Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Complementary and Integrative Medicine for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia and Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are both painful diseases which directly impact the branches of the trigeminal nerve, which supply the face. Patients who have experienced adverse effects, have not responded to mainstream treatments, or have a personal preference for nonmedication options, often turn to complementary and integrative medicine (CIM). The aim of this review is to discuss the efficacy and safety of CIM therapies available for the treatment of TN and TACs.

RECENT FINDINGS

Not only are there limited therapeutic options for TN and TAC patients, but also is there a proportion of patients who are intolerant to standard medical treatments. Recent findings have illustrated that 86% of patients with headache disorders utilize CIM modalities in combination with mainstream medical therapy. CIM modalities can be helpful for these diseases and have primarily been studied in combination with standard medical therapy. There is limited evidence for CIM and behavioral therapies in managing these conditions, and more research is needed to confirm which therapies are safe and effective.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies for primary trigeminal neuralgia: A protocol for a Bayesian network meta analysis

BACKGROUND

Primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) is a type of peripheral neuralgia that seriously affects people's lives. In recent years, complementary therapies and alternative therapies have played a significant role in treating PTN. However, there is a lack of comparison among all the complementary and alternative therapies at present. Thus, the aim of this study is to discuss the efficacy and safety of diverse complementary and alternative therapies by Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA).

METHODS

We will retrieve the Chinese and English databases to gather related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of complementary and alternative therapies for treating PTN. The deadline is November 2020. Two independent researchers will be in charge of screening qualified literature, extracting data, and independently evaluating bias risks involved in the research. Pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis will be performed to assess all evidence. Then, we will use STATA16.0 as well as WinBUGS1.4.3 software for data analysis. Besides, the quality of NMA evidence will be classified by grading of recommendations assessment development and evaluation (GRADE).

RESULTS

This study will compare and rank the efficacy and safety of different complementary and alternative therapies in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia.

CONCLUSION

Complementary and alternative therapies play an essential role in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia. We expect our study will furnish meaningful evidence support for clinicians and patients.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY2020120026.

ETHICAL APPROVAL

Since the study is based on published or registered RCTs, ethical approval and patient informed consent are abandoned.