Features of Gamma Knife for Trigeminal Neuralgia

  Non-pharmacological treatment methods for trigeminal neuralgia can be divided into two categories: 1. These methods require destruction of nerves, resulting in loss of nerve function, loss of sensory function (sensory numbness) in exchange for pain relief, with the gradual recovery of nerve sensory function, pain also gradually relapsed. Moreover, the painful treatment process, the effect cannot be sustained, facial numbness, corneal ulcers, chewing difficulties, etc. are the disadvantages of these treatment methods.  2, neurological function preservation class: not only does not destroy neurological function, but also can cure trigeminal neuralgia, there are only two kinds: non-invasive (non-cranial) head gamma knife treatment and invasive cranial microvascular decompression, which can really cure trigeminal neuralgia.  Open microvascular decompression: After craniotomy, the blood vessels compressing the nerve roots are identified and freed, and then filled with Tefleon cotton sheets to separate the blood vessels from the nerves. The recent efficiency of the procedure is about 90%, but it may recur due to the dislodgement of the cotton sheet. Due to the complex etiology of trigeminal neuralgia, microvascular decompression can be successfully performed intraoperatively in only 70% of patients. In other patients, intraoperative vascular compression cannot be fully identified, which may be due to nerve demyelination changes, and to ensure efficacy, only selective sensory nerve root partial excision can be performed, which can lead to facial numbness while removing pain. It should be emphasized that the surgical mortality rate of microvascular decompression varies from hospital to hospital surgical centers (0.1%-1%), but the risk of causing death is always present.  Head Gamma Knife for trigeminal neuralgia is currently the safest treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. Its efficiency is over 90%. It achieves both pain relief and no complications. It is non-invasive, painless, safe, and has the most satisfactory efficacy. Head gamma knife treatment of trigeminal neuralgia began in 1968, the number of patients treated has increased year by year, long-term follow-up efficacy is positive, side effects are rare. It has now become the preferred treatment option for elderly patients with trigeminal neuralgia.  The head gamma knife is not a real scalpel, but a very advanced radiation therapy device. It adopts the principle of stereotactic, through the multi-arc multifield spatial focus method, 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 (70-90Gy) 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 and without affecting the normal function of the nerve fibers.  Head gamma knife treatment of trigeminal neuralgia features: 1, is non-invasive treatment, no bleeding, infection and other complications, not to mention the possibility of death; pain is very small, no significant damage to the normal brain.  2, short treatment period, for a one-time treatment, the end of the treatment on the same day; patients do not feel any significant changes before and after treatment, not affected by the work and study.  3, the efficacy of treatment is predictable, in most cases before the treatment can be expected to change after treatment. The factors leading to sudden changes in the condition are far less than those of surgical treatment. Its efficiency is over 90%.  4. The efficacy of the treatment will gradually appear, and there will not be too many adverse reactions.