New techniques for the treatment of facial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia

  Facial muscle spasm, or facial cramps, is a paroxysmal involuntary twitching of the facial muscles, tightening of the eyelids and crookedness of the corners of the mouth due to the compression of one side of the facial nerve by the blood vessels in the cranium, stimulated by long-term and repeated vascular pulsations. Trigeminal neuralgia is also due to the same cause, producing recurrent episodes of severe pain in the face it innervates, pain like pins and needles, knives, burning or tearing, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, stopping abruptly, and as normal when no attack occurs. The onset of pain is often caused by a trigger point or “trigger point”, mostly in the upper or lower lip, nose, corner of the mouth or teeth. The pain can be triggered by brushing, washing, talking, eating or blowing, so much so that patients are afraid to brush their teeth, wash their faces or touch their faces. Patients have been relieving pain by pressing their hands on the face for a long time, so much so that it has caused roughness, thickening of the facial skin and loss of eyebrows.  Since the patient develops symptoms with distinctive features, it is relatively easy to diagnose. Usually, after a clear diagnosis, conservative treatment such as medication is chosen first. Once conservative treatment is ineffective or the side effects are too great, minimally invasive surgical treatment can be chosen.  Microvascular decompression using a microscope has become the most ideal minimally invasive surgical treatment method recognized by international neurosurgery, and the neurosurgery department of Zhongshan Hospital has achieved very satisfactory results in this area of treatment. In recent years, the Department of Neurosurgery of Zhongshan Hospital has been boldly innovative and actively explored, introducing the most advanced international neuroendoscopic system and technology to be used in microvascular decompression surgery, which not only further reduces surgical trauma, but also has more effective efficacy, making a breakthrough in the surgical treatment of facial muscle spasm and trigeminal neuralgia.