Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment
Surgical Therapy
Surgical therapy is recommended for patients who continue to experience severe pain from trigeminal neuralgia or who are unable to tolerate the medications secondary to side effects. Several different surgical options are available, including radiosurgery, radiofrequency, electrocoagulation, glycerol injection, balloon microcompression, and microvascular decompression. Radiosurgery is the most recent and least invasive surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. It has been used for over 10 years for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, and is the least likely surgical treatment to cause complications and uncomfortable new facial sensations (dysesthesias).
Written by Damon E. Smith, M.D. – Radiation Oncologist