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Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
The ineffectiveness of medical treatment, there are several surgical techniques that can help alleviate manifestations of neuralgia. All of these surgical techniques can be divided into two categories: percutaneous and open. Percutaneous techniques are preferable in older and debilitated patients, patients with multiple sclerosis. Public method recommended in younger patients.
Microvascular decompression. This method consists in dividing the nerve roots and blood vessels that are compressing the nerve. It uses a microsurgical technique. This significantly reduces the sensitivity of the decompression of the trigeminal nerve in the provoking factors and allows to achieve a normal state of the nerve. This technique is one of the most effective, but at the same time, it is the most invasive and, as this is carried craniotomy - opening of the skull. In this case there is a small risk of hearing loss, facial numbness, double vision, and even stroke. The risk of facial numbness, but less than in the operations is the destruction of the trigeminal nerve.
Percutaneous stereotactic rhizotomy. The method consists in the use of electrocautery. The surgeon inserts a needle electrode through the cheek into the trigeminal nerve. After the needle is held electric current, causing the nerve is destroyed. This leads to suppression of nerve impulses from the nerve to the brain.
Percutaneous glycerol rhizotomy. This method consists in the introduction of glycerol through the needle into the area division of the nerve into three branches. It also is nerve-wracking and cessation of pain impulses to the brain.
Percutaneous balloon compression. This method consists in summing up to the nerve through a special catheter is a small balloon. It swells and compresses the nerve fibers responsible for pain. A few minutes later the catheter and balloon are removed.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (gamma knife). This method consists in the fact that a certain region of the trigeminal nerve is irradiated by a powerful beam of ionizing radiation. This method is noninvasive and devoid of the side effects that come with the above methods. Because of this exposure is a gradual destruction of the trigeminal nerve and cessation of pain impulses to the brain.
