 men (27.91 %) and 31 women (72.07 %); mean age ± sd — 62.60 ± 11.27 years; disease duration — 8.89 ± 7.73 years. The blocks were performed using a mixture of 4.0 ml of 2 % lidocaine with 500 µg of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) administered peri-paraneurally. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at various time points: from 30 minutes to three years after the blockades.

Pain intensity at admission ranged from 5.5 to 10 (8.74 ± 1.06) cm on the VAS. Thirty minutes after the block, it decreased to 2.5—4.5 (2.75 ± 0.65). Due to the return of pain, radical surgical interventions were performed in 38 patients. After 6—36 months, excellent and good results were achieved in 5 (11.63 %) patients.

Lidocaine blockades with vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) proved their high short-term efficacy; however, long-term results are achieved in only 11.63 % of patients. Their use is advisable as part of the comprehensive treatment of TN patients.