Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
09:35
Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
Gamma Knife® radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia
Chun-Po Yen1, David Schlesinger, Jason P Sheehan
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Expert Review of Medical Devices
|October 28, 2011
Summary
Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe facial pain due to nerve pressure. Microvascular decompression is the gold standard, while stereotactic radiosurgery offers an alternative for specific patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a debilitating neuropathic pain disorder.
- Characterized by lancinating facial pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution.
- Prevalence estimated at 4-5 per 100,000 individuals.
Observation:
- Vascular loops compressing trigeminal nerve fibers cause TN.
- This compression leads to abnormal afferent discharge from the injured nerve segment.
- Microvascular decompression (MVD) directly addresses this vascular compression.
Findings:
- MVD is the gold standard treatment for medically refractory TN.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a viable alternative for patients unsuitable for MVD.
- SRS provides relief for the majority of patients with typical TN facial pain.
Implications:
- SRS offers a less invasive option for TN management.
- Long-term monitoring for recurrence and radiation-induced complications is crucial after SRS.
- Understanding TN pathophysiology guides effective treatment selection.
