matters to you

Many patients resort to the surgical treatment option to get rid of pain. The most important information about trigeminal nerve surgery is as follows.

Treatment of the trigeminal nerve usually begins with the use of medications, but over time, the response to the medications may stop, or those affected may develop unpleasant side effects, and then doctors resort to other treatment options, such as surgery.

Everything you need to know about the trigeminal nerve operation is as follows

Types of trigeminal nerve operation

There are several types of trigeminal nerve surgery that help control pain. The types of trigeminal nerve surgery are divided into two categories: the first is known as open skull surgery, and the second is known as rhizotomy procedures. Details are as follows:

1. Open skull surgery

Treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia here include

Microvascular decompression surgery

When contact occurs between the blood vessels and the root of the trigeminal nerve, pain occurs. Here, this procedure aims to remove the contact to get rid of the pain through a surgical opening behind the ear, and then place soft blanket barriers that separate the nerve from the blood vessels that cause the pain.

This procedure has proven successful in relieving trigeminal neuralgia pain in many patients, but there is a possibility that the pain will return again.

Brain stereotactic radiosurgery - Gamma knife

A concentrated dose of radiation is directed to the root of the trigeminal nerve to destroy it and thus reduce or eliminate pain.

This type of trigeminal nerve operation helps eliminate and relieve pain in the majority of patients. This type of trigeminal nerve operation can also be repeated if the pain recurs.

2. Rhizotomy procedures

To get rid of trigeminal neuralgia pain, these procedures are based on destroying the fibers of the nerve itself, which may result in a feeling of numbness in the affected person’s face. Rhizotomy procedures include the following:

Radiofrequency thermal lesioning

A hollow needle is ed into a portion of the trigeminal nerve, where the nerve fibers associated with pain are ively destroyed. The needle is used to an electrode to send a moderate electrical current through the tip of the electrode to pinpoint the location of the pain.

The nerve fibers are then destroyed by heating the electrode, creating an area of injury or wound.

Glycerol injection

During this procedure, a small amount of sterile glycerin is injected through an opening in the base of the skull, which destroys the trigeminal nerve and thus blocks pain signals.

Some people experience subsequent recurrence of pain after glycerin injections and may experience facial numbness.

Balloon compression

In the trigeminal nerve operation, the doctor s a hollow needle into part of the trigeminal nerve. Then the doctor directs a thin, flexible tube containing a balloon at its tip through the needle. The balloon is then inflated with sufficient pressure to destroy the trigeminal nerve and block pain signals.

Risks and complications resulting from trigeminal nerve surgery

The main complications of the various types of trigeminal nerve surgery are the recurrence of trigeminal neuralgia and lack of comfort. The person may suffer from a group of other complications, including:

Feeling an abnormal sensation in the face, often numbness.

Corneal numbness occurs and it is not felt.

Weakness in the jaw muscles.

Complications resulting from microvascular decompression surgery, including

Headache.

Feeling nauseous.

Feeling confused.

Exposure to blood clots.

Infection in the wound.

Injury to the brainstem or part of it, such as the cerebellum.

Cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Pain in the area of numbness when touching the operation site.

How long does it take to recover after trigeminal nerve surgery?

Here is the time you need to resume your daily life after the different types of trigeminal nerve surgery:

Microvascular decompression surgery: It may take approximately a week, but you must be careful not to strain and lift weights for approximately 6 weeks.

Other types of trigeminal nerve surgery: A person can resume his daily life within 48 hours of the procedure.