Gamma Knife for Trigeminal Neuralgia

  Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as painful convulsions, is divided into primary and secondary, and presents as recurrent episodes of transient paroxysmal severe pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution of the face. Foreign epidemiological surveys show an incidence of about 180/100,000 population/year. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain that occurs in the trigeminal nerve, one of the thickest nerves in the head. It is characterized by severe, intermittent, sudden, burning or electric shock-like facial pain that lasts from a few seconds to 2 minutes per episode and then rapidly resolves. This severe pain is often unbearable and can have severe physical and psychological effects. Patients may have pain induced by contact with a point on the face (the so-called trigger point). Patients with severe pain cannot comb their hair, wash their face, brush their teeth, eat, or even speak, which seriously affects their daily life. About 50% of primary trigeminal neuralgia is caused by intracranial vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root, and the other half of the pain may be related to demyelination changes that occur in the nerve root itself.  Head Gamma Knife treatment for trigeminal neuralgia is a non-surgical treatment method, which is one of the most advanced methods for treating trigeminal neuralgia, achieving pain relief without complications. Non-invasive, painless, safe and satisfactory results. International head gamma knife treatment of trigeminal neuralgia began in 1968, the number of patients treated has increased year by year, the long-term follow-up efficacy is positive, with few side effects.  Head Gamma Knife is not a real scalpel, but a very advanced radiation therapy equipment. It adopts the principle of stereotactic, through the method of focusing, many small beams of gamma rays converge on the trigeminal nerve root in all directions, forming the focus of irradiation, a one-time high dose of irradiation, like surgery to achieve the purpose of radical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. It can reduce the sensitivity of the nerve root to conduct pain and block the nociceptive conduction without destroying the trigeminal nerve root or having a major impact on the normal function of the nerve fibers.  The characteristics of head gamma knife treatment of trigeminal neuralgia 1, is a minimally invasive treatment, no intracranial bleeding, infection and other complications, not to mention the possibility of death; very little pain, no significant damage to the normal brain.  2.The treatment period is short, most of them are one-time treatment, and the treatment is finished on the same day; the patient feels no obvious changes before and after the treatment, and the work and study are not affected.  3, the efficacy of the treatment is predictable, in most cases before the treatment can be expected to change after the treatment. The factors leading to sudden changes in the disease are much less than those of surgical treatment. Its efficiency is nearly 90%.  4.The treatment cost is fixed, and it will not increase the treatment cost during the treatment process, nor will it increase the family burden due to the long treatment period.  5, the efficacy of the treatment will gradually appear, there will not be too many adverse reactions, less complications after treatment.  The process of head gamma knife treatment of trigeminal neuralgia 1, installation of the head frame: the beginning of the treatment needs to be fixed on the patient’s head a frame, to facilitate accurate positioning. At this time, the patient will feel pain in the scalp, but it can be tolerated.  2.Scanning and positioning: MRI scan of the skull, obtaining MRI thin layer images to clarify the coordinates of the location of the trigeminal nerve root.  3.Treatment planning: An experienced specialist will clarify the treatment plan, treatment dosage, and simulate the treatment in the computer.  4.Implementation of treatment: During this treatment, most patients have no significant discomfort and lie flat for about half an hour to one hour to complete the gamma knife treatment, after which the head frame can be removed and hospitalized for observation. If there is no special discomfort, the next day can be discharged.