We evaluated the immediate and long-term clinical efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation for primary trigeminal neuralgia (RTPTN) in 852 patients includ-ing 502 patients aged ≥ 60 years and 350 patients aged < 60 years. After discharge, the incidence of complications was 1.0% and 0.9% in patients aged ≥ 60 years and patients aged < 60 years, respectively. Over 3-year follow-up after CT-guided RTPTN, 96.8% of the patients aged ≥ 60 years and 98.6% of the patients aged < 60 years were completely pain-free, and there was no significant difference between these two age brackets. In addition, there were no significant differences in quality of life scores and numbness scores between these two age brackets. These findings suggest that CT-guided RTPTN is a safe and effective method and is recommended for older and poor-risk patients.