Radiofrequency treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

  Radiofrequency treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is a minimally invasive interventional surgical treatment. At present, the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is firstly treated symptomatically with painkillers such as carbamazepine, which is becoming less and less effective because it requires long-term medication. Secondly, local injection of alcohol and other methods are used, which are less used recently because the efficacy is not very reliable. Therefore, radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia has become an important treatment method. Radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia includes pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the trigeminal hemianopia and temperature-controlled coagulation technique.  Treatment Principle Radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia uses CT or “C” arm imaging to guide positioning, and applies intermittent pulsed current sensory stimulation and motor stimulation to test whether the stimulation area matches the patient’s pain area, making the treatment more delicate and safe. Since the unmyelinated fine fibers that conduct nociceptive sensations degenerate at 70°-75°C, while the coarse fibers that conduct tactile sensations can tolerate higher temperatures, temperature-controlled thermocoagulation controls the destruction temperature at 75°C. In this way, the difference in temperature tolerance of different nerve fibers can be exploited to selectively destroy the fine fibers that conduct facial nociceptive sensations in the semilunar ganglion, while preserving the coarse fibers that conduct tactile sensations with greater resistance to heat. The pain relief is immediate and the facial pain is preserved. The aim is to achieve immediate pain relief while preserving the sensation of the face.   coagulation treatment; 7, the effect of gamma knife treatment is not satisfactory, the pain is not eliminated or reduced; 8, due to tumor caused by trigeminal neuralgia, the pain of gamma knife or surgical treatment is not improved.  Treatment effect Radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia is safer and more effective compared with other treatments. The operation takes 30-60 minutes, and the pain is relieved immediately during the operation. The patient receives the temperature-controlled treatment plan in the awake state (also in the transient anesthesia state), and the effect is immediate, which immediately relieves the long-term pain and the trouble of taking painkillers. It has a low recurrence rate and low cost, and is gladly accepted by the majority of patients.